The First Fanatic

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 24, 1865

The First Fanatic.

[THE following is clipped from the Continental Monthly ; and as it applies very appropriately to popular opinion upon our work, I send it for publication, if deemed worthy. E. G. RUST. Chicago, Ills.]

When Noah hewed the timber Wherewith to build the ark, Outside the woods one shouted— "That wild fanatic!—hark!"

And when he drew the beams And laid them on the plain, One said, "He has no balance, He surely is insane."

And when he raised the frame, One clear sunshiny day, "Poor fool of one idea," A smiling man did say.

When he foretold the flood, And stood repentance teaching, They sneered "You radical, We'll have no ultra preaching."

And when the beasts and birds Came to the ark one morn, They shouted, "Old enthusiast!" And laughed with ringing scorn.

When he and his went in, They gazed and said "Erratic! A pleasant voyage to you, Noah, You canting, queer fanatic."

But when in floods that came, They found a grave aquatic; They cried "alas! it's we, not he, Have been the poor fanatic."