The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1859-08-31
@}petital
From the Atlantic Monthly.
Daniel Gray.

i'll ihall ever win the home in heaven
For.whose sweet rest bumbly hope and pray,
1n the great company Of the forgiven
SRan be sure % nnd old Daniel Gray.
I knew him we'll; IN fact, few knew him better;
For my yOung eyes of read for him the Word,
Apd saw how meekly from the crystal letter,
He drank the life Of bis beloved Lord.
Old Daniel Gray was not man who lifod
On ready words his freight OF gratitude,
Aud was not called upon among the gifted,
In the praysr-n eetings Of his neighbOrhood.
He had q few old.fa.hioned words and phrases.
Linked In with sacred texts and Sunday rhymes )
AR&I suppose, that in bis prayers and graees
tive heard them all at least thousand times.
I see him now-hls form, and face, and motions,
His homcspun habit, and his silver hair
And hear the language Of his trite devotions
Rising behind the straig ght-backed kitchen.chair.
can remember how the sentence sounded
aHeip MS, o Lord, to pray, and net to faint!"
AWd how the "eOnquering and to conquer" rounde'
Tho lonter aspirations Of the saint
He had some notions that did not improve him
He never kissed his children-so they say;
And finest scenes and iairest flowers would move bin
Less than horseshoe picked up in tho way.
He could SEQ nought but vanity in beauty,
And nought but weak ness in fond caress,
And pitiod men whose views Of Christian duty
Allowed indulgence in such foolishncss.
Yet there were love and tenderness within him
And, I am told, that when his Charley died,
nnod Mt vnPdq w
From his fond vigils' at the sleeper's side.
And when they camo 10 barry little Charley,
They found fresh dewdroPs sprinkled in his hair
Andson his breast rosebud gathered carly
And gu osscd, but did notknow who placed i: there
NY good old friend was very hard on fashion,
And held It's vota ries 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 1t
He wore his hair impaired, long and plain,
TO hide the handsome 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 Tor sin OF every kind;
Alas! that the transgressor and transgression
We're linked so closely In his honest mind!
Yet that sweet tale Of gin without repentance,
Told OF the Mastor, touched bin to the core,
And tcauless he could never read the sentence:
"Noither do condemn thee-s 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 Dautel Gray was always in his place.
A practical old man, and yet dreamer,
He thought that in sone strange, unlooked-for wa,
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 Redecmcr called him to inherit
Tho heaven Of wealth long garnered up for him.
So, Ii I ever win the home in heaven
For whose sweet rest hulnblv hope and pray,
In tho great company Of tho forgiven
shall be sure to find old Daniel Gray.