THE LINK OF GOLD | AdventAI

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Aug 14, 1879

THE LINK OF GOLD.

LOST—somewhere—a golden hour Of this glowing autumn day; Since the sunrise, ere the sun set, I have lost it on my way.

Was it when I sat and loitered,— That short chain of such great cost, Slipping idly through my fingers,— That my golden hour was lost?

Was I talking of my neighbors, Weighing all their hopes and cares, And too full of idle gossip Well to mind my own affairs?

Did I fret away the minutes? Was I murmuring? was I cross? Where could all my sense have flown to, That I met with such a loss?

For my hour was a jewel, And with sixty small ones set; Round each minute sixty seconds Made the radiance brighter yet.

They could buy me, Oh, what riches! And what wisdom could they bring! Each was worth, in its true value, All the jewels of a king.

For the Lord would give me something, (If I went to him) for each; Oh, how precious those short lessons He can in a minute teach.

Oh, how grand those views of glory Which a second can make known! Oh, my hour! Oh, my minutes! Never more, alas, my own!

Some I might have well invested, Other people's lives to bless; Those bright moments, wisely traded, Purchase healing for distress.

Oh, has anybody seen it? Seen my precious hour of gold? I would go to buy another, But such treasures are not sold.

God prepared for me a number— Just how few I do not know; Did he give them for no purpose, But that I should lose them so? —Zion's Herald.