DANIEL GRAY. By J. G. HOLLAND. FI shall ever win the home in heaven IF For whose sweet rest I humbly hope and pray. In the great company of the forgiven I shall be sure to find old Daniel Gray. I knew him well; in fact, few knew him better; Old Daniel Gray was not a man who lifted He had a few old-fashioned words and phrases, I see him now, his form, and face, and motions, Rising behind the straight-backed kitchen-chair. "Help us, O Lord, to pray, and not to faint!" And how the "conquering-and-to-conquer" rounded The loftier aspirations of the saint. He had some notions that did not improve him: He never kissed his children, so they say; And finest scenes and fairest flowers would move him Less than a horseshoe picked up in the way. He could see naught but vanity in beauty, Yet there were love and tenderness within him; And when they came to bury little Charley, They found fresh dew-drops sprinkled in his hair, And on his breast a rose-bud, gathered early, And guessed, but did not know, who placed it there. My good old friend was very hard on fashion, And often burst into a holy passion While the gay crowds went by on Sunday morn. Yet he was vain, old Gray, and did not know it! For fear the world would think that he was vain! |