Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1859-09-10
DANIEL GRAY.
ny J. q. HOLLAND.

IL l shall ever win the home in heaven,
For whose sweet rest | humbly hope aud pray
In the great company Of the forgiven
| shall be sure to find old Daniel Gray,
| knew him we'll; in fact, few knew him better ;
For my young eyes oft read for him the Word,
And saw how meekIy from the crystal letter
lie drank the life Of his beloved Lord.
Old Daniel Gray was not o man who lifted
On ready words his freight of gratitude,
AID was rot called upon among the gifted,
In the prayer-meotings Of his neighborhood.
lie had a few old-fashioned words and phrases,
Linked in with sacred texts and Sunday
rhymes
And l suppose, that in his prayers and graces,
I've heard them all at least u thousand times.
I see him now,-Lis form, and fac, and motions
His homespun habit, and his silver hair
And hear the language of his tri.e devotions
Rising behind the STRAIGHTFORWARD kitchen-chair
l can remember how the sentence sounded
"IIelp us. o Lord, to pray, and not to fain, !"
And how the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES rounded
Tue loftier aspirations OF tie saint.
lie had some notions that did nos improve him;
He never kissed his children, so they say;
And finest scenes and fairest flowers would move
him
Less than q horseshoe picked up in the way.
lie could see naught but vanity in beauty,
And nought but weakness in a ! nd caress,
And pitied men, whose views of Christian duty
Allowed indulgence in such foolishness.
Yet there was love and tenderness within him
And l am told, that. when his Charley died,
Nor Natures need nor gentle words could win
him
From his fond vigils at the ~sleeper's side.
And when they came to bury little Charley,
They found fresh dew-drops sprinkled in bis
hair,
And on his breast q rose bud, gathered early
And guessed. but did not know, who placed it
there.
Ny good old friend was very hard on fashion,
And held its votaries in lofty scorn,
And often burst into g holy passion
While the gay crowds went by on Sunday morn.
Yet he was vain, old Gray, and did not know it!
lie wore his hair impaired, long, and plain,
To hide the han 1some brow that slept below it.
For fear the world would think that he was vain!
He had a hearty hatred of oppression.
And righteous words for sin Of every kind;
Alas that the transgressor and transgression
Were linked so closely in his honest mind
Yet that sweet tale of guilt without repentance,
Told Of the Master, touched him to the core,
And fearless he could never read the sentence;
Neither do l condemn thee; sin no more"
Honest and faithful, constant in his calling,
Strictly attendant on the means of grace.
Instant in prayer, and fearful most of falling,
Old Daniel Gray was always in his place.
A practical old man and yet q dreamer,
lie thought that in some strange, unlooked-for
way,
His mighty Friend in heaven, the great Redeemer,
Would honor him with wealth some golden day
This dream he carried in a hopeful spirit
Until in death his patient eye grew dim,
And his Redeemer called him to inherit
The heaven of wealth long garnered up for him
So, if I ever win the home in heaven
For whose sweetrest | humbly hope and pray,
In that great ompany of the forgiven
l shall be sure to fad old Daniel Gray.