Little Moses


In the Talmud you will find it,--

In the quaint and curious lore

Of the ancient priests, or Rabbins,

Whom the people bowed before;



Find the story of an infant

Sitting on the kingly knee;

"Little Moses," Pharaoh calls him,--

Crowing loud in baby glee.







And the banqueters were cheering,

When the infan
with a spring,

Reached and caught the crown that rested

Upon Pharaoh's head, as king.



Caught the crown, and quickly placed it

On his own unwitting head;

But the king and all his princes,

In the deed a meaning read.



Then spake Balaam, the magician,

"Not because the child is young,

Hath he done this thing unknowing;--

He hath mocked thee, he hath flung



"In thy face thy kindly dealings;

Such hath ever been the way

Of his people; a usurper--

Let his blood be spilled this day."



But the winsome baby-fingers

Toying with the kingly beard,

Won the edict: "Call the judges;

Let their counselings be heard."







So the judges and the wise men

Came with Jethro, Midian's priest,

Who, with wish to save young Moses,

Thus his majesty addressed:



"If it to the king be pleasing,

Fetch two plates, and we will hold

Them before the babe, a-brimming,

One with fire, and one with gold.



"If the child shall grasp the golden,

He hath done this knowingly;

He will trample on thy statutes;

For thine honor he must die.



"But if he shall grasp the other,



Know, O King, he knoweth nought

Of a royal crown or scepter,--

And his life with fire is bought."



These wise words, the king approving,

Plate of fire and plate of gold,

Courtiers brought, and screams of anguish,

Soon the childish choosing told.







For he, baby-like, had thrust it

In his mouth; and though he flung

Quick the coal, he ever after

Spake with slow and stammering tongue.



[Footnote: Exodus IV:10]





* * * * *



Charming 'tis to see

Children who agree;

Chaste, and choice, and cheery,

Chiming in so merry,

Childlike, ever;

Churlish, never.

Championing the good;

Challenging the rude;

Chary as the dove;

Chief in Jesus' love.



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