Master's Hand
auctioneer thought it scarcely worth
his while to waste much time on the
old violin, but he held it up with a
smile.
"What am I bidden, good folks, " he
cried, "Who'll start the bidding for
me?" "A dollar, a dollar" then "Two
only two? Two dollars, and who'll
make it three?
twice; Going for three--" But no,
From the room, far back, a gray-
haired man came forward and picked
up the bow; then, wiping the dust
from the old violin, and tightening
the loose strings, he played a melody
so pure and sweet as a caroling
angel sings.
with a voice that was quite low, said
"What am I bid for the old violin?"
and he held it up with the bow.
"A thousand dollars, and who'll make
it two? Two thousand! and who'll
make it three? Three thousand, once,
three thousand, twice, anf going, and
gone," said he.
The people cheered, but some of them
cried: "We do not understand what
changed it's worth." Swift came the
reply: "The touch of the master's
hand."
and battered and scar with sin,
Is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless
crowd, much like the old violin.
A "mess of pottage," a glass of wine;
A game--and he travels on.
He is "going" once, and "going"
twice, he's "going" and almost
"gone." But the Master comes, and
the foolish crowd never can
understand the worth of a soul and
the change that's wrought by
the touch of the Master's hand.