The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-02-03
TOthe New Murdoch Free Hospital.

BY A. M. TRHGGS, a Patient.
This new Hospital, you say,
Will be finished on the first OF May
noble structure it's and grand,
Finely located, and well planned
AS It contains sc, 900 feet of floor,
OF its kind the only Hospital
Supported by one individual
Without contribution or taxation.
In all this great aud glorious nation!
From sill to eave-from wing TO wing,
The structure seems LiUtng thing.
In living tones it seems to speak:
81 am an ayslum for the weak,
And burdened and distressed.
The helpless, struggling and depressed,
Deserving daughters Of Mother Eve,
Beneath my roof will lind 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 knne.
Filled with the dizzy, nameleSS 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 begulle
For none can here position I'LL
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 sympathlZe
With pain and tears, and sleepless eyes,
To soOthe the tired, throbblng head,
To SOFTEN cool the fevered bed,
Remembering Him who favors rain,
For the cup of water in HIS name
How glad this founders heart mustfee
How full of pride and holy zeal,
To see this noble work go on
To see the healed leave one by one,-
To klaolU none in the white cots lay
Worrying the doctors bills to pay,
To hear the convaleScents sing.
Theil laughter make the fine wards ring;
The thanks that from glad hearts they pour,
The :sCod bless him. as he leaves the door
To feel that what he can he gjUes,
Sees it in good atse while he JtUeS.
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
OF 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, and 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 chlldren'S cry,
Oft in its eddies of sin are whirled.
Nor so many girls of pure soul, fine brain,
Left to drag out hours of Smothered.pain,
Without the means for the time to stop.
For a rest from store, or desk, or shop.
Their strength still falling, their last hope gone,
Still bravely trying to struggle on
When timely skill and care would save
Many flower from an 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 of science, and skill, 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.
jan13 WS&Mtf