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ABOU BEN ADHEM

LEIGH HUNT

HE story is told of a certain rich man of the East whose wife had passed away, and whose children had grown up and moved to far distant countries. He was a wise man, kind-hearted, who loved people. So he filled his large house with poor, homeless children, whose grateful smiles gladdened him, and whose gay laughter filled his old heart with joy. The weary traveler, the poor outcast, and the sick or sorrowful alike received comfort and cheer beneath the hospitable roof and around the heavily laden board of the old patriarch. What unspeakable joy and peace touched his heart as he saw cheer and gladness illumine the dark hearts of his fellow-beings. One night he awoke from peaceful sleep to see the room enriched with the subdued light of a beautiful angel presence, who told him his name was not recorded in the "book of gold" with "the names of those who love the Lord." "I pray thee, then," said he cheerily and low, "write my name as one who loves his fellow-men." And lo! God, through the angel presence, recognized in this the true relationship of a devout follower, and gave the peaceful old patriarch first place among all those whose lives were blessed by love of God. The poet here catches the lofty vision that loving and serving one's fellow-man is the primary way one can love and serve his God. "Inas

much as ye did it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye did it unto me."

ABOU BEN ADHEM

Abou Ben Adhem (may his tribe increase!)
Awoke one night from a deep dream of peace,
And saw, within the moonlight in his room,
Making it rich, and like a lily in bloom,
An angel, writing in a book of gold.
Exceeding peace had made Ben Adhem bold,
And to the Presence in the room he said,

"What writest thou?" The vision raised its head,
And, with a look made all of sweet accord,

Answered, "The names of those who love the Lord."
"And is mine one?" said Abou; "Nay, not so,"
Replied the angel. Abou spoke more low,
But cheerily still; and said, "I pray thee, then,
Write me as one who loves his fellow men."
The angel wrote and vanished. The next night

It came again, with a great awakening light,

And showed the names of those whom love of God had blessed

And, lo! Ben Adhem's name led all the rest.

SUGGESTIVE EXERCISES

1. What leads the author at the outset to exclaim enthusiastically "may his tribe increase!"?

2. In what frame of mind did Abou Ben Adhem behold the vision?

3. What was Ben Adhem's feeling when he found his name was not among the names of those who loved the Lord?

4. What request did he make?

5. In what mood did he make the request?

6. How could he have "exceeding peace" under such circumstances?

7. How was God's acceptance of Ben Adhem's service shown?

8. What doctrine of life is here set forth?

9. Why is this poem so popular?

REFERENCES

STEVENSON: The Lamplighter.

LONGFELLOW: Santa. Filomena.

WHITTIER: Riches of the Commonwealth. The Brother of Mercy.
GEORGE P. LATHROP: The Star to Its Light.

MATT. 25: 34-46: Story of the Good Samaritan.
LOWELL: Vision of Sir Launfal. Yussouf.

Foss, S. W: The House by the Side of the Road.
NAYLOR: Dr. John Goodfellow Office Up-Stairs.

WHAT DO THEY SAY?

Hark! hark! My children, hark!
When the sky has lost its blue,
What do the stars sing in the dark?
"We must sparkle, sparkle, through."

What do leaves say in the storm,
Tossed in whispering heaps together?
"We can keep the violets warm
Till they wake in fairer weather."

What do happy birdies say,
Flitting through the gloomy wood?
"We must sing the gloom away
Sun or shadow, God is good."

-Selected.

66

AMERICA

SAMUEL FRANCIS SMITH

MERICA" always sends a patriotic thrill through

every heart. The song stands for love of country, for the country, and for submission to the Great God, our King, "whose care and guidance has enabled us as Americans to claim a land where every echo is of freedom, and where rocks, valleys, hills, and breezes bid humanity shout praises for the joy of freedom and bow in humble prayer of thanksgiving to the great King of Kings who sheds upon his children freedom's holy light."

The origin of this poem is of keen interest to all. Dr. Smith relates how Mr. Lowell Mason, the pioneer public school music publisher in America, had received some German school singing books. These he turned over for examination to Dr. Smith, whose ability as poet, German student, and translator was already much appreciated. Dr. Smith entered upon the work of selecting and compiling from these books songs adapted to the public schools of America. The rest of the story he tells as follows:

"In looking through the books I came to the tune to which America is written. I spelled out the notes and found the tune bright and stirring. I looked down at the words at the bottom of the page and found them to be a patriotic hymn. 'Ah,' I thought, 'patriotic, that is just the tune for a patriotic hymn. America shall have

one of her own.' I reached for a scrap of waste paper, and in less than an hour 'America' was written, very nearly as you see it to-day."

The hymn was first sung by the Sunday School children in Park Street Church, Boston, July 4, 1832.

AMERICA

My country, 'tis of thee,
Sweet land of liberty,-
Of thee I sing;

Land where my fathers died,
Land of the pilgrim's pride,
From every mountain-side
Let freedom ring.

My native country, thee,
Land of the noble free,
Thy name I love;

I love thy rocks and rills,
Thy woods and templed hills;
My heart with rapture thrills
Like that above.

Let music swell the breeze,
And ring from all the trees
Sweet freedom's song;

Let mortal tongues awake,
Let all that breathe partake,
Let rocks their silence break,
The sound prolong.

Our fathers' God, to Thee,
Author of Liberty,-

To Thee I sing;

Long may our land be bright
With freedom's holy light;

Protect us by thy might,

Great God, our King.