The Poetry of Real Life A New Edition, Much Enlarged and Improved. By Henry Ellison |
ON SEEING A POOR PERSON, TO WHOM I HAD GIVEN
CLOTHING. |
The Poetry of Real Life | ||
89
ON SEEING A POOR PERSON, TO WHOM I HAD GIVEN CLOTHING.
I met the old man, now so warmly clad'Gainst winter, and, rejoicing, asked him how
He felt—he answered “better,” while his brow
Kindled with gratitude, as though he had
Received the benefit, not I! what bad,
What sorry reckoners the rich must be,
In Joy's arithmetic, who unmov'd see
The face, which they with smiles might make so glad,
In sorrow steeped! then to myself I said,
The clothing warms not him, but me—and yet
Not outwardly, it warms my heart instead!
Yet he, as though his only were the debt,
Thanks me still! see! how gently is Man led
To Good, thus more than all he gave to get!
The Poetry of Real Life | ||