St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1874-08-07
DANIEL GRAY.

Ii is believed that DR. j. G.. Holland intended I,
describe his own father in this beautiful and touch
ng poem of "Dancl Gray:'l
II shall ever win the home in heaven
For whose sweet rest l humbly hope and pray
In the great company of the forgiven
shall be tn find old Daniel Gray
l knew him WELL in fact. few knew him better:
For my yOun" eyes oft read for him the Word
And saw how mrrdy from the crystal letter
lie drank the life of his beloved Lord.
Old Daniel Gray was not man who lifted
ON ready words hir freight of gratitude,
And was not called upon among the gifted
In the PRAYER meetings of his nrighb"rhnod.
He had few "ld-iashionrd words and phrases.
Linked in with sacred texts and Sunday rhymes
And supp"s, that, in his prayers and gracrs.
Nv" heard them all at least thousand times.
see him now.-hs form. and face, and motions.
His h"mcspun habit. and his silver hair
And hear the language of his trtr drv"ti0ns
Rising behind the straight backed kitchen-chAr
| can remember how the sentence sounded
Help us. q Lord, to pray. and not t" faint!
And how the "cuRqucrinG and toconqmcr ROUNDED
The l"lti,r aspirations of the saint.
lie had some nctinns that did not improve him:
He never kissed his childrcn.-s" they say;
And finest scenes and fair,.st flowers would mov,
him
Less than horseshoe picked up in yhr way.
lie could see nau.,ht hut vanity in beauty,
Nnd uaught but weakness in fond carcss
Au". -, ! men whose views of Christian duty
Allowed indul.. i."' in such foolishness.Ij
Net there were. love and r,ndc, - within hihai;;
And am told that when his Chg. died, d,aU
Nor natures need nor gentle words cohid IN him
From his fond ri..il- at the sl"rper's Sde:
And when the, cam, To bury little charley,
They found fresh dew drops sprinklrd in his hair
Aud "m hie breast roS, bud gathered carly .
aud .ursSrd hut did not know. who placed i
sh,rr.
ny GOOD old tr:cud was very hard on fashion.
And held lis votarrs III lofty -c"rn,
aud often burst int" d holy passion
While the cay crowds went by on SUNDAY morn
| let he vain, old GRAY. and did not know ie'
! lie wore his hair impaired. lnug. and plain,
| IT, hd, tn, handsome brow that slept h,l"w is.
For f,ar the world would think that h, vain
Tfr had a hearty hatred of oppression,
! And righteous words f"r sin Of every kin6;
Nla- that the tr;rlSgressor and trans=res~"n
! Were linked closely in his honest mind
i"t that sweet tale at %ifJ without repentance.
Told "f tin. Master. Touched him t" thu. core.
Nnd fearless he could never read the sentence
Neither Il" condemn thee: sin more
Honest and faithful constant IN his csns
Strictly attendant on the means of grace
Instant in PRAYER and fearful most of falling.
| Old Daniel Gray always in his place.
a practical old man. and vet a dreamer
liz thought that III some sNrau"c unlocked fu
way.
His mighty Friend in heaven. th' grcai E"drrmcr
/ Would honor him with wealth s"rm, golden dlN
| This dream he carried in a hope iul spirit
| Until in death his patient eye grew dim,
| Nnd his Erdr,nrr called him go inl'rie
Thc heaven at w"alth long garuer,0F mp for hirn
80, if | win the HON" in heaven
For whose sweet r,~S Iumlly hnIa. AMI pray
In til" great company al the forgiven
shall he sure To find old Danir Ui~Ay.