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The Touch Of The Master's Hand
by Myra B. Welch

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Touch Of The Master's Hand
Myra B. Welch

 

Twas battered and scarred, and the auctioneer
thought it scarcely worth his while
To waste much time on the old violin,
But held it up with a smile.
"What am I bidden, good folks," he cried,
"Who'll start the bidding for me?
A dollar, a dollar, then, two! Only two?
Two dollars, and who'll make it three?
Three dollars, once; three dollars, twice;
Going for three . . ."
But no,
From the room, far back, a grey-haired man
Came forward and picked up the bow;
Then, wiping the dust from the old violin,
And tightening the loose strings,
He played a melody pure and sweet
As a caroling angel sings.

The music ceased, and the auctioneer,
With a voice that was quiet and low, said:
"What am I bid for the old violin?"
And he held it up with the bow.
"A thousand dollars, and who'll make it two?
"Two thousand! And who'll make it three?
"Three thousand, once; three thousand, twice;
And going and gone."said he.

The people cheered, but some of them cried,
"We do not quite understand, what changed its worth?"
Swift came the reply:
"The Touch Of The Master's Hand."

And many a man with life out of tune,
And battered and scarred with sin,
Is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd,
Much like the old violin.
A 'mess of potage,' a glass of wine;
A game - and he travels on.
He is 'going' once, and 'going' twice,
He's 'going' and almost 'gone'.
But the Master comes and the foolish crowd
Never can quite understand
The worth of a soul and the change that's wrought
By the touch of the Master's Hand.

by Myra B. Welch  (1877-1959)

 

 


About Myra Brooks Welch


Myra is also referred to as "The poet with the singing soul"
She wrote this poem for the benefit of her church brethren, and it was published in the February 26, 1921 issue of The Gospel Messenger.

The poem was also published in the book, The Touch Of The Master's Hand, 1957, by Brethren Press.  In 1997, Brethren Press also released The Story Behind the Touch of the Master’s Hand, the story of Myra Brooks Welch and the poem that made her famous.

 


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