(Written in aid of the Children's Hospital.) <br /> <br />MATTHEW XXV. 40. <br /> <br />“Inasmuch as ye gave ear unto the sighing <br />Of the least of these the children of my care,— <br />Of your love from death redeemed them, or in dying <br />Stood between them and the shadow of despair;— <br /> <br />“Inasmuch as when the little ones did languish, <br />Ye put forth the hand to make their burdens light;— <br />Inasmuch as when they lay on beds of anguish, <br />Ye were with them in the watches of the night;— <br /> <br />“All the joy ye brought to light when sorrow hid it <br />Now awaits you, an exceeding great reward. <br />As ye did it unto these, to ME ye did it; <br />Enter ye into the joy of your Lord.” <br /> <br />“Lord, when sought we out the children that did languish? <br />When put forth the hand to make their burdens light? <br />Lord, we wist not when they lay on beds of anguish, <br />And we slept throughout the watches of the night. <br /> <br />“For our lives were full of trouble and of labour, <br />And the night followed hard upon the day: <br />Had we lingered with the children of our neighbour, <br />Our own little ones had perished by the way.” <br /> <br />“Inasmuch as though ye might not touch or tend them, <br />Ye were with them in your love to heal and save, <br />And were hands and feet to those who did befriend them, <br />By the gold and by the silver that ye gave. <br /> <br />“Find your treasure where your ransomed ones have hid it; <br />Take it back a thousandfold for your reward. <br />As you did it unto these, to ME ye did it; <br />Enter ye into the joy of your Lord.”<br /><br />James Brunton Stephens<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/for-my-sake/
