English Roses by F. Harald Williams [i.e. F. W. O. Ward] |
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| III. |
THE DEVIL AND THE SERMON. |
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| VI. |
 | English Roses |  |
THE DEVIL AND THE SERMON.
I preached. And lo, the Devil said
He'd spoil my pretty matter
With mocking and its merry aid
And friends that did not flatter.
So then he strode into my church
And broke an eyeglass (Bella's),
He left the sexton in the lurch
And upset six umbrellas.
He tumbled down a dozen books
And set two babies squalling,
While casting round such dreadful looks
They feared the roof was falling.
He'd spoil my pretty matter
With mocking and its merry aid
And friends that did not flatter.
So then he strode into my church
And broke an eyeglass (Bella's),
He left the sexton in the lurch
And upset six umbrellas.
He tumbled down a dozen books
And set two babies squalling,
While casting round such dreadful looks
They feared the roof was falling.
He trod upon the tenderest feet
And raised a big commotion,
They heard it outside in the street—
Half drowning our devotion.
But then he chose the finest hat
To use it just like scrapers,
And made a Bible next the mat
For sacrilegious capers.
And plumping full with all his might
On helpless Granny Headlam,
He put her pious thoughts to flight
And turned the pew to Bedlam.
And raised a big commotion,
They heard it outside in the street—
Half drowning our devotion.
But then he chose the finest hat
To use it just like scrapers,
And made a Bible next the mat
For sacrilegious capers.
And plumping full with all his might
On helpless Granny Headlam,
322
And turned the pew to Bedlam.
And through her choking bonnet strings,
She sighed with sore vexation—
“This is the end of mortal things,
Or the great Tribulation!”
For now the people looked at him
Or guessed what would come after,
And eyes that just before were dim
With feeling danced with laughter.
For no one yet had ever seen
Or heard such pranks in fable,
Or chapters out of Verdant Green—
God's house turned into Babel.
She sighed with sore vexation—
“This is the end of mortal things,
Or the great Tribulation!”
For now the people looked at him
Or guessed what would come after,
And eyes that just before were dim
With feeling danced with laughter.
For no one yet had ever seen
Or heard such pranks in fable,
Or chapters out of Verdant Green—
God's house turned into Babel.
And, ah no labour had been spared
To speed my ardent sermon,
With blessings asked and points prepared
And tears like dews of Hermon.
But now I felt my savoury dish
Could hardly even be tasted,
And while the Devil got his wish
My efforts must be wasted.
Till after forty faithless years,
I found my words were suited
To one poor sinner's darksome fears,
And in his life had fruited.
To speed my ardent sermon,
With blessings asked and points prepared
And tears like dews of Hermon.
But now I felt my savoury dish
Could hardly even be tasted,
And while the Devil got his wish
My efforts must be wasted.
Till after forty faithless years,
I found my words were suited
To one poor sinner's darksome fears,
And in his life had fruited.
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