A TRIBUTE by Mary Martin

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 8, 1879

A TRIBUTE.

By Mary Martin

LINES ON THE DEATH OF MARY F. ANDREWS.

[The following lines were written at the time of Sister Mary's death, Nov. 28, 1878, and at the request of many friends are here given to the readers of the REVIEW.—Ed.]

'Twas a lowly home in Bethany Where our Saviour found a safe retreat; Supremely blest with such a guest, Simon sat with his friends at meat.

There came a woman of humble mein; Tears freely flowed, though no word she said, But she brake an alabaster box, And poured the ointment upon his head.

Of the friends who thought they loved him well, None to applaud; but with critic eye They turn to the Master sitting there, And only murmuring, ask him, “Why?”

It was so precious ’twere better far That the costly ointment had been sold, And the money given to help the poor;— Not so said Love, but Avarice cold.

Now hear what the Heavenly Teacher saith, To him it seemed both right and good: “Of her it shall evermore be told That for me she hath done what she could.”

Dear Saviour, our alabaster box We have broken on thy sacred head; Our hearts are stricken and lowly bowed, And upon thy feet our tears we shed.

Father, forgive, if another way Has better seemed to the tear-dimmed eye; Forgive, if the quivering heart-strings breathe Sometimes, ’mid the deepest anguish, “Why?”

And oh, accept of the gift we bring; There is naught more precious we can bestow; And what we cannot in earth’s dark night, In the morn of eternity we shall know.

And as “the odor filled all the house” From the costly box so gladly riven, So shall the fragrance of this young life Remain till the endless life be given.

And then—have patience, poor heart, and wait; For there cometh o’er death a victory. The meeting and crowning time is near, And oh, what bliss it will bring to thee!

MARY MARTIN.