The Brookhaven leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1883-1891, 1890-02-06
BEN HAZARDS GUESTS.

BEN HAZARDS GUESTS.
This beautiful poem has been going
about the country mutilated. and with
some of it's most beautiful lines omitted.
We have obtained from it's author a
copy of the original, and with her kind
permission give it to our readers in full.
Ben Hazards hut was smoky and cold
Ben Hazard, half blind, was black and
old,
And he cobbled shoes for his scanty gold.
Sometimes he sighed for a larger store
Wherewith to bless the wandering poor
For he was not wise in worldly lore,
The poor were Christ's., he knew no more.
Twas very little that Ben could do,
But he pegged his prayers in many o shoe,
And only himself and the dear Lord knew.
Meanwhile lie must cobble with all his
might
Till, the Lord knew when-it would all
be right.
For he walked by faith, and not by sight.
One night a cry from the window came
Ben Hazard was sleepy, and tired, and
lame
"Ben Hazard, open," it seemed to say,
"Give shelter and feed, l humbly pray"
Ben Hazard lifted his woolly head
L " L 10 OoIuS hC
And his old bones shook in his ragged
bed,
"But the wandereF must be cOmforted."
Out from his straw he painfully crept,
And over the frosty floor he slept,
While under the door the snow wreaths
swept.
"COme in, IN the name of the Lord" he
cried,
AS he open the door, and held it wide.
4 milk-,Ukite kitten was all he spied.
Trembling and crying there at his feet,
Ready to die in the bitter sleet.
Ben Hazard, amazed, started up and
down;
The candles were out in all the town,
The stout house-doors were carefully
shut,
Safe bolted were all but old Ben's hut.
II thought that somebody Called" he
said;
"Some dream or other got into my head
Come, then, poor pussy, and share my
bed"
But first he sought for rusty cup,
And gave his guest generous sup.
Then out from the storm, the wind and
sleet,
Puss joyfully lay at old Ben's feet.
Truly, it was terrible storm,
Ben feared he should never more be warm i.
But just as he began to be dOzy,
And puss was purring soft and coZy,
voice called family before the door:
ben Hazard, Ben Hazard, help I i'm
Give drink, and crust from out your
store"
Ben Hazard opened his sleepy eyes.
And his full-moOn face showed great sur
prise.
Out from his bed he stumbled again,
Teeth chatteriDg with neuralgia pain.
Caught at the door in the frozen rain.
"Come in, in the name of the Lord" he
said,
with such as have thou shalt be fed :"
Only a little black dog he saw,
Whining and shaking a broken paw.
"Well, WE'LL" cried Ben Hazard, 81
must have dreamed"
For verify like voice it seemed.
''PoOr creature" he added, with husky
tone,
His feet so cold they seemed like stone.
Thou shalt have the whole of my mar
rOw-bOne."
He went to the cupboard, and took from
the shelf
The bone he had saved for his very self.
Then, after binding the broken paw,
~A"'1 NS"N "ibh OOlu hCub UdCk W LIS
straw.
Under the ancient blue bedquilt he crept.
His concience was white, and again he
slept
But again voice called both loud and
clear:
Ben Hazard, for Christ's sweet sake
Once more he stood at the open door.
And looked abroad, as he looked before.
This time, full sure, twas a voice he
heard;
But all that he saw was a storm tossed
bird,
with weary piniOn and beaten crest.
And red blood-stain on it's snowy breast.
Come In, in the name eff the LOrd,o he said.
Tenderly raising the dropping head,
And, tearing his tattered robe apart.
Laid the cold bird on his own earn. heart:
The sunrise flashed on the snowy
thatch,
As an angel lifted the wooden latch.
Ben woke 10 food of golden light,
And knew the voice that had called all
night,
And steadfastly gazing, without a word.
beheld the messenger from the Lord.
lie said to Ben with a wondrous smile,
Inc three guests sleeping all the while.
The hambleSt creatures that sought thu door
For Chrisps s,Ceet sake thou hast conf orted."
NAY, twas not much" Ben humbly said,
With rueful shake of his old gray head. |
"Who giuetk all of his scanty store
IN ChriSpS dear name. can do no more.
Behold the Master, ,oko Daiteth for thee,
SAITH 'GtDtRg to them, thou hast gipen TO |
me-"
Then, with heavens light on his face, |
"Amenl
L come in the name of the Lord" said
Ben.
Frozen to DEATH" the Waterman said,
When at last he found him in his bed.
WITH smile on his face so strange and
bright
he wondered what old Ben saw that
night.
bsn's lips were silent, and never told
ne had gone up higher to find his gold.
ANNIE +. MARSHALL, In CoRgre7afionlist. |