CHARITY.
I.
Look on the radiant splendour of the night;
Say, were each little star, that sheds its light
O'er that vast arch to shade its orb, and say,
“The skies are bright enough without my ray;”
Would not the night be dark?
II.
And thus it is with Charity,
Though small thy gift may seem to be
Withhold it not, for like the night,
By countless little stars made bright,
Thy offering, joined to thousands more,
Shall brighten dwellings dark before.
III.
Have you not seen some lovely bow'r
Array'd with ev'ry summer flow'r?
Each plant gives fragrance, it is not
One scent, one bloom, adorns the spot.
No, each small bud perfumes the air,
And has its own sweet station there.
