Abou Ben Adhem (may his tribe increase) Awoke one night from a deep dream of peace, And saw, within the moonlight in his room, Making it rich and like a lily in bloom,An angel, writing in a book of gold. Exceeding peace had made Ben Adhem bold, And, to the presence in the room, he said,"What writest thou?" The vision raised its head, And, with a look made of all sweet accord, Answered, "The names of those who love the Lord." "And is mine one?" said Abou. "Nay, not so," Replied the angel. Abou spoke more low,But cheerily still, and said, " I pray thee, then, Write me as one that loves his fellow men." The angel wrote, and vanished. The next night It came again with a groat wakening light,And showed the names whom love of God had blessed, And lo! Ben Adhem"s name led all the rest.
Leigh Hunt.
Autho r. -Leigh Hunt (J ames Henry), English poet and essayist(1784-1859). During a life of ceaseless activity and as ceaseless financial embarrassment, he managed to produce a series of very readable Essays, an Autobiography, and a chatty prose volume on London, The Town. Narrative verse is his forte, but his poetry is now little known, with the exception of "Abou ben Adhem," "The Glove and the Lions, and"Jenny Kissed Me."General Notes.-Of what country was Abou ben Adhem? Note that inthe East surnames are not used, and that " ben" means son of. Compare our Johnson, Robinson. Dixon, McDonald, O"Brien, Fitzgerald. Other poets have expressed the idea that God does not dwell apart, but is to be sought in all erection. Ethel Clifford speaks of the God that is hid in one"s fellow-men; Cowper says "There lives and works a soul in all things, and that soul is God"; Tennyson says "Speak to Him now, for He hears, and spirit with spirit may meet; closer is He than breathing, nearer than hands and feet." Find other references to the same theme. Write an essay on " Men who have loved their fellows." How does one"s love for one"s neighbours best show itself ?
