 | The golden vase ; a gift for the young |  |
THE FAIR.
We learn from a Teacher, who taught long ago,
What still, for his sake, to our neighbor we owe.
We read what he spake in behalf of the poor,
Whose precept is perfect—his word ever sure:
We know 't is of these that his saying will be,
“What ye did unto them, ye have done unto me.”
Then come, and your mite, or your bounty prepare,
As he giveth you, for his cause at the Fair.
What still, for his sake, to our neighbor we owe.
We read what he spake in behalf of the poor,
Whose precept is perfect—his word ever sure:
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“What ye did unto them, ye have done unto me.”
Then come, and your mite, or your bounty prepare,
As he giveth you, for his cause at the Fair.
A band of young maidens combined in his name,
Who pitied the needy, the sick and the lame,
As bees we 've been busy, with labor and skill,
Some honey-drop pure from each flower to distil,
To sweeten the cup of affliction, and chase
The pale cast of sadness by smiles from her face.
O come! our good work and its blessing to share,
And hold up our hands and our hearts at the Fair.
Who pitied the needy, the sick and the lame,
As bees we 've been busy, with labor and skill,
Some honey-drop pure from each flower to distil,
To sweeten the cup of affliction, and chase
The pale cast of sadness by smiles from her face.
O come! our good work and its blessing to share,
And hold up our hands and our hearts at the Fair.
We ask not your gold or your silver for naught,
But proffer for these what our fingers have wrought;
And would that your gift may return seven-fold,
In riches more precious than silver or gold.
Since bread we abroad on the waters have cast
Returns to us, when many days may have past,
If good or if not, with increase; let 's beware,
And not our pure off'ring withhold at the Fair.
But proffer for these what our fingers have wrought;
And would that your gift may return seven-fold,
In riches more precious than silver or gold.
Since bread we abroad on the waters have cast
Returns to us, when many days may have past,
If good or if not, with increase; let 's beware,
And not our pure off'ring withhold at the Fair.
Now pity, we know, offered dry and alone,
Were giving a child, that asked bread, but a stone.
For what shall kind words without charity pass?
As tinkling of cymbals, and sounding of brass!
Without it, of prophecy worthless the gift,
And faith from their places the mountains to lift!
If such were the truths that a Paul could declare,
Let us do something worthy a Paul at the Fair.
Were giving a child, that asked bread, but a stone.
For what shall kind words without charity pass?
As tinkling of cymbals, and sounding of brass!
Without it, of prophecy worthless the gift,
And faith from their places the mountains to lift!
If such were the truths that a Paul could declare,
Let us do something worthy a Paul at the Fair.
167
Come, angel of charity, clothed in thy power,
And o'er us preside, for to thee is the hour.
O, melt every heart with thy beautiful eye,
Whose soft-beaming light, from thy birthplace on high,
With lustre so holy has brightened the tear
It sheds for the woes thou art witnessing here!
Then send thy sweet herald rejoicing to bear
Glad tidings above of thy friends at the Fair.
And o'er us preside, for to thee is the hour.
O, melt every heart with thy beautiful eye,
Whose soft-beaming light, from thy birthplace on high,
With lustre so holy has brightened the tear
It sheds for the woes thou art witnessing here!
Then send thy sweet herald rejoicing to bear
Glad tidings above of thy friends at the Fair.
| The golden vase ; a gift for the young | |