True Wisdom

The world is rich in hu­man lore

And wise is he who ear­ly trains

His mind its rich­es to ex­plore

And ga­ther in its gold­en grains.

But wiser he that ear­ly seeks

That wis­dom where­of we are told

Its mer­chan­dise more worth be­speaks

Than mer­chan­dise of pur­est gold.

Her price not ru­bies can com­mand;

All else is dross com­pared with her;

The length of days is in her hand

And all the hon­or they con­fer.

O

seek her young! With stead­fast­ness

Cling to her as thy years in­crease;

For hers are ways of plea­sant­ness

And all her paths are paths of peace.