An Only Child Healed.
THE next day, coming to the place
Where they had left the nine,
They found a crowd, glad to behold
The Master's face, Divine.
He asked the scribes: "What question ye
With my disciples here?"
When one in haste approaching Him,
And kneeling down in fear,
Said: "Lord, have mercy on my son—
He is my only child;
And a dumb spirit tortures him,
And makes him fierce and wild.
"And often in the fire he falls,
And in the water too;
And I spoke to Thy disciples,
But they could nothing do."
Then Jesus said: "O, men perverse,
Why can ye not believe?
How long shall I be with you ere
The faith ye will receive?"
Then to the father: "Bring to me
Your son." The child was brought,
When he fell, foaming, on the ground,
By the foul spirit wrought.
Then Jesus asked the man: "How long
Has he been troubled thus?"
He answered: "From a little child;
But, Lord, canst Thou help us?"
Jesus replied: "If thou hast faith,
Then thou shalt have relief."
The man cried out: "Lord, I believe;
Help Thou mine unbelief."
Then Jesus to the demon spoke:
"Deaf and dumb spirit sore,
I charge thee to come out of him,
And enter him no more."
The spirit cried and troubled him,
Till, like one dead, he fell;
But Jesus took him by the hand,
And, lo! the child was well.
And now the Master and the twelve
Into a house retired;
And the nine came to Him and asked
That which they most desired:
The twelve then asked: "Why could we not
Cast out that spirit, pray?"
He said: "Because your unbelief
Stood boldly in the way.
"For, verily, if ye have faith
As a small, mustard grain,
Then shall unto this mountain say,
'Remove to yonder plain.'
"It shall remove. Nothing shall be
Impossible to you;
Yet these foul spirits go not, save
By prayer and fasting, too."