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Poem
June 14, 1834
The Liberator
Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts
What is this article about?
Poem by Stephen Ricks, a young Black boy who died in February 1832, addressed to Mary Walton. Found in her work-box at the Shelter. Expresses thanks for teaching him faith and hope in heaven, urges her to guide other orphans to Jesus, emphasizing mercy for Black children.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
[For the Liberator.]
"Stephen to Mary."
Found in Mary Walton's work-box, after Stephen Ricks' decease, at the Shelter.—2nd month, 1832. S. R. was a colored lad.
Mary, once I feared to go
From a world of care and woe:
But thou taught me how to die—
How to fix my hopes on high;
Bade my childish fears depart,
And revived my trembling heart;
Told me, in a heavenly land,
With a chosen seraph band,
I should join in singing praise,
And my feeble anthems raise.
Yes! thou taught a little child,
With affection meek and mild,
That his home was far above,
In a land of peace and love;
Told me, Jesus sweetly smiled
On a humble, sable child.
Oh then, dearest Mary, still
With thy kind, persuasive skill,
Lead a little orphan band
To this bright, celestial land,
Where the Ethiopians share
In redeeming mercy fair;
Where in holy, heavenly spot,
Jesus says, 'Forbid them not;
Suffer them to come to me—
They shall of my goodness see.'
And when Mary's glass has run,
When her work on earth is done,
Here a little ransomed band
Shall before her joyful stand.
Welcome to a land of love,
To a 'shelter' far above,
Where no little orphan's tear
Shall distress a heart sincere;
Where no parting funeral knell
Shall a long sad farewell tell.
Oh then, dearest Mary, stay—
Teach the orphan how to pray;
Lead them all to Jesus fair,
Make them thy peculiar care—
Bid their infant hearts arise,
Lead them to the blissful skies.
"Stephen to Mary."
Found in Mary Walton's work-box, after Stephen Ricks' decease, at the Shelter.—2nd month, 1832. S. R. was a colored lad.
Mary, once I feared to go
From a world of care and woe:
But thou taught me how to die—
How to fix my hopes on high;
Bade my childish fears depart,
And revived my trembling heart;
Told me, in a heavenly land,
With a chosen seraph band,
I should join in singing praise,
And my feeble anthems raise.
Yes! thou taught a little child,
With affection meek and mild,
That his home was far above,
In a land of peace and love;
Told me, Jesus sweetly smiled
On a humble, sable child.
Oh then, dearest Mary, still
With thy kind, persuasive skill,
Lead a little orphan band
To this bright, celestial land,
Where the Ethiopians share
In redeeming mercy fair;
Where in holy, heavenly spot,
Jesus says, 'Forbid them not;
Suffer them to come to me—
They shall of my goodness see.'
And when Mary's glass has run,
When her work on earth is done,
Here a little ransomed band
Shall before her joyful stand.
Welcome to a land of love,
To a 'shelter' far above,
Where no little orphan's tear
Shall distress a heart sincere;
Where no parting funeral knell
Shall a long sad farewell tell.
Oh then, dearest Mary, stay—
Teach the orphan how to pray;
Lead them all to Jesus fair,
Make them thy peculiar care—
Bid their infant hearts arise,
Lead them to the blissful skies.
What sub-type of article is it?
Verse Letter
Hymn
What themes does it cover?
Religious Faith
Death Mourning
Slavery Abolition
What keywords are associated?
Stephen Ricks
Mary Walton
Orphan Shelter
Religious Faith
Black Children
Heavenly Mercy
1832
What entities or persons were involved?
Stephen Ricks
Poem Details
Title
Stephen To Mary
Author
Stephen Ricks
Subject
To Mary Walton After Teaching Faith To Orphans
Form / Style
Rhymed Verse In Couplets And Quatrains
Key Lines
Mary, Once I Feared To Go
From A World Of Care And Woe:
But Thou Taught Me How To Die—
How To Fix My Hopes On High;
Told Me, Jesus Sweetly Smiled
On A Humble, Sable Child.
Where The Ethiopians Share
In Redeeming Mercy Fair;
Oh Then, Dearest Mary, Stay—
Teach The Orphan How To Pray;