Lines found among the papers of a young man who recently
fell asleep in Jesus. He had been to the gold diggings,
where he realized a large amount, of which he was
afterward robbed. The hardships he endured, at the
mines, brought on an illness, in the progress of which,
the Lord revealed himself to his precious soul.
I once deemed that contentment was bought with gold,
And I went to the land where the rich tide roll’d,
And I eagerly sought ‘mid disease and death,
To grasp it; nor feared I the withering breath
Of the damp chilling mine,
When I saw it shine.
Nay, I laughed when I thought of what wealth was mine.
But it fled—and it left no diseased and worn;
And I grieved ‘mid a night which might know no morn.
But I was not deserted; for Jesus came
His suff’ring blood-bought-one from Satan to claim.
And He opened the mine
Of His love divine,
And His word bade its gems round my heart to shine.
Oh! how softly He whispered, “‘tis mine to roll
The mountain of sin off thy laboring soul.”
How full was her freedom, relieved of her load!
And He gave me a name, ‘twas— “a son of God.”
And He said, “In its mine”
Leave earth’s gold to shine.
“The riches of grace are eternally thine.”