The Lucky Man

Luck had a favor to bestow

And wondered where to let it go.

“No lazy man on earth,” said she,

“Shall get this happy gift from me.

“I will not pass it to the man

Who will not do the best he can.

“I will not make this splendid gift

To one who has not practiced thrift.

“It shall not benefit deceit,

Nor help the man who's played the cheat.

“He that has failed to fight with pluck

Shall never know the Goddess Luck.

“I'll look around a bit to see

What man has earned some help from me.”

She found a man whose hands were soiled

Because from day to day he'd toiled.

He'd dreamed by night and worked by day

To make life's contest go his way.

He'd kept his post and daily slaved,

And something of his wage he'd saved.

He'd clutched at every circumstance

Which might have been his golden chance.

The goddess smiled and then, kerslap!

She dropped her favor in his lap.