A LITTLE DOG
A little dog disturbed my trust in Heaven.
I praised most faithfully
All the great things that be,
Man's pain and pleasure even;
I said though hard this weighing
Of pains and tears and praying,
He will reward most just.
I said your bitter weeping, man or maid,
Your tears or laughter,
Shall gain a just Hereafter;
Meet you the will of God then unafraid,
Gird you to your trials, for God's abode
Is open for all sorrow;
Live for the great to-morrow.
There passed me on the road
A little dog with hungry eyes, and sad
Thin flesh all shivering,
All sore and quivering.
Whining beneath the fell disease he had
I hurried home and praised God as before
For thus affording
To man rewarding,
The dog was whining outside my door.
I flung it wide, and said, Come enter in.
Outcast of God.
Beneath His rod
You suffer sore, poor beast, that had no sin.
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