-52-
      

FEBRUARY
 

____________________________________________________

THE WALDENSIAN MISSIONARY

-by John Greenleaf Whittier-

"Oh Lady fair, these silks of mine are beautiful and rare --
The richest web of the Indian loom, which Beauty's Self might wear.
And these pearls are pure and mild to behold, as with radiant light they vie;
I have brought them with me a weary way: will my gentle lady buy?"

The lady smiled on the worn old man, through the dark, and clustering curls
Which veiled her brow, as she bent to view his silk and glittering pearls:
She placed their price in the old man's hand, and lightly turned away;
But she paused at the wanderer's earnest call --"My gentle lady, stay!"

"Oh, lady fair, I have yet a gem which a purer lustre flings
Than the diamond flash of the jewelled crown on the lofty brow of kings:
A wonderful pearl of exceeding price, whose virtue shall not decay;
Whose light shall be as a spell to thee, and a blessing on thy way!"

The lady glanced at the mirroring steel, where her youthful form was seen,
Where her eyes shone clear, and her dark locks waved their clasping pearls between;
"Bring forth thy pearl of exceeding worth, thou traveler gray and old,
Name but the price of thy precious gem, and my pages shall count thy gold."

The cloud went off from the pilgrim's brow, as a small and meagre book
Unchased with gold or diamond gem, from his folding robe, he took:
"Here, lady fair, is the pearl of price --may it prove as such to thee!
Nay, keep thy gold, -- I ask it not -- for the Word of God is free."

The hoary traveler went his way, but the gold he left behind
Hath had its pure and perfect work on that high-born maiden's mind;
And she hath turned from her pride of sin to the lowliness of truth,"
And given her human heart to God in its beautiful hour of youth.

And she hath left the old gray walls where an evil faith hath power,
The courtly knights of her father's train, and the maiden's of her bower;
And she hath gone to the Vaudois vale, by lordly feet untrod,
Where the poor and needy of earth are rich in the perfect love of God!

____________________________________________________________
 

Previous   Next