By Their Fruits
poem
BY THEIR FRUITS
Every tree shall be known by its
fruits
Not the strength of its branches, nor
girth
Nor the spread of its leaves, nor its
roots,
Nor by the time it has grown in the
earth;
Nor by beauty, nor colour, nor age,
nor the storms it has known.
But alone by its fruits shall its worth
be shown.
Even so shall the peoples be known,
Not by countries they conquered, nor
size,
Nor the armies and navies they prize;
Not by systems, not rulers, nor age,
nor the years that have flown.
They will stand when the verdict is due,
By the fruits of the years of their
fame;
And their children shall docket each
name
With “gallant” or ‘‘cowardly,” ”liars,”
or “true.”
When the thing it was in them to be
Shall stand plain for the ages to see.
—Kate Rennie Archer.
The cited information was sourced from Electronic Document (email, file) published by Virginia Chronicle, Library of Virginia in Virginia on October 22nd, 1937 and edited by Northern Neck News (Ref: p. 4) The author/originator was Kate Rennie Archer. This citation is considered to be direct and primary evidence used, or by dominance of the evidence.Every tree shall be known by its
fruits
Not the strength of its branches, nor
girth
Nor the spread of its leaves, nor its
roots,
Nor by the time it has grown in the
earth;
Nor by beauty, nor colour, nor age,
nor the storms it has known.
But alone by its fruits shall its worth
be shown.
Even so shall the peoples be known,
Not by countries they conquered, nor
size,
Nor the armies and navies they prize;
Not by systems, not rulers, nor age,
nor the years that have flown.
They will stand when the verdict is due,
By the fruits of the years of their
fame;
And their children shall docket each
name
With “gallant” or ‘‘cowardly,” ”liars,”
or “true.”
When the thing it was in them to be
Shall stand plain for the ages to see.
—Kate Rennie Archer.
- Source Notes
- Northern Neck News, 22 October 1937 p. 4
- Source/Citation References (1)
- Individual: Catherine Rennie Aitken