Poems (Dodd)/Charity
For works with similar titles, see Charity.
I saw a pale young orphan boy Go wandering sadly by,His feet were bare, his garments torn, And tears were in his eye.He gazed on every face that passed; In none was pity shewn;And then upon the cold damp ground, He sat and wept alone.
The drifting snow came thick and fast, The wind was high and wild;He found no shelter for his head, The poor, forsaken child.And all who had come forth that day, To brave the cheerless storm,Wrapped their warm garments closer round, And passed unheeding on.
And there, amid the blinding sleet, He watched till sight grew dim;He was too young to trust in heaven, Faith could not dwell with himAnd even hope, which comes to all, Now failed to bring relief;Alas! that childhood e'er should know Such deep and withering grief.
Anon an angel form drew near, With a sweet, pitying eye,And soon she raised him from the ground, And soon his tears were dry.She folded him within her robe, To shield him from the storm,And took him to her cheerful home, To feed, and clothe, and warm.
Yes, thou wilt soothe the suffering one, And bid his woes depart;The orphan's prayers shall follow thee, Maid of the gentle heart.Faith leads us through life's trying scenes, Hope's smiles are sweet to see,But lovelier than these art thou, O, soft-eyed charity!
Daughter of heaven! 'tis thine to cheer The hearts that hopeless grieve,To follow in the steps of want Its victims to relieve.Fain would we imitate thy love; Fain would we walk with thee;Come thou, and make our hearts thy home, O, blessed Charity!