0RIGINAL POETRY.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 3, Issue 255, 27 December 1878, Page 2

ORIGINAL POETRY.

" He who is without sin, let him first cast a stone." This was the calm reply that once was given . By Jesus to a crowd of men, who brought A woman taken in the act of sin, A trap to find in him the fault they sought. 41 Let him first throw a stone who knows no sin." Such were his words. The crowd stood still, ashamed, With downcast eyes each looked upon the ground In consciousness that he was justly blamed. But now this holy lesson seems forgot'; For often do we not some one condemn, And shudd'ring.from their touch, our gnrments draw As if we were of different mould from them? Alas! poof weak ones, ye have fallen, and must Some punishment receive at our pure hands. ■ '■ ■ . ' You need not make excuse ; you know we must ; Keep to the rules society demands; Pharisee-like, thank God we're not as yon; Aβ ye have made your bed so must ye lie. Can it be true that we can turn away From these poor lost ones without tear or sigh? Too oft it is, and yet we do not think The power that one kind word perhaps . may have, And that it is our bitter words that drive ! Har farther into sin or to her grave. A woman is not lost because she falls * In one weak moment with temptation strong. Can ye not take her by the hand and save An .erring one from .straying farther wrong ? Do ye not see her quivering 'neath your scorn, • As aspen does beneath the lightest wind..; Better to scourge her body with the Jash Thaii torture with your cruel words her mind. With hitter feelings rankling at her heart, Hating alike her fellow creatures all, Deserted by the man who wrought the wrong, ! Who used her heart's pure lovo -to*"cause * her fall, What cares she how much lower she may go . In the foci sink that our fierce passions cause ? . k Or else in dark despair ehe flies to meet Her God, regardless of His broken.laws. And oh ! to think perhaps that one kind word A poor weak sinner might have power to save ; A word of tenderness, free from reproach, Might keep a sister from untimely grave. What is it then that makes us, though ' severe, Yet satisfied to hear of someone's fall ? Does the comparison exalt us much, Or do \v6 need our virtue to extol ? Let him who boaeteth that he stands take" heed, : For in that boast Ids weakness be lays bare. . ' ! * Without the aid of God we cannot hope To shun the tempting lure of passion's snare. Were we to try, as far as in us lies, To mitigate a fallen lister's tears, Then might we hope. for- heaven to strengthenns, Temptation to resist when it appears. X.T. P.