HUMBLE SERVICE by Josephine Folsom

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Apr 20, 1904

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 30, No. 16.

HUMBLE SERVICE.

By Josephine Folsom

BY JOSEPHINE FOLSOM.

It is not given to me to be a tower, Shedding a gleam far o'er a troubled sea, To lift aloft a light in some dark hour, When waves of life and death beat restlessly;

Nor mine to glow, like ancient beacon-fire, Rousing the country-side to warfare brave; Lifting the standard of the cross e'er higher, Where there are foes to fight, and souls to save;

Nor e'en to be,—ah, blest of all vocations!— A steady hearth-fire, calling wanderers home, To warm cold hearts and drive away vexations, And win to rest the weary ones who roam.

Lord, I will be content if Thou wilt choose me To do some work by others left undone; If in some little mission Thou canst use me, Errands for Thee I willingly would run.

It may be as a lantern or a taper, Lighting the pathway for but one brief night; Or, humbler mission still, the flint and steel Or match, used but some stronger wick to light,

Which, when the gleam that it has kindled brightens, Transferred to tower, or hearth, or beacon-hill, Drops from the hand forgotten—falling,—lightens The outer gloom a minute; then is still.

Think you that little match has had no mission, Tho all forgotten as the work goes on, If through its influence some light has risen To guide souls up to the eternal morn?

Gladstone, N. J.