STORY Fatherhood by Edgar Guest

Story title: Fatherhood 
by Edgar Guest

Someday the world will need a man

of courage in a time of doubt,

And somewhere as a little boy,

that future hero plays about.

Within some humble home, no doubt,

that instrument of greater things

No climbs upon his father's knee

of to his mother's garments clings.

And when shall do God's mission here

may be your little boy or mine.

Long years of preparation mark

the pathway for the splendid souls,

And generations live and die

and seem no nearer to their goals.

And yet the purpose of it all,

the fleeting pleasure and the woe,

The laughter and the grief of life

that all who come to earth must know

May be to pave the way for one

one man to serve the Will Divine,

And it is possible that he may be 

your little boy or mine.

Someday the world will need a man!

I stand beside his cot at night

And wonder if I'm teaching him,

as best I can, to know the right.

I am the father of a boy

his life is mine to make or mar

For he no better can become

than what my daily teaching are;

There will be need for someone great

I will not falter from the line

The man that is to serve the world

may be that little boy of mine.

Perhaps your boy or mine may not

ascend the lofty heights of fame;

The orders for their births are hid.

We know not why to earth they came;

Yet in some little bed tonight

the great man of tomorrow sleeps

And only He who sent him here,

the secret of His purpose keeps.

As fathers then our care is this

to keep the Great Design.

The man the world shall need someday

may be your little boy or mine.