Suffer them to come, the Master said,
The kingdom is of such; and laid his hand
With lingering tenderness upon the head
Of one, the nearest of the little band.
Wide-eyed, they clustered there about his knees,
Held by the love that trembled in that voice
Whose accents vanquished sin, unloosed disease,
And called a world to hearken and rejoice.
Of such as these! How clear the lesson taught
To those with hearts attune. God's children know
Nor doubt nor fear; their ready ears have caught
The word that bids them come where He shall go.
"Forbid them not." Aye. and become as they:
Untouched by envy, or deceit, or lust;
Living unquestioning our life today;
Governed in all things by unfaltering trust.
