 | Jones Very : The Complete Poems |  |
Charity
Whate'er thou wouldst receive at others' hands,Thou first to them must freely give away;
Whether of houses high or spreading lands,
Nought shall be thine till thou hast seen this day;
God gives thee all; but canst thou all receive,
When e'en my little thou dost yet refuse?
No longer then thy brother's spirit grieve,
And thou shalt have yet larger gifts to use;
For in my Father's house do many live,
Who, older far, in love have stronger grown,
And how to them can'st thou e'er learn to give,
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Give freely then, for all thou givst away
Shall men with added gifts to thee repay.
Poem No. 783; fall 1838–summer 1839
| Jones Very : The Complete Poems | |