Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1894-05-31
BEN HAZzARo's GUESTS.

Ben Hazard S hut was smoky anu Soiu,
Ben Hazard, half blind, was black and
old,
And lie cobbled shoes for his scanty
gold.
Sometimes he sighed for 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.
One night cry from the window came
Ben Hazard was sleepy and tired and
lame
"Ben Hazard, open, it seemed to say,
"Give shelter and food, 1 humbly pray
Ben Hazard lifted his woolly head
To listen. "Tis awful cold," he said,
And his old bones shook in his ragged
"But the wanderer must be comforted. y
"Come i'll, in the name of the Lord, he
cried,
As he opened the door and held it wide.
A milk-white kitten was all he spied,
Ben Hazard amazed, stared up and
down;
The stout house-doors were carefully
shut,
Safe bolted were all but old Ben's hut.
81 thought that somebody called" he
said,
"Some dream OF other got into my
head
Come then. poor pussy, aud share my
bed"
Then out from the storm, the wind and
the sleet,
Puss joyfully lay at old Beu's feet.
Truly it was a terrible storm,
Ben feared he should never more be
warm;
But just as he began to be dozy,
And puss was purring soft and cozy,
A voice called family before his door:
'Ben Hazard, Ben Hazard, help, im-
plore
Give drink and crust from out your
store"
Out from his bed he stumbled again;
"Come in, in the name of the Lord, he
said;
with such as have, thou shalt be fed. D."
Only little black dog he saw,
Whining and shaking 4 broken paw.
"Well, we'll, " he cried, Il must have
dreamed
But verify like voice it seemed.
Poor creature" he added, with husky
tone,
"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,
Half dead with cold went back to his
straw.
Under the ancient blue bedquilt he crept,
His conscience was white and again lie
slept.
But again voice called, both loud and
clear:
"Ben Hazard, for Christ's sweet sake
come here"
Once more lie 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 storm-toSsed
bird
Come i'll, i'll the name of the Lord" he
said,
Tcnderly raising the dropping head,
And, tearing his tattcred robe apart,
Laid the cold bird on his own warm
heart.
The sunrise flashed on the snowy thatch,
As an angel lifted the wooden latch.
Ben woke in a flood of golden light.
And knew the voice that had called all
night.
Thrice happy is he that blesseth the
poor,
The humblcst creature that sought thy
door,
For Christ's sweet sake thou hast COM
fortcd."
''Nay, twas not much" Ben humbly
said,
With rueful shake Of his old gray
head.
''Who givcth all of his scanty store
In Christ's dear name, can do no more.
Behold, the Master who waiteth for thee,
Saith: Giving to them thou hast given
to Ne. '"
Then, with heavens light on his face,
"Amen,
come in the name of the Lord" said
Ben.
''Frozen to death, the watchman said,
When at last he found him in his bed,
With a smile on his face so strange and
bright;
He wondered what old Ben saw that
night.
He Got Even at Last.