Sylvester J. White and Cornelius Brown,
A couple of men from the very same town.
With identical backgrounds and raised the same way,
They both were as different as night is from day.



If a glass holding water by both men were seen,
There's a difference in what to each man it would mean.
While sylvester would clearly a half filled glass see,
For Cornelius the same glass would half empty be.



When bad luck befell them and good times turned bad,
Unemployment was rampant, they lost all they had.
True character of man a hard time will disclose
How he best handles problems in spite of his woes.



Sylvester, for example, took disaster in stride.
He hitched up his trousers, he shrugged and he sighed,
"I'll have to be frugal if I make my ends meet
I still have my pride, and I won't take defeat."




He worked and he struggled, wiped sweat from his brow,
Realized what he wanted he couldn't have now.
At two jobs he labored ,and his bank account grew.
Some time in near future he could start life anew.



Cornelius, in contrast, sang a much different tune.
To responsibility he deemed that he should be immune.
He moaned and he groaned, and he cried and he whined.
He could not accept now this new fiscal bind.




He blamed everyone but himself for his plight.
He rolled in self pity, and he gave up the fight.
Yet handouts from others with no thanks he took,
But comments from critics he never could brook.




I've spun you a tale how two men in a town
React to adversity, one upbeat, one down.
Now please tell me, stranger, which one of these men.
If your life be in danger would you rather depend?