Count That Day Lost

by George Eliot

　　And count the acts that you have done,

　　And, counting, find

　　One self-denying deed, one word

　　That eased the heart of him who heard,

　　One glance most kind

　　That fell like sunshine where it went--

　　Then you may count that day well spent.

　　But if, through all the livelong day,

　　You've cheered no heart, by yea or nay--

　　If, through it all

　　You've nothing done that you can trace

　　That brought the sunshine to one face--

　　No act most small

　　That helped some soul and nothing cost--

　　Then count that day as worse than lost.

　　If you sit down at set of sun

　　And count the acts that you have done,

　　And, counting, find

　　One self-denying deed, one word

　　That eased the heart of him who heard,

　　One glance most kind

　　That fell like sunshine where it went--

　　Then you may count that day well spent.

　　But if, through all the livelong day,

　　You've cheered no heart, by yea or nay--

　　If, through it all

　　You've nothing done that you can trace

　　That brought the sunshine to one face--

　　No act most small

　　That helped some soul and nothing cost--

　　Then count that day as worse than lost.