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Poem
February 17, 1836
Morning Star
Limerick, York County, Maine
What is this article about?
A traveler visits a grieving family who lost a child to illness; the dying daughter's plea for her father's conversion to Christianity leads to his spiritual awakening and recovery, emphasizing God's loving providence amid suffering.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
POETRY.
For the Morning Star.
Messrs. Editors:—Should you see fit, you may insert in the Star the following account of a remarkable Conversion, expressed in substance as I had it from the lips of the subject himself.
As lately I journeyed, near closing of day,
I called at a cottage that stood by the way
I seek entertainment; and found with delight,
A cordial welcome to rest for the night.
The offspring of sin, and dread foe of our race
Had recently been in this peaceable place.
And from the affectionate parents conveyed
An innocent child to the house of the dead.
The floods of affliction were deep and severe,
Thro' which they had waded for more than a year;
For fatal disease had the father bereft
Of strength, and of speech, and his life but just left.
But experimentally, all of them knew
The Lord, who had chastened them, faithful and true,
And with me united in raising the song,
In love he afflicts us, he cannot do wrong.
"Ah! long," said the father, "I dared to rebel,
And ventured my soul on the borders of hell;
In sin against mercy I still would persist,
Till small means awakened, and brought me to Christ.
Our dear little daughter, that now is no more,
(We trust she has gained the celestial shore,)
Approached me one day like an angel of love
On an errand of mercy just sent from above:
"My father," said she, "you must pray to the Lord,
You must be a Christian, and trust in his word.
Then Jesus, my father, will make you get well,
Your speech he'll restore, that his love you may tell."
Her errand was finished, and he, who had given
Our child, in his wisdom, recalled her to heaven;
That day she grew pale, was confined to her room,
And ere a week passed, she was laid in the tomb.
But deeply, O deeply, impressed on my heart,
Her words from my memory cannot depart;
A savor of life unto life they have proved,
And Jesus my mountain of guilt has removed.
Now let us unite in repeating the song,
In love he afflicts us, he cannot do wrong,
All glory to God! that my health is returning
And love in my heart to my Saviour is burning.
G. W. WEBB.
For the Morning Star.
Messrs. Editors:—Should you see fit, you may insert in the Star the following account of a remarkable Conversion, expressed in substance as I had it from the lips of the subject himself.
As lately I journeyed, near closing of day,
I called at a cottage that stood by the way
I seek entertainment; and found with delight,
A cordial welcome to rest for the night.
The offspring of sin, and dread foe of our race
Had recently been in this peaceable place.
And from the affectionate parents conveyed
An innocent child to the house of the dead.
The floods of affliction were deep and severe,
Thro' which they had waded for more than a year;
For fatal disease had the father bereft
Of strength, and of speech, and his life but just left.
But experimentally, all of them knew
The Lord, who had chastened them, faithful and true,
And with me united in raising the song,
In love he afflicts us, he cannot do wrong.
"Ah! long," said the father, "I dared to rebel,
And ventured my soul on the borders of hell;
In sin against mercy I still would persist,
Till small means awakened, and brought me to Christ.
Our dear little daughter, that now is no more,
(We trust she has gained the celestial shore,)
Approached me one day like an angel of love
On an errand of mercy just sent from above:
"My father," said she, "you must pray to the Lord,
You must be a Christian, and trust in his word.
Then Jesus, my father, will make you get well,
Your speech he'll restore, that his love you may tell."
Her errand was finished, and he, who had given
Our child, in his wisdom, recalled her to heaven;
That day she grew pale, was confined to her room,
And ere a week passed, she was laid in the tomb.
But deeply, O deeply, impressed on my heart,
Her words from my memory cannot depart;
A savor of life unto life they have proved,
And Jesus my mountain of guilt has removed.
Now let us unite in repeating the song,
In love he afflicts us, he cannot do wrong,
All glory to God! that my health is returning
And love in my heart to my Saviour is burning.
G. W. WEBB.
What sub-type of article is it?
Ballad
Hymn
Elegy
What themes does it cover?
Religious Faith
Death Mourning
Moral Virtue
What keywords are associated?
Conversion
Religious Testimony
Family Affliction
Child Death
Christian Faith
What entities or persons were involved?
G. W. Webb.
Poem Details
Author
G. W. Webb.
Subject
Account Of A Remarkable Conversion
Form / Style
Rhymed Quatrains In Common Meter
Key Lines
"My Father," Said She, "You Must Pray To The Lord,
You Must Be A Christian, And Trust In His Word.
Then Jesus, My Father, Will Make You Get Well,
Your Speech He'll Restore, That His Love You May Tell."
In Love He Afflicts Us, He Cannot Do Wrong,