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MY FATHER'S BIBLE

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Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 3, 1858

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 12, No. 3.

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MY FATHER'S BIBLE.

By S. Dier

FLOW on, sweet tears! I needs must weep, For memory calls from fountains deep, That treasured store of holy tears The heart has garnered up for years— Mine eyes behold My Father's Bible—his of yore; Than mines of gold, He prized it more!
When grief oppressed, and crushing care; When Death had nipped our loved and fair, And dark misfortune's heavy hand Was laid upon our little band, In painful loss; He then would read what Jesus bore: Upon the cross, And weep no more.
When pleasure spread her flowery maze, To lure our feet from virtue's ways, And sin with fell, insidious art, Wove fatal spells to snare the heart— This truthful page, Our doubting footsteps onward bore Through every stage, Till doubt was o'er.
When called to seek the distant West, I craved a father's last behest; 'Mid parting pangs we scarce could brook, "Take this," said he, "this blest old book, So long, long mine; And tho' I give no other store, 'Tis wealth divine— Prize nothing more.
Long hast thou known a father's care; Shared daily in his fervent prayer; But now we part—Farewell, my child!" He said no more, but wept; yet smiled, As pointing still To this old book, when through the door, I passed the sill, Crossed nevermore!
Now moonbeams sleep upon his grave, And mournful willows o'er him wave; No more from death's repose he'll wake, To plead with man for Jesus' sake, His sins forbear. O, as I turn these pages o'er, Than jewels rare, I prize them more.
When death would fright the timid soul With coffin, shroud, the grave's dark goal, The parting hour, the dying groan, The world unseen, a fate unknown, A light from thee, Thou Book of books, dost round me pour; Death's shadows flee— Life evermore!
Thou'rt dingy now, and sadly worn, With crumpled leaves and binding torn; Thy value others may not see, But thou art priceless wealth to me! Shrined in my heart Shall be thy memory and thy lore; My soul's best chart For evermore!
[S. Dier.