{"id":40,"date":"2021-06-16T14:27:29","date_gmt":"2021-06-16T18:27:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca\/sketchesofsouthernlife\/?post_type=chapter&p=40"},"modified":"2022-02-01T11:24:44","modified_gmt":"2022-02-01T16:24:44","slug":"the-jewish-grandfathers-story","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/sketchesofsouthernlife\/chapter\/the-jewish-grandfathers-story\/","title":{"raw":"The Jewish Grandfather's Story","rendered":"The Jewish Grandfather’s Story"},"content":{"raw":"Come, gather around me, children,\r\nAnd a story I will tell.\r\nHow we builded the beautiful temple\u2014\r\nThe temple we love so well.\r\n\r\nI must date my story backward\r\nTo a distant age and land,\r\nWhen God did break our fathers' chains\r\nBy his mighty outstretched hand\r\n\r\nOur fathers were strangers and captives,\r\nWhere the ancient Nile doth flow;\r\nSmitten by cruel taskmasters,\r\nAnd burdened by toil and woe.\r\n\r\nAs a shepherd, to pasture green\r\nDoth lead with care his sheep,\r\nSo God divided the great Red Sea,\r\nAnd led them through the deep.\r\n\r\nYou've seen me plant a tender vine,\r\nAnd guard it with patient care,\r\nTill its roots struck in the mellow earth,\r\nAnd it drank the light and air.\r\n\r\nSo God did plant our chosen race,\r\nAs a vine in this fair land;\r\nAnd we grew and spread a fruitful tree,\r\nThe planting of his right hand.\r\n\r\nThe time would fail strove I to tell,\r\nAll the story of our race\u2014\r\nOf our grand old leader, Moses,\r\nAnd Joshua in his place,\r\n\r\nOf all our rulers and judges,\r\nFrom Joshua unto Saul,\r\nOver whose doomed and guilty head\r\nFell ruin and death's dark pall.\r\n\r\nOf valiant Jepthath, whose brave heart\r\nWith sudden grief did bow,\r\nWhen his daughter came with dance and song\r\nUnconscious of his vow.\r\n\r\nOf Gideon, lifting up his voice\r\nTo him who rules the sky,\r\nAnd wringing out his well drenched fleece,\r\nWhen all around was dry.\r\n\r\nHow Deborah, neath her spreading palms,\r\nA judge in Israel rose,\r\nAnd wrested victory from the hands\r\nOf Jacob's heathen foes.\r\n\r\nOf Samuel, an upright judge.\r\nThe last who ruled our tribes,\r\nWhose noble life and cleanly hands,\r\nWere pure and free from bribes.\r\n\r\nOf David, with his checkered life\r\nOur tuneful minstrel king,\r\nWho breathed in sadness and delight,\r\nThe psalms we love to sing.\r\n\r\nOf Solomon, whose wandering heart,\r\nFrom Jacob's God did stray,\r\nAnd cast the richest gifts of life,\r\nIn pleasure's cup away.\r\n\r\nHow aged men advised his son,\r\nBut found him weak and vain,\r\nUntil the kingdom from his hands\r\nWas rudely rent in twain.\r\n\r\nOh! sin and strife are fearful things,\r\nThey widen as they go,\r\nAnd leave behind them shades of death,\r\nAnd open gates of woe.\r\n\r\nA trail of guilt, a gloomy line,\r\nRan through our nation's life,\r\nAnd wicked kings provoked our God,\r\nAnd sin and woe were rife.\r\n\r\nAt length, there came a day of doom\u2014\r\nA day of grief and dread;\r\nWhen judgment like a fearful storm\r\nSwept o'er our country's head.\r\n\r\nAnd we were captives many years,\r\nWhere Babel's stream doth flow;\r\nWith harps unstrung, on willows hung,\r\nWe wept in silent woe.\r\n\r\nWe could not sing the old, sweet songs,\r\nOur captors asked to hear;\r\nOur hearts were full, how could we sing\r\nThe songs to us so dear?\r\n\r\nAs one who dreams a mournful dream,\r\nWhich fades, as wanes the night,\r\nSo God did change our gloomy lot\r\nFrom darkness into light.\r\n\r\nBelshazzar in his regal halls,\r\nA sumptuous feast did hold;\r\nHe praised his gods and drank his wine\r\nFrom sacred cups of gold.\r\n\r\nWhen dance and song and revelry\r\nHad filled with mirth each hall,\r\nBelshazzar raised his eyes and saw\r\nA writing on the wall.\r\n\r\nHe saw, and horror blanched his cheek,\r\nHis lips were white with fear;\r\nTo read the words he quickly called\r\nFor wise men, far and near.\r\n\r\nBut baffled seers, with anxious doubt\r\nStood silent in the room,\r\nWhen Daniel came, a captive youth,\r\nAnd read the words of doom.\r\n\r\nThat night, within his regal hall,\r\nBelshazzar lifeless lay;\r\nThe Persians grasped his fallen crown,\r\nAnd with the Mede held sway.\r\n\r\nDarius came, and Daniel rose\r\nA man of high renown;\r\nBut wicked courtiers schemed and planned\r\nTo drag the prophet down.\r\n\r\nThey came as men who wished to place\r\nGreat honors on their king\u2014\r\nWith flattering lips and oily words,\r\nDesired a certain thing.\r\n\r\nThey knew that Daniel, day by day\r\nTowards Salem turned his face,\r\nAnd asked the king to sign a law\r\nHis hands might not erase.\r\n\r\nThat till one moon had waned away,\r\nNo cherished wish or thing\r\nShould any ask of men or Gods,\r\nUnless it were the king.\r\n\r\nBut Daniel, full of holy trust,\r\nHis windows opened wide,\r\nRegardless of the king's command,\r\nUnto his God he cried.\r\n\r\nThey brought him forth that he might be\r\nThe hungry lion's meat,\r\nAwe struck, the lions turned away\r\nAnd crouched anear his feet.\r\n\r\nThe God he served was strong to save\r\nHis servant in the den;\r\nThe fate devised for Daniel's life\r\nO'er took those scheming men.\r\n\r\nAnd Cyrus came, a gracious king,\r\nAnd gave the blest command,\r\nThat we, the scattered Jews, should build\r\nAnew our fallen land.\r\n\r\nThe men who hated Juda's weal\r\nWere filled with bitter rage,\r\nAnd 'gainst the progress of our work\r\nDid evil men engage.\r\n\r\nSanballat tried to hinder us,\r\nAnd Gashmu uttered lies,\r\nBut like a thing of joy and light,\r\nWe saw our temple rise.\r\n\r\nAnd from the tower of Hananeel\r\nUnto the corner gate,\r\nWe built the wall and did restore\r\nThe places desolate.\r\n\r\nSome mocked us as we labored on\r\nAnd scoffingly did say,\r\n\"If but a fox climb on the wall,\r\nTheir work will give away.\"\r\n\r\nBut Nehemiah wrought in hope,\r\nThough heathen foes did frown\r\n\"My work is great,\" he firmly said,\r\n\"And I cannot come down.\"\r\n\r\nAnd when Shemai counselled him\r\nThe temple door to close,\r\nTo hide, lest he should fall a prey\r\nUnto his cruel foes.\r\n\r\nStrong in his faith, he answered, \"No,\r\nHe would oppose the tide,\r\nShould such as he from danger flee,\r\nAnd in the temple hide?\"\r\n\r\nWe wrought in earnest faith and hope\r\nUntil we built the wall,\r\nAnd then, unto a joyful feast\r\nDid priest and people call.\r\n\r\nWe came to dedicate the wall\r\nWith sacrifice and joy\u2014\r\nA happy throng, from aged sire\r\nUnto the fair-haired boy.\r\n\r\nOur lips so used to mournful songs,\r\nDid joyous laughter fill,\r\nAnd strong men wept with sacred joy\r\nTo stand on Zion's hill.\r\n\r\nMid scoffing foes and evil men,\r\nWe built our city blest,\r\nAnd 'neath our sheltering vines and palms\r\nTo-day in peace we rest.","rendered":"

Come, gather around me, children,
\nAnd a story I will tell.
\nHow we builded the beautiful temple\u2014
\nThe temple we love so well.<\/p>\n

I must date my story backward
\nTo a distant age and land,
\nWhen God did break our fathers’ chains
\nBy his mighty outstretched hand<\/p>\n

Our fathers were strangers and captives,
\nWhere the ancient Nile doth flow;
\nSmitten by cruel taskmasters,
\nAnd burdened by toil and woe.<\/p>\n

As a shepherd, to pasture green
\nDoth lead with care his sheep,
\nSo God divided the great Red Sea,
\nAnd led them through the deep.<\/p>\n

You’ve seen me plant a tender vine,
\nAnd guard it with patient care,
\nTill its roots struck in the mellow earth,
\nAnd it drank the light and air.<\/p>\n

So God did plant our chosen race,
\nAs a vine in this fair land;
\nAnd we grew and spread a fruitful tree,
\nThe planting of his right hand.<\/p>\n

The time would fail strove I to tell,
\nAll the story of our race\u2014
\nOf our grand old leader, Moses,
\nAnd Joshua in his place,<\/p>\n

Of all our rulers and judges,
\nFrom Joshua unto Saul,
\nOver whose doomed and guilty head
\nFell ruin and death’s dark pall.<\/p>\n

Of valiant Jepthath, whose brave heart
\nWith sudden grief did bow,
\nWhen his daughter came with dance and song
\nUnconscious of his vow.<\/p>\n

Of Gideon, lifting up his voice
\nTo him who rules the sky,
\nAnd wringing out his well drenched fleece,
\nWhen all around was dry.<\/p>\n

How Deborah, neath her spreading palms,
\nA judge in Israel rose,
\nAnd wrested victory from the hands
\nOf Jacob’s heathen foes.<\/p>\n

Of Samuel, an upright judge.
\nThe last who ruled our tribes,
\nWhose noble life and cleanly hands,
\nWere pure and free from bribes.<\/p>\n

Of David, with his checkered life
\nOur tuneful minstrel king,
\nWho breathed in sadness and delight,
\nThe psalms we love to sing.<\/p>\n

Of Solomon, whose wandering heart,
\nFrom Jacob’s God did stray,
\nAnd cast the richest gifts of life,
\nIn pleasure’s cup away.<\/p>\n

How aged men advised his son,
\nBut found him weak and vain,
\nUntil the kingdom from his hands
\nWas rudely rent in twain.<\/p>\n

Oh! sin and strife are fearful things,
\nThey widen as they go,
\nAnd leave behind them shades of death,
\nAnd open gates of woe.<\/p>\n

A trail of guilt, a gloomy line,
\nRan through our nation’s life,
\nAnd wicked kings provoked our God,
\nAnd sin and woe were rife.<\/p>\n

At length, there came a day of doom\u2014
\nA day of grief and dread;
\nWhen judgment like a fearful storm
\nSwept o’er our country’s head.<\/p>\n

And we were captives many years,
\nWhere Babel’s stream doth flow;
\nWith harps unstrung, on willows hung,
\nWe wept in silent woe.<\/p>\n

We could not sing the old, sweet songs,
\nOur captors asked to hear;
\nOur hearts were full, how could we sing
\nThe songs to us so dear?<\/p>\n

As one who dreams a mournful dream,
\nWhich fades, as wanes the night,
\nSo God did change our gloomy lot
\nFrom darkness into light.<\/p>\n

Belshazzar in his regal halls,
\nA sumptuous feast did hold;
\nHe praised his gods and drank his wine
\nFrom sacred cups of gold.<\/p>\n

When dance and song and revelry
\nHad filled with mirth each hall,
\nBelshazzar raised his eyes and saw
\nA writing on the wall.<\/p>\n

He saw, and horror blanched his cheek,
\nHis lips were white with fear;
\nTo read the words he quickly called
\nFor wise men, far and near.<\/p>\n

But baffled seers, with anxious doubt
\nStood silent in the room,
\nWhen Daniel came, a captive youth,
\nAnd read the words of doom.<\/p>\n

That night, within his regal hall,
\nBelshazzar lifeless lay;
\nThe Persians grasped his fallen crown,
\nAnd with the Mede held sway.<\/p>\n

Darius came, and Daniel rose
\nA man of high renown;
\nBut wicked courtiers schemed and planned
\nTo drag the prophet down.<\/p>\n

They came as men who wished to place
\nGreat honors on their king\u2014
\nWith flattering lips and oily words,
\nDesired a certain thing.<\/p>\n

They knew that Daniel, day by day
\nTowards Salem turned his face,
\nAnd asked the king to sign a law
\nHis hands might not erase.<\/p>\n

That till one moon had waned away,
\nNo cherished wish or thing
\nShould any ask of men or Gods,
\nUnless it were the king.<\/p>\n

But Daniel, full of holy trust,
\nHis windows opened wide,
\nRegardless of the king’s command,
\nUnto his God he cried.<\/p>\n

They brought him forth that he might be
\nThe hungry lion’s meat,
\nAwe struck, the lions turned away
\nAnd crouched anear his feet.<\/p>\n

The God he served was strong to save
\nHis servant in the den;
\nThe fate devised for Daniel’s life
\nO’er took those scheming men.<\/p>\n

And Cyrus came, a gracious king,
\nAnd gave the blest command,
\nThat we, the scattered Jews, should build
\nAnew our fallen land.<\/p>\n

The men who hated Juda’s weal
\nWere filled with bitter rage,
\nAnd ‘gainst the progress of our work
\nDid evil men engage.<\/p>\n

Sanballat tried to hinder us,
\nAnd Gashmu uttered lies,
\nBut like a thing of joy and light,
\nWe saw our temple rise.<\/p>\n

And from the tower of Hananeel
\nUnto the corner gate,
\nWe built the wall and did restore
\nThe places desolate.<\/p>\n

Some mocked us as we labored on
\nAnd scoffingly did say,
\n“If but a fox climb on the wall,
\nTheir work will give away.”<\/p>\n

But Nehemiah wrought in hope,
\nThough heathen foes did frown
\n“My work is great,” he firmly said,
\n“And I cannot come down.”<\/p>\n

And when Shemai counselled him
\nThe temple door to close,
\nTo hide, lest he should fall a prey
\nUnto his cruel foes.<\/p>\n

Strong in his faith, he answered, “No,
\nHe would oppose the tide,
\nShould such as he from danger flee,
\nAnd in the temple hide?”<\/p>\n

We wrought in earnest faith and hope
\nUntil we built the wall,
\nAnd then, unto a joyful feast
\nDid priest and people call.<\/p>\n

We came to dedicate the wall
\nWith sacrifice and joy\u2014
\nA happy throng, from aged sire
\nUnto the fair-haired boy.<\/p>\n

Our lips so used to mournful songs,
\nDid joyous laughter fill,
\nAnd strong men wept with sacred joy
\nTo stand on Zion’s hill.<\/p>\n

Mid scoffing foes and evil men,
\nWe built our city blest,
\nAnd ‘neath our sheltering vines and palms
\nTo-day in peace we rest.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":299,"menu_order":9,"template":"","meta":{"pb_show_title":"on","pb_short_title":"","pb_subtitle":"","pb_authors":[],"pb_section_license":""},"chapter-type":[48],"contributor":[],"license":[],"class_list":["post-40","chapter","type-chapter","status-publish","hentry","chapter-type-numberless"],"part":3,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/sketchesofsouthernlife\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/40","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/sketchesofsouthernlife\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/sketchesofsouthernlife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/sketchesofsouthernlife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/299"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/sketchesofsouthernlife\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/40\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":72,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/sketchesofsouthernlife\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/40\/revisions\/72"}],"part":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/sketchesofsouthernlife\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/parts\/3"}],"metadata":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/sketchesofsouthernlife\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/40\/metadata\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/sketchesofsouthernlife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=40"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"chapter-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/sketchesofsouthernlife\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapter-type?post=40"},{"taxonomy":"contributor","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/sketchesofsouthernlife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/contributor?post=40"},{"taxonomy":"license","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/sketchesofsouthernlife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/license?post=40"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}