Page:The Chinese Recorder and Missionary Journal 1906-12 Vol 37 Iss 12.pdf/21

1906.] Where men have toiled and sinned and laughed and wept
 * For thrice a thousand years.

Another voice is stilled of those that cry
 * In that sad wilderness

Proclaiming to the weary sons of men
 * "The Kingdom is at hand!"

Then one who loved him stood beside his grave
 * And saw its roughness clothed

With that same beauty which the Master praised.
 * For over all the mound,

Their pink bells open wide to greet the day,
 * Wild morning-glories blew.

So, blessed with eyes that see, his friend took cheer
 * From Nature's parable.

For even so he lived and wrought among
 * The lowliest of the low,

Men saw him leave the ways that lead to ease
 * And consecrate his all.

Some called him mad because he chose to toil
 * Among the mean and poor;

Nor did they reck that in those sordid souls
 * He saw God's starving sheep.

They did not care that, leaving all, he trod
 * The foot-steps of his Lord.

No narrow zealot he. His nature stood
 * Four-square to all the world.

With kindly ear the peasant's tale he heard,
 * He wept with those that wept;

Anon with gownèd pedant held discourse
 * Concerning sage's lore.

The offices of hospitality
 * It was his joy to do.

He was a man,—knightly among the knights
 * Of this, the Last Crusade.

Upon his shield were blazoned ancient words;
 * "All things to all,—to save."

From midst of labors for the souls of men
 * God called him swiftly home.

He knew no lingering pain. High on the breast
 * Of China's sacred Mount

Where Yao and Shun uplifted reverent hands
 * In the dim days of old,

Amidst the mid-night crash of elements,
 * His noble spirit passed.

And thus, in deathless joy, the man who walked
 * The humble path of love

Inhabiteth henceforward with his Lord
 * God's Morning-glory Land.

W. P. C.