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253
SMALL MEANS AND GREAT FAITH.
“And he took his staff in his hand, and he chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand.”
—1 Samuel, XVII. 40.
Full hang the olive-trees,
On the mountain's side;
Bright, at its flowery foot,
Silvery waters glide.
Here comes a shepherd boy,
Laying down his crook;
Then, from the grassy bank,
Stepping in the brook.
On the mountain's side;
Bright, at its flowery foot,
Silvery waters glide.
Here comes a shepherd boy,
Laying down his crook;
Then, from the grassy bank,
Stepping in the brook.
Low, with a thoughtful air,
Bows his sunny head;
Plunge! go his finger-tips,
To the current's bed.
See, how his hands and feet,
In the crystal stream,
Shine, polished marble like
In a sculptor's dream!
Bows his sunny head;
Plunge! go his finger-tips,
To the current's bed.
See, how his hands and feet,
In the crystal stream,
Shine, polished marble like
In a sculptor's dream!
What is he searching for?
What can there be found?
O, he is picking out
Pebbles smooth and round,—
Five little pebble-stones,
Such as he can fling
Far with his puny hand,
Fitting to his sling!
What can there be found?
O, he is picking out
Pebbles smooth and round,—
Five little pebble-stones,
Such as he can fling
Far with his puny hand,
Fitting to his sling!
254
Now has he put them all
In his shepherd's scrip,
While not a word has passed
From his ruddy lip.
Straight does he speed away
To the battle-field,
Where stalks the giant foe,
With his ample shield.
In his shepherd's scrip,
While not a word has passed
From his ruddy lip.
Straight does he speed away
To the battle-field,
Where stalks the giant foe,
With his ample shield.
Hark! from the pebble's flight
Came that whizzing sound;—
Reel, reel, Philistia's chief
Falls to bite the ground!
Now, was it might and power,
Or an active trust,
Whereby the stripling's hand
Dropped the foe to dust?
Came that whizzing sound;—
Reel, reel, Philistia's chief
Falls to bite the ground!
Now, was it might and power,
Or an active trust,
Whereby the stripling's hand
Dropped the foe to dust?
Who has a foe to slay
In a work to do?
Don't stand aloof, and dread;—
Up! and strike it through.
Feel not that you must lift
Mountain-rocks to cast,—
Fold not your hands in doubt,
Till your hour is past!
In a work to do?
Don't stand aloof, and dread;—
Up! and strike it through.
Feel not that you must lift
Mountain-rocks to cast,—
Fold not your hands in doubt,
Till your hour is past!
Take hold of little means,
With a right good will:
These, with an humble zeal,
Great designs fulfil.
'T is not by might, nor power,
But through living faith,
Man's wisest aim is reached:—
So the Scripture saith.
With a right good will:
These, with an humble zeal,
Great designs fulfil.
'T is not by might, nor power,
But through living faith,
Man's wisest aim is reached:—
So the Scripture saith.
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