Nothing can set it by.
Willie speaks.
What is it, father dear,
That he would have me do?
I'd ask himself, but he's not near,
And so I must ask you!
The Father answers.
Me 'tis no use to ask,
I too am one of his boys!
But he tells each boy his own plain task;
Listen, and hear his voice.
Willie speaks.
Father, I'm listening so
To hear him if I may!
His voice must either be very low,
Or very far away!
The Father answers.
It is neither hard to hear,
Nor hard to understand;
It is very low, but very near,
A still, small, strong command.
Willie answers.
I do not hear it at all;
I am only hearing you!
The Father speaks.
Think: is there nothing, great or small,
You ought to go and do?
Willie answers.
Let me think:—I ought to feed
My rabbits. I went away
In such a hurry this morning! Indeed
They've not had enough to-day!
The Father speaks.
That is his whisper low!
That is his very word!
You had only to stop and listen, and so
Very plainly you heard!
That duty's the little door:
You must open it and go in;
There is nothing else to do before,
There is nowhere else to begin.
Willie speaks.
But that's so easily done!
It's such a trifling affair!
So nearly over as soon as begun.
For that he can hardly care!
The Father answers.
You are turning from his call
If you let that duty wait;
You would not think any duty small
If you yourself were great.
The nearest is at life's core;
With the first, you all begin:
What matter how little the little door
If it only let you in?
V
Willie speaks.
Papa, I am come again:
It is now three months and more
That I've tried to do the thing that was plain,
And I feel as small as before.
The Father answers.
Your honour comes too slow?
How much then have you done?
One foot on a mole-heap, would you crow
As if you had reached the sun?
Willie speaks.
But I cannot help a doubt
Whether this way be the true:
The more I do to work it out
The more there comes to do;