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                  Bide a Wee, and Dinna Fret

                           Is the road very dreary?
                                  Patience yet!
Rest will be sweeter, if thou art aweary
And after night cometh the morning cheery,
                          Then bide a wee, and dinna fret.

                           The clouds have silver lining,
                                   Don't forget!
And though he's hidden, still the sun is shining;
Courage! instead of tears in vain repining,
                             Just bide a wee and dinna fret.

                             With toil and cares unbending
                                     Art beset?
Bethink thee how the storms from heaven descending
Snap the stiff oak, but spare the willow bending,
                             And bide a wee, and dinna fret.

                            Grief sharper sting doth borrow
                                    From regret!
But yesterday is done, and shall its sorrow
Unfit us for the present and the morrow?
                             Nay; bide a wee, and dinna fret.

                         An over-anxious brooding
                                   Doth beget
A host of fears and phantasies deluding,
Then, brother, lest the torments be intruding,
                       Just bide a wee and dinna fret.

(Anon, originally published in "Leisure Hours", compiled in the Pennsylvania School Journal, vol. 26, 1877)