fishermen.
43
Fishermen.
'Twas Sabbath eve; the hour of prayer was nigh,
When lo! from out the dark and sullen sky
Forked lightings sudden flashed,
The thunder rolled and crashed;
Then came the dreaded squall,
And rain began to fall.
Shivering, I closed the door—
Ugh! how the rain did pour—
And sought the fire's warm glow.
How wild without! "Why go?"
Said self, "The preacher will not come."
But I heard a small voice say,
"Why should you stay away?
Though the servant may not appear,
Will not the Master be there?"
When lo! from out the dark and sullen sky
Forked lightings sudden flashed,
The thunder rolled and crashed;
Then came the dreaded squall,
And rain began to fall.
Shivering, I closed the door—
Ugh! how the rain did pour—
And sought the fire's warm glow.
How wild without! "Why go?"
Said self, "The preacher will not come."
But I heard a small voice say,
"Why should you stay away?
Though the servant may not appear,
Will not the Master be there?"
I went; and even as I thought,
The hour of prayer no preacher brought;
But, from the band of fishermen,
One rose, who with a reverent mien—
Betraying no self-consciousness—
Told the story of the Cross.
His story told: another took his place,
Another with an earnest sun-bronzed face,
And he, in turn, in simple language strove
To tell the story of Redeeming Love.
The hour of prayer no preacher brought;
But, from the band of fishermen,
One rose, who with a reverent mien—
Betraying no self-consciousness—
Told the story of the Cross.
His story told: another took his place,
Another with an earnest sun-bronzed face,
And he, in turn, in simple language strove
To tell the story of Redeeming Love.
