StoryTitle("caps", "The Thousandth Man") ?>
by Rudyard Kipling
PoemStart() ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "One man in a thousand, Solomon says,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Will stick more close than a brother.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And it's worth while seeking him half your days", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "If you find him before the other.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Nine nundred and ninety-nine depend", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "On what the world sees in you,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "But the Thousandth man will stand your friend", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "With the whole round world agin you.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "'Tis neither promise nor prayer nor show", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Will settle the finding for 'ee.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Nine hundred and ninety-nine of 'em go", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "By your looks, or your acts, or your glory.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "But if he finds you and you find him.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "The rest of the world don't matter;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "For the Thousandth Man will sink or swim", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "With you in any water.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "You can use his purse with no more talk", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Than he uses yours for his spendings,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And laugh and meet in your daily walk", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "As though there had been no lendings.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Nine hundred and ninety-nine of 'em call", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "For silver and gold in their dealings;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "But the Thousandth Man he's worth 'em all,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Because you can show him your feelings.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "His wrong's your wrong, and his right's your right,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "In season or out of season.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Stand up and back it in all men's sight—", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "With that for your only reason!", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Nine hundred and ninety-nine can't bide", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "The shame or mocking or laughter,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "But the Thousandth Man will stand by your side", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "To the gallows-foot—and after!", "") ?>
PoemEnd() ?>