The Lesson.
Once when my heart had dared to spurn
The wisdom of His will sublime,
God set a task for me to learn—
To break this stubborn will of mine.
Humbled and penitent, I knelt
At my stern teacher Sorrow’s knee,
And with white lips, heart-stricken spelt
The lesson God had set for me.
Through shades of swiftly gathering night
I strove the tear-stained page to con,
Whilst friends who smiled with morning’s light
Departed as the night came on.
Then with my lesson learned by heart
I turned to face the world again,
And watched each fickle friend depart,
Mine eyes bedimmed with tears of pain.
I scanned each face with wistful eyes
For friendly smile, but there was none,
Then turned away with bitter sigh
And cried: “O God! There is not one,
“Who heedless of the world’s cold scorn
Will step from out the beaten road,
And help with words of kindness born
A comrade sinking ’neath the load.”
O friend! I own that I was wrong,
My hasty judgment now I rue,
You stepped from out that worldly throng
To clasp my hand in friendship true.
The memory of that kindly deed
Shall ever in my heart be shrined,
For in that hour of sorest need
You saved my faith in human kind.
And though God’s hand hath smitten sore,
Hath broken this poor heart of mine,
And darkened all that lies before,
I will not murmur nor repine.
For had my sun ne’er known eclipse,
Had Life’s fair blooms ne’er turned to rue,
Had Sorrow’s cup not pressed my lips,
I had not found a friend like you.
Of all I know, ’twas you alone,
Who stretched towards me helping hands,
Content to let the fruitless past
Be judged by Him who understands.
Your hand had power my steps to stay
As unbelief’s dark paths I trod,
And pointed out a better way,
The peaceful path that leads to God.