University of Virginia Library


55

LETTER TO MISS CRANE.

Howard University, Washington, D. C., Aug. 23, 1872.
My pen, dear friend, is made of gold,
It always tells the truth,
It serves me now while I am old,
As well as when a youth.
It often guides my thoughts aright,
When they would go astray,
It is my body-guard by night,
As well as in the day.
I look on it as would I thee,
Its worth I 've never told,
For all the kindness shown to me,
Its value 's more than gold.
Its gold to me like ancient dross,
Compared with all her wealth,
Like thee it helps to bear the cross
In sickness and in health.
For me new friends it makes each day,
New lines it does record,
It causes me to watch and pray,
And trust upon the Lord.
It often pleads the needy's case,
It makes his troubles known;
It puts him in his proper place,
And points him to God's throne.

56

It knows a maid both just and true,
One weighed in virtue's scale,
Whom I will now present to you,
Whose deeds can never fail.
A student she would gladly be,
She has no means nor friend
Who freely would, that she can see,
For her a dollar spend.
Oh! lay her case before the east,
Or thy own native State,
That they may take her from the least,
And place her with the great.
Tell them, for me, their name shall live
With thine on history's page,
If they Miss Johnson aid will give,
The fair one of this age.
No one his dollar will withhold,
From such a worthy girl;
The miser, too, will bring his gold—
His treasures he 'll unfurl.
Remember, that her parents died
When she was but a child.
She has no lovers by her side,
Though she is meek and mild.
Kind Miss, to you no more I 'll say,
I 'll leave you in God's care,

57

I hope you have a pleasant day,
For such an one is here.