The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1883-12-22
BEN HAZARDS GUEST.

Ben Hazard, half blind. was black and old
And he cobblrd shoes for his scanfy gold.
Sometimes he sighed for a larger store,
Wherewilh to bless the wandering poor:
For he was not wise in worldly lore
The poor was Christ's-he knew no more.
Twas very little that Ben could do,
But he pegged his prayer in many shoe,
Aud only himself and the good Lord knew
Meanwhile, he must cobble with all hi:
might,
Till the Lord knew when it would be al
right;
For he worked by faith, and not by sight.
One night cry from the window came,
Ben Hazard was sleepy, and tired, ant
'Ben Hazard, open, it seemed to say,
''Give shelter and food, humbly pray"
Ben Hazard lifted his woody head
To listen. "'Tis awful cold" he said
And his old bones shook in his ragged bed
But the wanderar must be comforted."
Out from his straw he painfully crept,
And over the frosty floor he slept,
swept
"Conle in, IN tie "a.ne Of tie Lori, &" he cried
As he opened the door and held it wide,
y milk-white kitten was all he spied,
Trembling and crying there ii, his feet,
Ready to die in the bitter sleet.
Ben Hazard, amazed. stared up and down
The candles We're out in all the town,
The stout houSe-doors were carefully shut
Safe bolted We're all but cid Ben's hut.
Il thought that some one cal'ed,'' he said
''Some dream or other got into my head,
Come then, poor pussy, and share my bed
But first he sought for a rusty cup,
And gave his guest Il generous sup;
Then out from the wind, the storm and til,
sleet,
Puss joyfuily lay at old Ben's feet
Truly it was a terrible storm;
Ben feared he should never more be warn
But just Is he began to be doZy,
And pu-s was pnrring soft and coy,
\ voice called family before his door,
"Ben Hazard, Ben Hazard, help, i'm
plore
Give drink aud n crust from ont ynur store >
Ben Hazard on-ued his sleepy eyes,
AMI his wrinkl-t face showed great sur
prise.
Out from his straw he Stun hl-d again,
His teeth a-cnatrtr with ueuralsic pain,
Caught at the door in the frozen rain.
"Come in, IN the name Of tie Lord," he said
with such as l have thou shalt he fed
Only a little black dog he saw,
Whining, and shaki. IA broken paw
'Well we'll ~ cried Ben Hazard, 81 must
have dreamed,
But verify like n voice it seemed
Poor creature,'' he added, with husky tone
His feet so cold they seemed like stone,
"rhou shalt have the whole OF my marrow
hone
He went to rLe cupboard and took from the
shelf
The bone he had saved fer his very self
Then, after binding the broken paw,
Half dead with cold. went back q his straw
Under the ancient blue quit he crept:
Ills Conscience was white. again he slept.
But again voice called, both loud and
clear,
"Ben Hazard, for Christ's sweet SAKE, come
here
Once more he stood at the open door,
A Id looiled abroad, as he look ell before,
This time, full sure twas a voice lie heard
But all that he saw, was storm tossed bird
With weary pinion and beating crest,
And bloodred stain on its snowy breast
SCORE IN, IN tie name Of the ord - he said
Tenderly raising its dropping head
And tearing lis tattered robe apart
Laid the cold bird on his own warm heart
The sunlight flashed on the snowy thatch
As an angel lifted The wooden latch.
Ben woke in Il food of golden light
And knew the voice that had called al
night;
And steadfa.tly gazing, without word,
Behed the messenger troin the Lord.
He said IN Ben with a wondrous smile:
CHE three guests steering all the whii-):
"7hrice hoppg Is lie H.ot blesSeth the poor:
The hHmtlesf creo'tIc that sought thu GOoy
For rhrist's S,rpft sake MoH hast cohnforted.
"Nay, 'iw,s not much, Ben hunblv said
With a rueiul look of his Oh. gray head.
"WAo girctit all Of his &cdnty store,
Ia Christ'S dc0r na,s2, ctta 90 no mare;
BehclI' tie Master ,rio 1cuitsth for thee,
saith, 'Giring to them tic" hGst giren 10 Me-
Than, with heavens bright Light on hi
face, "AMEN,
I come IA tie name ct tie Lo,d,' said Ben.
:: :: ): :: :: X
"rrozen to DEATH the Waterman said,
When Al last they found him dead in hi
bed,
With a smile on his face so strange an,
bright,
He wondered what old Ben saw that night
B-n's lips We're SILENT he never told
EEHAD GONE Ur HIGHER TO FIND HI!
GOLD.