TWO REWARDS by M. E. Darling

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Mar 3, 1898

TWO REWARDS.

By M. E. Darling

His dwelling was grand and spacious, His land stretched far and wide; He had all that gold could purchase, And the esteem of men beside.

He drank from the fount of knowledge, Bought books with a lavish hand; The fame of his wealth and learning Was known throughout the land.

His thoughts and plans were selfish And grew with the passing years; He was deaf to the orphan’s pleadings, He was blind to the widow’s tears.

In the shadow of his mansion Was a cottage small and plain, Rocked with the storms of winter, And browned with sun and rain.

The inmate of this humble cot, Aged and poor and gray, A servant of God, lay dying, His life fast ebbing away.

He had nor wealth nor station, No treasures laid up on earth; So quiet was his kindness shown But few had known his worth.

His backward path, how beautiful, Shone bright with the fragrant dew Of helpfulness and charity, And of friendship sweet and true!

An angel came from heaven one day, On a mission of peace and love, To cheer the weak and discouraged, And point them to Christ above.

As he passed the lordly rich man, He said, as he lingered near, “Dear mortal, one thing thou lackest,” But the rich man would not hear.

In his heart was the love of pleasure, And he calmly made his choice; The praise of men was sweeter Than the angel’s pleading voice.

So the angel went to the poor man, And, whispering low, said he, “Take now thy rest from labor; Thy crown awaiteth thee.”

The rich poor man was glutted With the prize of earth’s renown; The poor rich man received by faith Life, and a fadeless crown.

MRS. M. E. DARLING.

Sunnyside, Cal.