Feliciana sentinel. [volume] (St. Francisville, La.) 1877-1892, 1891-08-29

II. FRANCISvILLE. LOUISIANA.
THE PLATE OF GOLD.
Ono day there fell in great Benarea' temple
= wondrous plate of gold. whereon these words
were writ:
..ro him who loveth best gift from Heaven"
Thereat
The priests made proclamation: "At the mid,
day hour
Each day. let those assemble who for virtue
Their right to Heavens gift the best; and We
will hear
The deeds OF mercy DONE and SO adiudge."
The news
Ran swift rs light, and soon from every quar-.
ter came
Mobiles and munshis, hermits, scholars holy
And all renowned for gracious or for splendid
deeds.
Meanwhile the priests in solemn council sat,
and heard
What each had done to merit best the gift Of
Heaven
So for a year the claimants came and went
Atlast
After patient weighing Of the worth OF all,
The priests bestowed the plate OF gold on one
who seemed
The largest lover OF the race-whose whole es-
tate,
Within the year, had parted been among the
This man, nll trembling with his Joy. advanced
TO take
The golden plate-when 10! at his llrst finger
touch
It changed to basest lead! All stood aghaSt;
but when
The hapless claimant dropt it Changing on the
floor,
Heavens guerdon was again transformed to
shining gold
So for another twelvemonth sat the-priests and
judged.
Thrice they awarded-thrice did Heaven re-
fuse the gift.
Meanwhile host OF poor. manned bcsgars in
the street
Lay all about the temple gate. IN hope to move
That love whereby each claimant hoped to win
the gift.
And well for them it was tit gold be charity,
For every pilgrim to the temple gate praised
That love might thus approve itself before the
test.
And SO the coins rained freely In the out
stretched hands;
But none Of those who gave so much as turned
to look
Into the poor sad eyes OF them that begged
And now
The second year had almost passed, but stin
the plate
OF gold, by whomsoever touched. was turned
to lead.
Al length there came simple peasant-not
aware
OF that strange contest for the gift OF God-to
A vow within the temple. AS he passed Along
The line OF shriveled beggars, all his soul was
moved
Within him to sweet pity, and the tears
weiied up
And trembled in his eyes.
Now by the temple gate
There Law a moor sore creature, blind and
stunned by all
But when the peasant came and saw the sight
less face
And trembling, festercd hands he could not
pass, but knelt
And took both palms In his, and softly said
20 thou
My brother. bear thy trouble bravely. God Is
good
Then he arose and walked straiShtway across
the court,
And entered where they wrangled Of their
deeds Of love
Before the priests.
Awhile he listened sadly; then 80
Had turned away; but something moved the
priest who held
The plate Of gold to beckon to the peasant. So
He came not understanding. and obeyed. and
stretched
His hand and took the sacred vessel Lo! it
With thrice its former luster and ahmed
them all!
"Son," said the priest, 'rejoicc! The gift Of
God is thine.
Thou lowest best"' And all made answer: TT
is well''
And one by one departed. But the peasant
knelt
And prayed bowling his head above the golden
plate;
While DER his soul like morning streamcd the
love OF God.
James Buckham, in Youths Companion.
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