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KELLOGG, ELIJAH

Spartacus to the Gladiators

199

KNOX, WILLIAM

Oh, Why Should the Spirit of Mortal Be Proud?

278

STUDIES IN READING

ABOU BEN ADHEM

THE story is told of a certain rich man of the East whose wife had passed away, and whose children had grown up and moved to far distant countries. He was a wise man, kindhearted, who loved people. So he filled his large house with poor, homeless children, whose grateful smiles gladdened him, and whose gay laughter filled his old heart with joy. The weary traveler, the poor outcast, and the sick or sorrowful alike received comfort and cheer beneath the hospitable roof and around the heavily laden board of the old patriarch.. What unspeakable joy and peace touched his heart as he saw cheer and gladness illumine the dark hearts of his fellow beings. One night he awoke from peaceful sleep to see the room enriched with the subdued light of a beautiful angel presence, who told him his name was not recorded in the "book of gold" with "the names of those who love the Lord." "I pray thee, then," said he cheerily and low, "write my name as one who loves his fellow men." And lo! God, through the angel

presence, recognized in this the true relationship of a devout follower, and gave the peaceful old patriarch first place among all those whose lives were blessed by love of God. The poet here catches the lofty vision that loving and serving one's fellow man is the primary way one can love and serve his God. "Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye did it unto me."

ABOU BEN ADHEM

Abou Ben Adhem (may his tribe increase!)
Awoke one night from a deep dream of peace,
And saw, within the moonlight in his room,
Making it rich, and like a lily in bloom,
An angel, writing in a book of gold.
Exceeding peace had made Ben Adhem bold,
And to the Presence in the room he said,

"What writest thou?" The vision raised its head, And, with a look made all of sweet accord, Answered, "The names of those who love the

Lord."

"And is mine one?" said Abou; "Nay, not so,"
Replied the angel. Abou spoke more low,
But cheerily still; and said, "I pray thee, then,
Write me as one who loves his fellow men."
The angel wrote and vanished. The next night
It came again, with a great awakening light,
And showed the names of those whom love of God
had blessed-

And, lo! Ben Adhem's name led all the rest.
-Leigh Hunt.

EXERCISES

1. What leads the author at the outset to exclaim enthusias

tically "may his tribe increase!"?

2. In what frame of mind did Abou Ben Adhem behold the

vision?

3. What was Ben Adhem's feeling when he found his name was not among the names of those who loved the Lord?

4. What request did he make?

5. In what mood did he make the request?

6. How could he have "exceeding peace" under such circum. stances?

7. How was God's acceptance of Ben Adhem's service shown? 8. What doctrine of life is here set forth?

9. Why is this poem so popular?

ADDITIONAL READINGS

STEVENSON: The Lamplighter.

LONGFELLOW: Santa Filomena.

WHITTIER: Riches of the Commonwealth. The Brother of Mercy.

GEORGE P. LATHROP : The Star to Its Light.

MATTHEW Xxv, 34-46.

LUKE X, 25-37: Story of the Good Samaritan.

LOWELL: Vision of Sir Launfal. Yussouf.

Foss, S. W.: The House by the Side of the Road.
NAYLOR: Dr. John Goodfellow-Office Upstairs.

LIVE TO-DAY

Yesterday is a memory,
To-morrow is an imagination,
To-day is eternity.

Live to-day and live forever.

Cut out two days of your life—

Yesterday with its mistakes and follies,

To-morrow with its fears and dreads,

And live only to-day.

-Anonymous.