From the Omaha Daily Bee, November 23, 1913. By E. A. Guest.
He didn’t have much of a creed,
And his doctrine was not very deep;
His faith wasn’t one he could read
In volumes expensive or cheap.
He helped all who asked when he could,
He comforted all when they grieved,
He believed in the right and the good,
And he lived up to what he believed.
He didn’t have much of a creed,
His doctrine was simple and plain,
But he seemed to have all that we need
To balance life’s pleasure and pain.
He wasn’t a fellow to shirk
With burdens that could be relieved
He believed ’twas his duty to work,
And he lived up to what he believed.
He put out his hand here and there
To succor the weak and distressed,
And when he had burdens to bear
He bore them by doing his best.
He refused to take profit or gain
That was won by another deceived.
He believed in a life without stain
And he lived up to what he believed.
I reckon when toiling is o’er,
And all our struggles are through,
When no one needs help anymore,
And there are no good deeds to do,
When the last of life’s dangers is braved,
And the judgement of all is begun,
Not by what we believed we’ll be saved,
But by what, through believing, we’ve done.