Wealth And Want By Henry Reed Conant

How often the poor are despised and neglected,
For no other reason except they are poor;
How often the rich are beloved and respected,
Because they have uncounted wealth at their door.

There’s many an honest and virtuous heart,
To-day within poverty’s prison enchained;
While thousands reside amid pleasures of art,
Whose wealth was thro’ vice and dishonesty gained.

Despise not the needy because they are poor,
Nor envy the wealthy because of their gold;
Good or ill fortune may stand at our door,
But true hearts are not to be purchased or sold.