Jessie left behind a collection of short verses clipped from different newspapers. The themes of optimism, friendship, generosity, and love of family are testament to this wise and kind soul.
A few selected clippings from her collection are copied below.
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My Daily Creed
Let me be a little kinder,
Let me be a little blinder
To the faults of those about me;
Let me praise a little more;
Let me be, when I am weary,
Just a little bit more cheery;
Let me serve a little better
Those that I am striving for.
Let me be a little braver
When temptations bid me waver;
Let me strive a little harder
To be all that I should be.
Let me be a little meeker
With my brother that is weaker.
Let me think more of my neighbor
And a little less of me.
-- Selected
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It is what is left of a man after he has failed that counts. The residue is the measure of the real man. Just as the pure gold, which is left in the crucible, after the dross has been burned out in the host blast, is the real stuff.
-- Orison Swett Marden
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Make new friends, but keep the old;
Those are silver, these are gold.
New-made friendships, like new wine,
Age will mellow and refine.
Friendships that have stood the test--
Time and change--are surely best;
Brow may wrinkle, hair grow grey,
Friendships never know decay!
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Thankful
Naught to be thankful for, did you say
As you sat by the old garage today.
The crops are poor and the cattle thin
And the spuds are not what they might have been,
And there isn't much you can sell this year,
You're going to be very hard up you fear.
Well, what if you are--why man alive--
If you have to struggle and scrimp and strive,
And pinch a dollar until it hurts,
For winter woolens and shoes and shirts.
We've all been over the trail before,
And poverty's often knocked at our door.
It won't hurt you a bit, old man you know,
If you have to put the gears in low.
When the crops were good and the prices high,
Say, didn't we soar and spend and fly!
The sky was the limit, we took the air
And blew our crops like a millionaire.
But there's always a time when we have to pay,
And the bills pile up for a rainy day,
And you start to think where you might have stood,
If you'd kept your head when the crops were good.
But care cost money, and trips, O say!
The dough has a habit of melting away.
And what crops we had in our countryside,
When the wheat threshed out like a golden tide.
And the god of harvests with lavish hand,
Scattered his riches across the land.
When the wheat poured out on the granary floor,
And there wasn't room for a bushel more.
But let's forget what we might have done,
There'll be more harvests and rain and sun.
And let's be decent and take the blame,
And be sports enough to play the game.
And let's come down to earth and say,
And get a grip on the things that pay!
-- Edna Jacques
(The Pilot Mound Sentinel, Thurs., Feb. 26, 1931)
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Tunnels
Deepest nights, like longest tunnels,
Lead at length to day;
Interludes of dark enhancing
Light's returning ray.
Do life's troubles seem as tunnels--
Corridors to dread--
Not a ling'ring gleam of brightness;
Not a star o'erhead?
Undismayed, and forward pressing,
Gloom about us cast
Soon will yield to skies the fairer
For the dimness past.
Shall we then in fearsome shadows
Longer pine and grope,--
Sunlit avenues inviting,
Glad with cheer and hope?
There, emerged from gloomy boding,
Clear as day from night,
Faith o'er fear exults victorious:
After darkness, Light.
-- Cinda E. Williams
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Build for yourself a strong-box,
Fashion each part with care,
Fit it with hasp and padlock,
Put all your troubles there,
Hide therein all your failures
As each bitter cup you quaff,
Lock all your heartaches within in,
Then sit on the lid and laugh.
-- Carlotta
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Friendship
I'm richer far than Croesus, that wealthy kind of old;
I envy not the Midas whose touch turned things to gold;
I count not my possessions in money or in land,
In navies, planes or armies that move at my command.
My wealth is much more real than any of these things;
Its quality is constant and full enjoyment brings.
I never have to worry for fear it will not stay,
When other kinds of riches take wings and fly away.
This wealth consists of friendships--the greatest gift on earth;
And, as for other treasures, none can compare for worth.
They are my greatest assets, these friendships true and tried,
That stand life's strain and turmoil, the storms of time and tide.
That man is poor and wretched who is not blessed with friends--
The only sort of riches on which real joy depends;
Through poverty and sickness, through sorrow, loss and pain,
The real friend never changes, from year to year the same.
-- H. W. Barker
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If you have work to do,
Do it now.
To-day the skies are clear and blue,
To-morrow clouds may come in view,
Yesterday is now for you;
Do it now.
If you have a song to sing,
Sing it now.
Let the tones of gladness ring
Clear as song of bird in spring.
Let every day some music bring;
Sing it now.
If you have kind words to say,
Say them now.
To-morrow may not come your way,
Do a kindness while you may;
Loved ones will not always stay;
Say them now.
If you have a smile to show,
Show it now.
Make hearty happy, roses grow,
Let the friends around you know
The love you have before they go;
Show it now.
-- Charles R. Skinner
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The Optimist
I sing a song to the optimist,
To the man that is brave and strong,
Who keeps his head when things go right,
And smiles when things go wrong.
I am proud of the genial optimist,
His radiant voice and speech,
He helps to smooth the rugged path
Of all within his reach.
I like the way of the optimist,
Who looks for the bright and best;
He scatters the sunshine as he goes,
And leaves his fellows blest.
I am glad to meet the optimist,
With the message of good cheer,
He carries hope and confidence
To those assailed by fear.
So here's a song to the optimist,
Who joyously works and sings,
And daily shows this weary world
The way to better things.
-- Grenville Klesier
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An Interesting Alphabet
for the New Year
Attend carefully to details.
Be prompt in all things.
Consider well, then decide positively.
Dare to do right, fear to do wrong.
Endure trials patiently.
Fight life's battles bravely.
Go not into the society of the vicious.
Hold integrity sacred.
Injure not another's reputation.
Join hands only with the virtuous.
Keep your mind free from evil thoughts.
Lie not for any consideration.
Make few special acquaintances.
Never try to appear what you are not.
Observe good manners.
Pay your debts promptly.
Question not the veracity of a friend.
Respect the counsel of your parents.
Sacrifice money rather than principle.
Touch not, taste not, handle not, intoxicating drinks.
Use your leisure for improvement.
Venture not upon the threshold of wrong.
Watch carefully over your passions.
Extend to everyone a kindly greeting.
Yield not to discouragement.
Zealously labor for the rights and success is certain.
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