Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1897-06-24
C}OLDSBORO n c.. THURSDAY JUNE. "a, 1897
THE ELDERS zANDTHE CHILD

~
s.
Softly fell the touch of twilight .on
Is.,a,.s5 gudsa's =, .s.a1ssd silent hills; s
o'ersJ Judea7s trembling rillss
I'm The temples court eonversing,
= seven. elders sat apart; z.1
Seven grand and hoary ssages,s wise
-. Of head and pure Of heart.
sWhat is rest?'' said Rabbi Judah,
p he of stern and steadfast gaze,
ssAnswer, ye whose tolls have bur
thened thro' the march of many
days.
s'To have gained, said Rabbi Ezra,
decent wealth and goedly store,
Without sin, by honest labor moth
ing less and nothing more"
ssTo have. found, . said Rabbi Joseph,
meekness in his gentle eyes,
"A foretaste. of heavens sweetness
in homes blessed paradise
'sTo have wealth and power. and
glory crowned and frightened
by the pride '-z-5 .'.'-
Of uprising childfen's children, !"
o Rabbi Benjamin replied. = l@5#
E'To have won the praise Of nations.
to have worn the crown of
l fame" rlEtI 100 ei.}f25
Rabbi Solomon responded, loyal to
his kingly name. s,s.--- s.s,s.. f.-..,
EsTo sit throned, the lord of millions,
first and noblest in the land, ?
Answered naughty Rabbi Asher,
youngest of the reverend band.
':Allin vain, said Rabbi Jarus, ssiff if
not faith and hope have traced
In the soul Mosaic precepts, by sins
contact uneffaced.''
Then up rose Rabbi Judah, .tallest,
F. graVest OF them all: IS, -.
From the heights of fame and honor
even valiant sons may fall; h.az
Love may fail US, Virtues sapling
grow a dry and thorny rod,
II we bear not in our bosoms the un-
selfish love of God .+'i-..
In the outer court sat playing sad
featured, fair-haired child; :.
His young eyes seemed wells Of sor-
row-they were god-like when
he smiled sG=
One by one he dropped the lilies,
softly plueked with childish
hand; aE G iGG {
One by one he viewed the sages of
that grave and hoary band.
Step by step he neared them closer,
till, encircled by the seven,
Then he said, in tones nntrembling,
with a smile that seemed Of
Heaven: -''-@ i-
NAY, nay, fathers! Only he, within
the measure of whose breast
Dwells the human love with God-loYe,
can have found lfe's truest rest;
For where one is not, the other must
grow stagnant at it's spring, -
Changing good deeds into phantoms
an unmeaning, sou11ess thing
Whose holds this precept truly owns
jewel brighter far e. -r..=f. -
Than the joys of home and children
than wealth, fame and glory are.
Fairer than old age thrice-honored,
far above. traditions law, s-Ta.
Pure as any radiant vision ever
ancient prophet saw, ar.ss.
Only he, within the measure-faith
apportioned-of whose breast
Throbs this brother love with God
5 love knows the depth of perfect
rest" ooE.a aas.ts3 sa 31al
Wondering, gazed they at each other.
4s'Pfaised be Israel ever more;
He has spoken words of wisdom no
man ever spake before!' !'>s31 hEz
Calmly passing from their. presence
to the fountain S rippling song.
Stopped he to uplift the lilies strewn
the scattered sprays among.
Family stole the sounds of evening
I through the massive outer door;
Whitley lay the peace-of moonlight
- on the Temples marble floor. =.
Where the elders fingered, silent
since he spake, the Undefled e
Where the Wisdom of the ages SAT
amid the flowers chidl go s.tz