Julia Abigail Fletcher Carney (06 Apr 1823 – 01 Nov 1908 | Lancaster MA – Galesburg IL) poet, editor, author, educator, pen names: Julia, Minnie May, Frank Fisher, Sadie Sensible, Minister’s Wife, Rev. Peter Benson’s Daughter.

Little drops of water, little grains of sand, make the mighty ocean and the pleasant land.

So the little moments, humble though they may be, make the mighty ages of Eternity.

Think gently of the erring: ye know not of the power with which the dark temptation

came in some unguarded hour – and sadly thus they fell. Think gently of the erring: Oh!

do not thou forget, however darkly stained by sin, he has but stumbled in the path he

hath in weakness trod. Speak gently to the erring: for is it not enough that innocence

and peace have gone, without thy censure rough? Speak gently to the erring: thou yet

may’st lead them back from misery’s thorny track. Deal gently with the erring, then,

as God has dealt with thee. Deal gently with the erring one: speak not harshly but with

much kindness and care. Sweetly breathe the lyres above – our heaven is everywhere.

Carney, Julia Abigail Fletcher Carney. “Little Things” and “Think Gently of the Erring.” AllPoetry.com. Retrieved 21 Oct 2023. https://allpoetry.com/Julia-Abigail-Fletcher-Carney