{A Plea for the Relief Society}
Written at the request of Mrs. Rhonda Snell, first President of the Relief Society of Spanis Fork and read at the celebration of the 24th of July, 1867.
Gather up the fragments, that nothing be lost. John, Chap. VI. ver. 12.
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Let us gather up the fragments,
That nothing may be lost,
And never mind how trifling, or
How small may be their cost.
Economy is heaven's law,
Let us observe and see;
A tiny drop, a single grain,
Each of some use can be.
Union is strength, and when we meet
And in one cause unite,
Much may be done to help and bless,
And make the burden light.
We bring our little bits of cloth,
Our bunch of wool or thread;
And busy fingers work awhile;
And soon a quilt is made.
We give our mite the poor to help,
their pressing wants relieve,
But do we realize how much,
We each from God receive?
On this glad day, when through these vales,
The saints with joy have met,
Can we while pleasure thrills the heart,
The absent ones forget?
Our people now in distant lands,
Would glad these blessings share,
And from them oft, for help from us,
Ascends the fervent prayer.
Oppressed with poverty, they sigh,
While sin and crime abound;
And evils now unknown to us,
Encompass them around.
By us a Prophet's voice is heard,
Our eyes can see this face,
Would they not prize above all joys,
In Zion's land a place?
Perhaps the little we have done,
Is registered on high,
And, when the books at least are read
Will not unnoticed lie.
But do we each give all we can
When any call is made?
Or is our first desire to know
How little can be paid?
Does it sometimes seem hard to part
With what we earn so dear?
As Saints of God we ought to live
Above all selfish fear.
'Tis faith alone, can understand
the charge so wisely given,
(Though some may fear to run the risk,)
"Lay treasures up in Heaven."
~ Hannah Last Cornaby
My great- great-grandmother
