The Home Circle by Egbert L. Bangs

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Oct 21, 1889

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 15, No. 40.

The Home Circle.

By Egbert L. Bangs

THE BELL OF JUSTICE.

THERE was a king long years ago; His name historian doth not know. He lived beneath Italian skies, A noble monarch, just and wise. That he might serve his people well, In a high tower he hung a bell. He who was wronged had but to ring The bell of justice, for the king Was bound to make the humblest prayer The subject of his royal care.

At first men rung it every day. Rotted at last the rope away, And, growing shorter by degrees, Swayed lightly to each passing breeze. For many a month it idle hung, No longer needed. No one rung For justice; men had learned to fear, And dreaded now the bell to hear. At length a wandering grape-vine clung Tight to the rope that idle hung, And firmly held it, sweetly grasped, As if one hand another clasped.

A starving horse, turned out to die, One summer day was passing by, And browsing where the grape-vine hung, The bell of justice loudly rung. Straightway a royal herald came, And saw the horse, half-starved and lame. He told the king who rung the bell. The monarch answered: "It is well. The brute for justice doth appeal; For starving brutes I pity feel. Go seek his owner out for me, And tell him this is our decree: Long as he lives this horse must fare On oats and grass of his. Beware! If he again for justice call My wrath shall on his owner fall."

Would God to-day there were a bell That brutes could ring, and thereby tell The story of their cruel wrongs, And win the justice that belongs To every creature, great and small; For God, their Maker, loveth all. —Egbert L. Bangs.