  “RUN down and get the doctor—quick!” Cried Jack Bean with a whoop; “Run, Dan; for mercy’s sake, be quick! Our baby’s got the croup.” But Daniel shook his solemn head, His sanctimonious brow, And said: “I cannot go, for I Must read my Bible now; For I have regular hours to read The Scripture for my spirit’s need.” Said Silas Gove to Pious Dan, “Our neighbour, ’Rastus Wright, Is very sick; will you come down And watch with him to-night?” “He has my sympathy,” says Dan, “And I would sure be there, Did I not feel an inward call To spend the night in prayer. Some other man with Wright must stay; “Old Briggs has fallen in the pond!” Cried little ’Bijah Brown; “Run, Pious Dan, and help him out, Or else he sure will drown!” “I trust he’ll swim ashore,” said Dan, “But now my soul is awed, And I must meditate upon The goodness of the Lord; And nothing merely temporal ought To interrupt my holy thought.” So Daniel lived a pious life, As Daniel understood, But all his neighbours thought he was Too pious to be good; And Daniel died, and then his soul, On wings of hope elate, In glad expectancy flew up To Peter’s golden gate. “Now let your gate wide open fly; Come, hasten, Peter! Here am I.” “I’m sorry, Pious Dan,” said he, “That time will not allow; But you must wait a space, for I Must read my Bible now.” So Daniel waited long and long, And Peter read all day. “Now, Peter, let me in,” he cried. Said Peter, “I must pray; And no mean temporal affairs Then Satan, who was passing by, Saw Dan’s poor shivering form, And said, “My man, it’s cold out here; Come down where it is warm.” The angel baby of Jack Bean, The angel ’Rastus Wright, And old Briggs, a white angel, too, All chuckled with delight; And Satan said, “Come, Pious Dan, For you are just my style of man.” Samuel Walter Foss. |
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