I recently came across a selection of a poem, originally written anonymously. The poem, entitled Jonas Fisher, was thought to have been written by William Tasker, disciple of Thomas Chalmers and missionary to the slums of 19th century Edinburgh. But apparently, later scholarship regarded it as the product of James Carnegie.
Whatever the origin, it is quite a stimulating read. Quite illustrative of the dramas of evangelistic visitation among the underprivileged and useful as an example for similar work in the modern day. Here’s a portion:
My mission day is Saturday,
For then at Two shop-work is o’er,
(On Sabbath, day of rest, I go
Three times to church, and prayers before),And all the afternoon I give
(more…)
To visiting the poor indeed;
Rich people scarce could even guess
The wretched life these creatures lead.