Pass It On

Have you had a kindness shown?
  Pass it on.
'Twas not given for thee alone,
  Pass it on.
Let it travel down the years,
Let it wipe another's tears,
'Till in heav'n the deed appears--
  Pass it on.

Did you hear the loving word?
  Pass it on--
Like the singing of a bird?
  Pass it on.
Let its music live and grow,
Let it cheer another's woe;
You have reaped what others sow--
  Pass it on.

'Twas the sunshine of a smile--
  Pass it on.
Staying but a little while!
  Pass it on.
April beam a little thing,
Still it wakes the flowers of spring,
Makes the silent birds to sing--
  Pass it on.

Have you found the heavenly light?
  Pass it on.
Souls are groping in the night,
  Daylight gone--
Hold thy lighted lamp on high,
Be a star in someone's sky,
He may live who else would die--
  Pass it on.

Be not selfish in thy greed,
  Pass it on.
Look upon thy brother's need,
  Pass it on.
Live for self, you live in vain;
Live for Christ, you live again;
Live for Him, with Him you reign--
  Pass it on.

--Henry Burton, 1840-1930