The Stone in the Road

Up hill, with heavy load,
A farmer's wheels turned round;
A stone was in the road,
At which the farmer frowned.

At once, with snap and crack,
The shaft gave way and dropped;
The wagon staggered back,
But struck the stone and stopped.

The stone, frowned on at first,
Now held the wagon fast;
The stone the farmer cursed,
Reclaimed his load at last.

Through life, repeatedly,
The evils help and bless,
And hindrance proves to be
A rock of sure success.

^___John Edward Everett