Grand Haven Daily Tribune  July 14, 1900

The Old Family Bible.

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BY DAVID FLETCHER HUNTON.

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(After the “Old Oaken Bucket.”)

How dear to my heart is the fond recollection,

 Of home where in childhood I gamboled and played;

The kitchen, the fireplace, and that bedroom section,

Where I in the dear little trundle bed laid.

The low tin “Dutch oven”, the “spit” that stood by it,

The “tongs” and the “fire-slice”, then always at hand;

The brass-headed “andirons,” the “crane” that hung nigh it,

And e’en the old Bible which lay on the stand.

The old fashioned Bible, the leather bound Bible,

The family Bible, which lay on the stand.

That blessed old volume of God’s inspiration,

Was opened and read both at morning and night;

And we found it the source of truth and salvation,

And learned from it lessons of wisdom and right.

How often I read it with thoughts that were glowing,

And quickly found teachings poetic and grand!

I read that God’s heart is with love overflowing,

For every creature in every land.

The old fashioned Bible, the leather bound Bible,

The family Bible, which lay on the stand.

How sweet from the God-given book to receive it,

That He has determined to save us at last;

Not a free thinking sceptic, can tempt me to leave it,

Though backed by Tom Paine and by all of his caste!

“God so loved the world,” in its sinful condition,

He sent to redeem it, His only loved Son!

And Our Lord on the mount fulfilled his grand mission,

And said on the cross, “It is done!  It is done!”

The God-given Bible, the precious old Bible,

I loved that grand book, and the “Crucified One.”
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