D ON ’ T Q UIT John Greenleaf Whittier (1807 - 1892) When things go wrong as they sometimes will, When the road you’re trudging seems all up hill, When the funds are low and the debts are high And you want to smile, but you have to sigh, When care is pressing you down a bit, Rest if you must, but don’t you quit . Life is strange with its twists and turns As every one of us sometimes learns And many a failure comes about When he might have won had he stuck it out; Don’t give up though the pace seems slow You may succeed with another blow. Success is failure turned inside out The silver tint of the clouds of doubt, And you never can tell just how close you are, It may be near when it seems so far; So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit It’s when things seem worst that you must not quit. For a ll the sad words of tongue or pen, The saddest are these: “It might have been!”
To my dearest girl of nine, With a heart so pure and fine, May you grow strong and bold, Facing challenges, never to fold. Let your spirit soar high, Like a bird up in the sky, Embrace each challenge you find, With a brave and determined mind. Know that strength lies within, In every challenge, you can begin, To learn, to grow, to excel, You're stronger than you can tell. So, my darling, never fear, For I'll always be near, To guide, to love, to cheer, As you journey through each year. You're a gem, a shining light, With the strength to win the fight, Believe in yourself, my dear daughter, You're destined for greatness, don't falter.