POEMS.
17
It is not these who kneel with faith,
To crave the food they must obtain;
It is not faith to pray, and know
Each day must bring but joys again.
To crave the food they must obtain;
It is not faith to pray, and know
Each day must bring but joys again.
Go 'neath the poor man's cheerless roof,
Where Care's gaunt form hath gone before;
Where Want's chill breath is ever felt;
Where Joy, if e'er it was, is o'er.
Where Care's gaunt form hath gone before;
Where Want's chill breath is ever felt;
Where Joy, if e'er it was, is o'er.
Look on young eyes which should be bright,
On drooping forms which should be proud:
On aged locks, by sorrow thinned,
By all the heart's stern anguish bowed.
On drooping forms which should be proud:
On aged locks, by sorrow thinned,
By all the heart's stern anguish bowed.
Oh! it is these who pray with faith,
For means to keep from sin and shame;
Who crave for what a thousand deem,
In pride of wealth, an empty name!
For means to keep from sin and shame;
Who crave for what a thousand deem,
In pride of wealth, an empty name!
And shall no kindly hand be stretched,
In this, our land of boasted worth,
To save, from ruin and disgrace,
Our fellow-pilgrims upon earth?
In this, our land of boasted worth,
To save, from ruin and disgrace,
Our fellow-pilgrims upon earth?
Turn! oh, ye high ones! ye that share
The "common lot" with each of those,
Whose fate, so widely differing now,
Will be as yours when life shall close.
The "common lot" with each of those,
Whose fate, so widely differing now,
Will be as yours when life shall close.
