Poems (Helen Jenkins)/To Mrs, C. A. Quinby
TO MRS. C. A. QUINBY.
Dear friend!—May I not call' you such,
If friendship's test be simply loving much?—
All hearts respond to the inspiring touch
Of souls like thine.
If friendship's test be simply loving much?—
All hearts respond to the inspiring touch
Of souls like thine.
We of like precious faith do honor you,
To woman's noblest intuitions true.
God give you grace, and strengthen you to do
Your work of love!
To woman's noblest intuitions true.
God give you grace, and strengthen you to do
Your work of love!
The unfortunate, the afflicted ever find
In you a true and never-failing friend,
Whose sympathy, so broad and kind,
Infolds them all.
In you a true and never-failing friend,
Whose sympathy, so broad and kind,
Infolds them all.
Co-worker with the faithful heart and hand
Which holds so bravely over sea and land
Our "Banner" with its colors grand,—
God bless you both!
Which holds so bravely over sea and land
Our "Banner" with its colors grand,—
God bless you both!
How many. hearts with gratitude o'erflow
For all your deeds of love, you may not know;
So oft it seems the goodly seed we sow
No harvest yields.
For all your deeds of love, you may not know;
So oft it seems the goodly seed we sow
No harvest yields.
And they who battle for the right,
Sometimes despairing of the light,
Must walk through shadows black as night,
With bleeding feet.
Sometimes despairing of the light,
Must walk through shadows black as night,
With bleeding feet.
Oft they must wrestle valiantly,
And suffer wrong and calumny;
For some are blind, or will not see
The better way.
And suffer wrong and calumny;
For some are blind, or will not see
The better way.
So many choose and love the darkness more,
When God himself, as ne'er before,
With truth and light, from shore to shore,
Has filled the world.
When God himself, as ne'er before,
With truth and light, from shore to shore,
Has filled the world.
He spreads His gospel everywhere.
Mercy's evangels fill the air
With pleading words of earnest prayer;
Will they not heed?
Mercy's evangels fill the air
With pleading words of earnest prayer;
Will they not heed?
Ah! noble workers, ye must wait.
Be patient, knowing, soon or late,
God's love o'ercometh wrong and hate,—
In Him we trust.
Be patient, knowing, soon or late,
God's love o'ercometh wrong and hate,—
In Him we trust.