The Crucible by O. Henry — Read

Hard ye may be in the tumult, / Red to your battle hilts, / Blow give for blow in the foray, / Cunningly ride in the tilts; / But when the roaring is ended / Tenderly, unbeguiled, / Turn to a woman a woman's / Heart, and a child's to a child.

Test of the man, if his worth be / In accord with the ultimate plan, / That he be not, to his marring, / Always and utterly man; / That he bring out of the tumult, / Fitter and undefiled, / To a woman the heart of a woman, / To children the heart of a child.

Good when the bugles are ranting / It is to be iron and fire; / Good to be oak in the foray, / Ice to a guilty desire. / But when the battle is over / (Marvel and wonder the while) / Give to a woman a woman's / Heart, and a child's to a child.