Chapter IV: Willie speaks

Then put me in the way,
For you, papa, are a man:
What thing shall I do this very day?--
Only be sure I _can_.

I want to know--I am willing,
Let me at least have a chance!
Shall I give the monkey-boy my shilling?--
I want to serve at once.

_The Father answers._

Give all your shillings you might
And hurt your brothers the more;
He only can serve his fellows aright
Who goes in at the little door.

We must do the thing we _must_
Before the thing we _may;_
We are unfit for any trust
Till we can and do obey.

_Willie speaks._

I will try more and more;
I have nothing now to ask;
_Obedience_ I know is the little door:
Now set me some hard task.

_The Father answers._

No, Willie; the father of all,
Teacher and master high,
Has set your task beyond recall,
Nothing can set it by.

_Willie speaks._

What is it, father dear,
That he would have me do?
I'd ask himself, but he's not near,
And so I must ask you!

_The Father answers._

Me 'tis no use to ask,
I too am one of his boys!
But he tells each boy his own plain task;
Listen, and hear his voice.

_Willie speaks._

Father, I'm listening _so_
To hear him if I may!
His voice must either be very low,
Or very far away!

_The Father answers._

It is neither hard to hear,
Nor hard to understand;
It is very low, but very near,
A still, small, strong command.

_Willie answers._

I do not hear it at all;
I am only hearing you!

_The Father speaks._

Think: is there nothing, great or small,
You ought to go and do?

_Willie answers._

Let me think:--I ought to feed
My rabbits. I went away
In such a hurry this morning! Indeed
They've not had enough to-day!

_The Father speaks._

That is his whisper low!
That is his very word!
You had only to stop and listen, and so
Very plainly you heard!

That duty's the little door:
You must open it and go in;
There is nothing else to do before,
There is nowhere else to begin.

_Willie speaks._

But that's so easily done!
It's such a trifling affair!
So nearly over as soon as begun.
For that he can hardly care!

_The Father answers._

You are turning from his call
If you let that duty wait;
You would not think any duty small
If you yourself were great.

The nearest is at life's core;
With the first, you all begin:
What matter how little the little door
If it only let you in?