1.Speak gently； it is better far To rule by love than fear：Speak gently； let no harsh words mar1：The good we might do here.
2.Speak gently to the little child； Its love be sure to gain；Teach it in accents2 soft and mild；It may not long remain.
3.Speak gently to the aged one； Grieve not the careworn heart： The sands of life are nearly run； Let such in peace depart.
4.Speak gently，kindly，to the poor； Let no harsh tone be heard；They have enough they must endure3，1Mar，injure，hurt.2Accents，language，tones. 3 Endure，bear，suffer.5Without an unkind word.
5.Speak gently to the erring1； know They must have toiled in vain； Perhaps unkindness made them so； Oh，win them back again.
6.Speak gently： ’t is a little thing Dropped in the heartˊs deep well；The good，the joy，which it may bring，Eternity2 shall tell.
（George Washington Langford）