A Little Dog

A little dog disturbed my trust in Heaven.      I praised most faithfully      All the great things that be,      Mans pain and pleasure even,      I said though hard this weighing      Of pains and tears and praying      He will reward most just.      I said your bitter weeping man or maid,      Your tears or laughter      Shall gain a just Hereafter;      Meet you the will of God then unafraid,      Gird you to your trials for Gods abode      Is open for all sorrow;      Live for the great to-morrow.      There passed me on the road      A little dog with hungry eyes, and sad      Thin flesh all shivering,      All sore and quivering,      Whining beneath the fell disease he had.      I hurried home and praised God as before      For thus affording      To man rewarding,      The dog was whining outside my door.      I flung it wide, and said, Come enter in,      Outcast of God.      Beneath His rod      You suffer sore, poor beast, that had no sin.      Not at my door then must you cry complaining      Your lot unjust,      But His who thrust      You from His door your body maiming.      Not mine the pleasure that you bear this pain,      Hurled into being      Without hope of freeing      By grief and patience a soul for any gain.      Thus I reproached God while I tended      The sores to healing      A voice stealing      And whispering out of the beast I friended,      Said, God had quickened my flesh, bestowing      Joys without measure,      Made for its pleasure,      An Edens garden for ever glowing.      Gave me to Man, his care and protection      To gain and to give,      And bid us so live      In united bonds of help and affection.      Man wrecked our garden, so we were hurled      Out from the skies      Of Paradise      Into the sorrows of a weeping world.      He forgets my care, I, as God has said,      Give still affection      For that connection      Which into all our bodies life has breathed.      And why are you abusing God, and praising      With mock effacement      And false abasement      Your own hearts kindness, deeming it amazing      That you should do this duty for my sake,      Which is His bidding,      Nor blame for ridding      Himself of me, your neighbour, he who spake hard words,      Hard words and drove me forth all sore and ill?      Thus while I tended      This dog I friended      Gave back my faith in Heaven by Gods will.