p. 10 | AT THE BAR

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jan 13, 1898

AT THE BAR.

“Who speaks for this man?” From the great white throne, Veiled in its roseate clouds, the voice came forth; Before it stood a parted soul, alone, And rolling east, and west, and south, and north, The mighty accents summoned quick and dead: “Who speaks for this man, ere his doom be said?”

Lo, from the solemn concourse, hushed and dim, The widow’s prayer, the orphan’s blessing rose; The struggler told of trouble shared by him, The lonely of cheered hours and softened woes; And like a chorus spoke the crushed and sad: “He gave us all he could, and what he had”!

And little words of loving-kindness said, And tender thoughts, and help in time of need, Sprang up like leaves by soft spring showers fed, In some waste corner, sown by chance-flung seed; In grateful wonder heard the modest soul, Such trifles gathered to so blest a whole.

O ye, by circumstance’ strong fetters bound, The store so little, and the hand so frail, Do but the best you can for all around; Let sympathy be true, nor courage fail, Winning among your neighbors, poor and weak, Some witness at your trial hour to speak.

—All the Year Round (1877).