The Pearl  


(Jesus The Pearl Of Great Price.)



"O lady fair, these silks of mine are beautiful and rare 

The richest web of Indian loom, which beauty's queen might wear;

And my pearls are pure as thine own neck, 

with whose radiant light they vie;

I have brought them with me a weary way 

Will my gentle lady buy?"

And my lady smiled on the worn old man,

through the dark and clustering curls. 

Which veiled her brow as she bent to view his

silks and glittering pearls; 

And she placed their price in the old man's hand,

and lightly turned away, 

But she paused at the wanderer's earnest call

 "My gentle lady, stay!"

"O lady fair, I have yet a gem which a purer

luster flings 

Than the diamond flash of the jeweled crown

on the lofty brow of kings, 

A wonderful pearl of exceeding price, whose

virtue shall not decay, 

Whose light shall be as a spell to thee, and a

blessing on thy way!"

The lady glanced at the mirroring steel where

her form of grace was seen, 

Where her dark eyes shone clear, and her dark

locks waved their clasping pearls between; 

"Bring forth the pearl of exceeding worth

thou traveler gray and old, 

And name the price of thy precious gem, and

my page shall count thy gold!"

The cloud went off from the pilgrim's brow, as

a small and meager book, 

Unchased with gold or gem of cost, from his

folding robe he took. 

"Here, lady fair, is the pearl of price; may it

prove as such to thee! 

Nay, keep thy gold, I ask it not, the word of

God is free!"

The hoary traveler went his way, but the gift 

he left behind

Hath had its pure and perfect work on that 

high-born maiden's mind;

And she hath turned from the pride of sin to 

the loveliness of truth,

And given her human heart to God in its beautiful hour of youth!





J. C. Fletcher.