The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-02-06
To the New Murdoch Free Hospital.

This new Hospital, you say,
Will be finished on the first of May.
noble structure It's and grand,
Finely located, and well planned.
Large enough for all,
AS it contains 10000 feet of floor,
OF its kind the only Hospital
Supported by Individual
Without contribution or taxation.
In all this great aud glorious nationi
From sill to eaYe-frOm wing to wing,
The structure seems a HUi7ig thing.
In living tones it seems to speak:
II am an ayslum for the weak,
And burdened and distressed.
The helpless, struggling and depressed,
Deserving daughters of Mother Eve,
Beneath my roof will find relief;
Though many here may often come
Filled with sad thoughts of friends, and home
Their hearts with sckening fear be rife
To come beneath the surgeons knife
Filled with the dizzy, n2meess dread
That haunts the etherizng bed.
Their tears and fears will melt away
Like dew before the orb of day
Kindness will wipe away the tear,
Experience Danish doubt and fear,
And cheerful word and pleasant smile
Shall many a lonely hour beguile.
For none can here position fiji
In whom kindness does not blend with skill.
No surgeon here who is not kind
Skilful, gentlemanly and refined
And faithful, punctual to each call
To rich or poor, one and all.
No attendant here upon the sick
Whose heart is not warm, deep and quick
To feel for, relieve and sympathize
With PAIN and tears, and SleepleSS eyes,
To SOothe the tired, throbbing head,
To soften, cool the feyered bed
Remembering Him who favorS rain,
For the cup Of water in His name"
How glad this founders heart must cell
How full of pride and holy zeal,
To see this noble work go on,-
To see the healed leave one by one,-
To k7lo1U none in the white cots lay
Worrying the doctors bills to pay,
70 hear the convaleScents sing,
Theil laughter make the fine wards ring;
The thanks that from glad hearts they pour,
The Good bless him. as he leaves the door.
To feel that what he can he giUes,
Sees it in good alse while he Lives.
Not waiting till he has turned to dust
To let his wealth amasS, waste, and rust.
He Sees he sees, full well he knows
Where and how each dollar goes,
Not boarded, squandered, vainly spent,
But wisely used, and freely lent
To Him who said of the graces three,
"The greatest of these is Charity"
Another name enrolled shall be
On the pages of philanthropy
Would like him were many more
Who would freely, wisely use their store
Df useful knowledge, and growing wealth
For the good, and aid, and light of health,
So many unheeded day by day
In crowded cities would not fade away
For want of skill, and pure fresh air,
And rest, and nOurishment, and loving care;
SO much want, ana suffering, we would not meet
In garrett and alley In shop and street;
SO many young mothers doomed to die,
Their last earth memory their children'S cry,
Who lett to the waves Of hardened world,
OFT in its eddle3 of sin are Whirled.
Nor so many girls of pure soul, fine brain,
Left to drag out hours of smotheredspain,
Without the means for the time to stop.
For rest from store, or desk, or shop.
Their strength still failing, their last hope gone,
Still bravely trying to struggle on.
When timely skill and care would save
Many flower from all early grave.
God Shower his blessings on every one
Who works for the good, and the light Of Man,
And happy make the hearts tonight
OF those who labor for love and right,
And of those bright souls who have ever sought
To lift, enlarge the plane of thought
For the cause II science. and skin, and Truth,
Or for the alienation of Age and Youth
From sickness. suffering, error, wrong,
Or to lift the fallen, or lead the strong,
Comfort their souls at the last great call,
Forget not this Founder among them all.
Give him happiness, peace and light,
Strength to keep the path of right.
Bless him, Father, in thy own sweet way,
And "raise him up' ON the final day.
[Boston Traveller, November, 1885.
janis RS&Mn