John Greenleaf Whittier
This Document is on The Quaker Writings Home Page.
Richard Dillingham, a young member of
the Society of Friends, died in the Nash-
ville penitentiary, where he was confined
for aiding the escape of fugitive slaves.
"The cross, if rightly borne, shall be
No burden, but support to thee;"
So, moved of old time for our sake,
The holy monk of Kempen spake.
Thou brave and true upon! upon
whom
Was laid the cross of martyrdom,
How didst thou, in thy generous
youth,
Bear witness to this blessed truth!
Thy cross of suffering and of shame
A staff within thy hands became,
In paths where faith alone could see
The Master's steps supporting thee.
Thine was the seed-time; God alone
Beholds the end of what is sown;
Beyond our vision, weak and dim,
The harvest-time is hid with Him.
Yet, unforgotten where it lies,
That seed of generous sacrifice,
Though seeming on the desert cast,
Shall rise with bloom and fruit at last.