The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1883-03-28
WRITTEN FOR The CLARION ]
CHARITY.

! Auo bg lhc sparkling river s SIDE,
Where birds are earoling ia glee,
This fairy hour OF morn to see,
While in the East the crimson light,
Pursuing the retreating night,
Throws over all, the rosy glow.
The Daygods rising beams bestow;
When TO my sight there wonders forth
A traveller of royal birth,
Born TO the Kingdom Of our Lord,
A glad receiver Of His word,
\ wayfarer upon the road
| That leads to q Heavenly abode
With bended knee and humble air,
| He formulates this earnest prayer,
To One in shining robes al light,
Who occupies throne OF might.
| Father, before me lies. the read
That leads me to thy blest abode;
But through the desert far and wide
| Mih burning sands on every side,
And DER the mountains rugged height,
obscured by raven wing Of night,
Where willy foes forever stray.
To lure me from the chosen way,
e'eu must pass ere, vet rest
| My weary how'd upon thy breast,
| And nav, @ Heavenly Father. give.
| A guiding spirit while live,
! A guardian angel by whose nigh.
| My soul is strengthened for the right"
And thus replies the Prince of Peace
Son, let the troubled waters cease,
| A heavenly messenger Ill send
| To guide thy footsteps TO the end,
Faith. Hone and Charity. these three
But greater far than all TO me
Is Charity, that priceless gem,
| The humolo Christian s diadem
| And thou shalt have thy choice to be
Guided by either Of the three"
| Then Charity shall be my guide
To walk forever by my side"
And Charity, on snowy wings,
Obeys the mandate Of the king,
And swiftly earthward wends her way
Where weary feet OF mortals stray,
And now, with pilgrims staff ia hand,
They journey toward the promised land,
But soon, with noisy clash and clatter,
There passes enc whom mortals hatter
The rich man who in fine array,
Hath sumptuous banquets every day;
| The neighiug of whose chargers proud
Sautes the ear with echoes loud;
"Ah," says the pilgrim, fortunes gifts
Are most uneven. He who hits
The heavy load OF earthly tolls,
Is none the worse than him, whose soil
Is I'll ed by hired servants hands,
Who reaps the fruits OF many lands,
md il is har, that abide
With daily toll while he may ride"
Then speaks the a ar voice Of his guide,
The guardian angel by his side;
Charity enyieth not,
But is content with humble lot."
And now he secs with much amaze,
Before him, aue whose devious ways
Seem not BETTING him to whom
Tho rnvnI hast lu d oufl ttfnbnu,.at, e.n.,,
Aud TO his guide he speaks Is this
The one who gives the judas kiss?
Is this the hyproeritc? He walks
Not MS / walk, nor docs he talk
In language such as | nse when
Addressing God or fellowmen.p
lhsn speaks this guide, who see th not
As iadrta q see. "Ihy earthly lot
Aud his are far apart. ! he snare
Thou fallcst in gives him no care,
And Charity thinketh no il'
While journeying DER lifc's rugged hill"
And now this daygod's fiery beams
More fiereely glow, The desert CLEANS
With fervid rays that he hath sent
From highest arch of armament.
Aud now he sees besides the way
An erring one whose footsteps stray
Thus near the road that leadeth to
Ia palsied limb and bloated face
And heuded form. the eye can trace
The devious wandorings Of sin
The presence Of Gods foes within.
"This," says the traveller, is one
Who long hath spurned Gods living son.
] thank thee Lord that ] am not
AS this man is; though poor my lot;
I've not committed half the sin
This loathsome W ctch hath wallowcd in :"
Then speaks in accents mild, his guide,
The loving spirit by his side,
"Charity is not pufled up
But to the thirsty gives the cup
OF water cold, that doth bestow
A quicker pulse and ruddier glow"
Ahd now, in wonder, looking back,
He speth foes upon his track,
The fiends Of envy, malice hate,
Would e'en pursue to Heavens gate.
And thus he speaks, "Oh Fatherl thou
Who takest note OF sparrows, bow
Thine ear unto my cry, and grant
That these my enemies who haunt
My footsteps with these imps Of night
Be quickly banished from thy sight.
And thus the guardian angel speaks
While tears Of sorrow blanch her cheek.
CHARITY suiIereth long
And to the wicked does no wrong"
Anon the sonbrc hue of night
viii darkly veil the mountains height.
"Ah, says the traveller, "let us haste,
Behind us lies the desert waste,
Before us, DER the mountains 8 gloom,
Lieth the country fresh with bloom
OF fairest flowers pure and bright
Whose beauty is ne'er dimmed by night" !"
"Aye," say the ginding spirit, "true;
But on this mount there's work to do.
One hapless sheep hath gone astray,
And now, ere night obscures the way
Take thou thy shepherds staff and bring
The rebel subject to the King"
| Now on the mountain bleak and cold
| He seeks the wanderer from the fold
And on frowning precipice
| Meath which the terrible abyss
OF full despair yawns, dark and grim,
With bleeding flesh and trembling limb,
He finds him and with loving air
Returns him to the shepherds care.
And now the end is drawing near;
In solemn grandeur doth appear
| The silent river, on whoxe breast
Death watts the pilgrim home to rest.
And with his faithful, loving guide
He crosses to the other side