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144
Charity.
The rich man gave his dole, nor ill-content
To find his heart still moved by human woe:
The poor man to his neighbour simply lent
The scanty savings he could scarce forego.
To find his heart still moved by human woe:
The poor man to his neighbour simply lent
The scanty savings he could scarce forego.
The one passed on, and asked to know no more:
The other's wife all night, with pity brave,
That neighbour's dying child was bending o'er,
And never deeming it was much she gave.
The other's wife all night, with pity brave,
That neighbour's dying child was bending o'er,
And never deeming it was much she gave.
Oh! God forgive us that we dare to ask
Solace of costless gifts and fruitless sighs!
Scorn on the sigh that shuns the unwelcome task,
The dole that lacks the salt of sacrifice!
Solace of costless gifts and fruitless sighs!
Scorn on the sigh that shuns the unwelcome task,
The dole that lacks the salt of sacrifice!
No gilded palm the crushing weight may lift;
No soothing sigh the maddening woe may cure:
'Tis Love that gives its wealth to every gift;
Ill would the poor man fare without the poor.
No soothing sigh the maddening woe may cure:
'Tis Love that gives its wealth to every gift;
Ill would the poor man fare without the poor.
(1884.)
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