His Monument

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  He built a house, time laid it in the dust;
  He wrote a book, its title now forgot;
  He ruled a city, but his name is not
  On any tablet graven, or where rust
  Can gather from disuse, or marble bust.

  He took a child from out a wretched cot;
  Who on the State dishonor might have brought;
  And reared him in the Christian's hope and trust.
  The boy, to manhood grown, became a light
  To many souls and preached to human need
  The wondrous love of the Omnipotent.
  The work has multiplied like stars at night
  When darkness deepens; every noble deed
  Lasts longer than a granite monument.

© Sarah Knowles Bolton