“love your neighbor as yourself,”— So the parson preaches: That ’s one half the Decalogue,— So the prayer-book teaches. Half my duty I can do With but little labor, For with all my heart and soul I do love my neighbor. Mighty little credit, that, To my self-denial; Not to love her, though, might be Something of a trial. Why, the rosy light, that peeps Through the glass above her, Lingers round her lips,—you see E’en the sunbeams love her. So to make my merit more, I ’ll go beyond the letter:— Love my neighbor as myself? Yes, and ten times better. For she ’s sweeter than the breath Of the Spring, that passes Through the fragrant, budding woods, O’er the meadow-grasses. And I ’ve preached the word I know, For it was my duty To convert the stubborn heart Of the little beauty. Once again success has crowned Missionary labor, For her sweet eyes own that she Also loves her neighbor.
Thoughts on the Commandments
Collection:
Sub Title:
III. Love’s Beginnings
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“love your neighbor as yourself,”— So the parson preaches: That ’s one half the Decalogue,— So the prayer-book teaches. Half my duty I can do With but little labor, For with all my heart and soul I do love my neighbor. Mighty little credit, that, To my self-denial; Not to love her,...
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“love your neighbor as yourself,”— So the parson preaches: That ’s one half the Decalogue,— So the prayer-book teaches. Half my duty I can do With but little labor, For with all my heart and soul I do love my neighbor. Mighty little credit, that, To my self-denial; Not to love her,...