The Quitter

It ain't the failures he may meet

That keeps a man from winnin',

It's the discouragement complete

That blocks a new beginnin';

You want to quit your habits bad;

And, when the shadows flittin'

Make life seem worthless an' sad,

You want to quit your quittin'!

You want to quit a-layin' down

An' sayin hope is over,

Because the fields are bare an' brown

Where once we lived in clover.

When jolted from the water-cart,

It's painful to be hittin'

The earth; but make another start.

Cheer up, an' quit your quittin'!

Although the game seems rather stiff,

Don't be a doleful doubter;

There's always one more innin' if

You're not a down-and-outer.

But fortune's pretty sure to flee

From folks content with sittin'

Around an' sayin' life's N. G.--

You've got to quit your quittin'.