CASTE AND CHRIST

( He is not ashamed to call thera brethren.)

Ho ! thou dark and weary stranger.

From the tropic's sultry strand, Bowed with toil, with mind benighted,

What would'st thou upon our land ?

<( Am I not, 0 man, thy brother? »

Spake the stranger, patient] y ;

« Ail that makes thee, man, immortal.

Tell me, dwells it not in me ?

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» I, like thee, hâve joy and sorrow, I, like thee, hâve love and fear ;

I, like thee, hâve hopes and longings, Far beyond this earthly sphère.

» Thou art happy — I am sorrowing ;

Thou art rich, and I am poor ; In the name of our one Father,

Do not spurn me from y our door. »

Thus the dark one spake, imploring, To each stranger passing nigh ;

But each child, and man, and woman, Priest and lévite, passed him by. «

Spurn' d of men — despised, rejected;

Spurn d from school, and church, and ail ; Spurn' d from business and from pleasure,

Sad ne stood, apart from ail.

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Then I saw a form ail giorious, Spotless as the dazzling light ;

As He pass'd, men veil'd their faces, And the earth, as heaven, grew bright.

Spake he to the dusky stranger, Awe-struck there on bended knee : —

« Rise î for I hâve call'd thee brother 1 am not asham'd of thee.

» When I wedded mortal nature To My Godhead and My throne,

Then I made ail mankind sacred — Sealed ail human for My own.

» By Myself , the Lord of Ages , I hâve sworn to right the wrong ;

I have^pledged My word unbroken, For the weak against the strong,

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« And upon My gospel banner I hâve blazed in light the sign : -

He who scorns his lowliest brother Never shall hâve hand of Mine. »

Hear the word who fight for freedom !

Shout it in the battle's van !

Hope for bleeding human nature !

Christ the God, is Christ the Man!

H. E. B. Stowe.

Andover 1852.