Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-07-25
DANIEL GRAY.
BY i. G HOLLAND

BY j. G.. HOLLAND
If l shall ever win the home in heaven
For whose sweet rest humbly hope and pray,
In the great company of the forgiven
shall be sure to find old Daniel Gray.
1 knew him well in fact few knew him better;
For my young eyes oft read for him the Word
And saw how meekly from the crystal letter
lie drank the life of his beloved Lord.
Old Daniel Gray was not man who lifted
On ready words his freight of gratitude.
And was not called upon among the gifted,
In the prayer meetings of his neighborhood.
He had few old words and phrases
Linked in with sacred texts and Sunday rhymes;
And suppose, that, in his prayers and graces,
I've heard them all at least thousand times.
see him now,-hs FORM and face and motions,
His homespun habit and his silver hair
And hear the language of his trite deyotions
Rising behind the straightback kitchen-chair.
can remember how the sentence sounded
''uelp us, . Lord, to pray, and not to faint!n
And how the 'conquering -and-to-conquern rounded
The loftier aspirations of the saint
He had some notions that did not improve him:
He never kissed his children-so they saw;
And finest scenes and fairest flowers would move
him
Less than horseshoe picked up in the way
He could see nought but vanity in beauty.
And nought but weakness in a fond caress
And ptied men whose views of Christian duty
Allowed indulgence in such foolishness.
Yet there were love and Tenderness within him;
And ! am told that, when his Charley died
Nor Natures need nor gentle words could win him
From his fond yigs at the sleepers side.
And when they came to bury little Charley.
They found fresh dew-drops sprinkled in his hair
And ON his breast rose bud, gathered early-
Ana guessed, but did not know, who placed it
there.
My good old friend was very hard on fashion,
And held its votaries in lofty scorn,
And often burst into holy passion
While the gay crowds went by on Sunday morn
Yet he was vain, old Gray, and did not know it!
80 lie wore his hair impaired, long and plain,
10 hide the handsome brow that slept below it,
For fear the world would think that he was vain!
He had 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 gift without repentance,
Iold OF the Master, touched him TO the core
And fearless he could never read the sentence:
Neither do condemn thee sin no more"
Honest and faithful, constant in his calling,
strictly attendant on the means of grace,
instant III prayer, and fearful most of falling,
GA Daniel Gray was always in his place.
A practical old man, and yet u 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 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 ever win the home In heaven
For whose sweet rest humbly hope and pray
In the great company Of the forgiven.
shall be sure to find old Daniel Gray.