THE MASSACRE OF THE IRROCERTS. "Then said He unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come; but woe unto him, through whom they come! It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones." LUKE xvii. 1, 2. HERE were the men and women, Lord, to whom Thou hadst consigned To always keep within their care, if e'en beyond their sight? * That to things that seemed less urgent, they gave insufficient heed? The sacred charge that on their heads in consequence devolved? Or was it not in any wise plain duty had been shirked, But Death, intent upon his prey, in secret places lurked; On nine score unprotected babes, made manifest his power? Nine score of unprotected babes that just a while before And make parental eyes to see, though through parental tears. Our Father Who in Heaven art, the Father of the young, Give vigour to the languid pen, and loose the stammering tongue, To teach the sacred trust of life to parents' hands consigned, * This book was already in the hands of the printer when the terrible calamity occurred at Sunderland on the 18th of June, 1883, which suggested the above verses. It was too late to find a place for them uniformly with the remainder of the work, but a spare page has been utilized in order to give expression to words of remonstrance and warning against the common-very common!-neglect of parental duties and responsibilities-duties and responsibilities the importance and sacredness of which in matters both temporal and spiritual are second to none in the career of those to whom they are entrusted. |