{
 "id": "frances-ellen-watkins-harper/the-jewish-grandfathers-story",
 "title": "The Jewish Grandfather’s Story",
 "poet": "Frances Ellen Watkins Harper",
 "poet_slug": "frances-ellen-watkins-harper",
 "language": "en",
 "book": "Sketches of Southern Life",
 "book_slug": "sketches-of-southern-life",
 "book_kind": "volume",
 "sequence": null,
 "container": null,
 "epigraph": null,
 "first_published": {
  "year": 1891,
  "venue": "Sketches of Southern Life, enlarged printing (1891)",
  "note": "Not in the 1872 first edition: the scan of that edition on disk does not contain it, while the 1891 printing does. Whether it appeared in a periodical between those dates has not been established.",
  "uncertain": true,
  "sources": [
   "https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/69249",
   "https://archive.org/details/frances-ellen-watkins-harper_sketches-of-southern-life-1872"
  ]
 },
 "source": {
  "kind": "standard-ebooks",
  "repo": "standardebooks/frances-ellen-watkins-harper_poetry",
  "file": "poetry.xhtml",
  "upstream": [
   "https://scalar.lehigh.edu/african-american-poetry-a-digital-anthology/frances-ew-harper-poems-on-miscellaneous-subjects-1857",
   "https://archive.org/details/poemsonmiscellan00harp",
   "https://scalar.lehigh.edu/african-american-poetry-a-digital-anthology/frances-ew-harper-poems-1871",
   "https://archive.org/details/poems01harp",
   "https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/69249",
   "https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/007491600",
   "https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/69248",
   "https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/100774124",
   "https://scalar.lehigh.edu/african-american-poetry-a-digital-anthology/frances-ew-harper-poems-full-text-1895",
   "https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/100488369",
   "https://scalar.lehigh.edu/african-american-poetry-a-digital-anthology/frances-ew-harper-idylls-of-the-bible-1901",
   "https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/100319488",
   "https://archive.org/details/historyofafrican00payn",
   "https://archive.org/details/WeeklyAngloAfricanI",
   "https://archive.org/details/sim_liberator_1858-05-14_28_20",
   "https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/000500702",
   "https://archive.org/details/undergroundrailr00stil",
   "https://archive.org/details/frances-ellen-watkins-harper_sketches-of-southern-life-1872",
   "https://archive.org/details/25th-annual-report-of-the-board-of-managers-of-the-home-etc",
   "https://archive.org/details/frances-ellen-watkins-harper_light-beyond-the-darkness",
   "https://archive.org/details/ame-church-review-1900-04"
  ],
  "rights": "public domain (SE dedication; underlying text pre-1931)"
 },
 "verification": {
  "level": "structural-only",
  "last_checked": "2026-08-12"
 },
 "stats": {
  "n_lines": 180,
  "n_stanzas": 45,
  "n_parts": 0,
  "longest_line_chars": 42,
  "max_indent": 1
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 "stanzas": [
  [
   {
    "text": "Come, gather around me, children,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And a story I will tell.",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "How we builded the beautiful temple⁠—",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The temple we love so well.",
    "indent": 1
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "I must date my story backward",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "To a distant age and land,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "When God did break our fathers’ chains",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "By his mighty outstretched hand.",
    "indent": 1
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Our fathers were strangers and captives,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Where the ancient Nile doth flow;",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Smitten by cruel taskmasters,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And burdened by toil and woe.",
    "indent": 1
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "As a shepherd, to pastures green",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Doth lead with care his sheep,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "So God divided the great Red Sea,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And led them through the deep.",
    "indent": 1
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "You’ve seen me plant a tender vine,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And guard it with patient care,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Till its roots struck in the mellow earth,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And it drank the light and air.",
    "indent": 1
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "So God did plant our chosen race,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "As a vine in this fair land;",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "And we grew and spread a fruitful tree,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The planting of his right hand.",
    "indent": 1
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "The time would fail strove I to tell,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "All the story of our race⁠—",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Of our grand old leader, Moses,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And Joshua in his place,",
    "indent": 1
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Of all our rulers and judges,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "From Joshua unto Saul,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Over whose doomed and guilty head",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Fell ruin and death’s dark pall.",
    "indent": 1
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Of valiant Jephthah, whose brave heart",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "With sudden grief did bow,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "When his daughter came with dance and song",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Unconscious of his vow.",
    "indent": 1
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Of Gideon, lifting up his voice",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "To him who rules the sky,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "And wringing out his well drenched fleece,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "When all around was dry.",
    "indent": 1
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "How Deborah, ’neath her spreading palms,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "A judge in Israel rose,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "And wrested victory from the hands",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Of Jacob’s heathen foes.",
    "indent": 1
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Of Samuel, an upright judge.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The last who ruled our tribes,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Whose noble life and cleanly hands,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Were pure and free from bribes.",
    "indent": 1
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Of David, with his checkered life",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Our tuneful minstrel king,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Who breathed in sadness and delight,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The psalms we love to sing.",
    "indent": 1
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Of Solomon, whose wandering heart,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "From Jacob’s God did stray,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "And cast the richest gifts of life,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "In pleasure’s cup away.",
    "indent": 1
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "How aged men advised his son,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "But found him weak and vain,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Until the kingdom from his hands",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Was rudely rent in twain.",
    "indent": 1
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Oh! sin and strife are fearful things,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "They widen as they go,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "And leave behind them shades of death,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And open gates of woe.",
    "indent": 1
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "A trail of guilt, a gloomy line,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Ran through our nation’s life,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "And wicked kings provoked our God,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And sin and woe were rife.",
    "indent": 1
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "At length, there came a day of doom⁠—",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "A day of grief and dread;",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "When judgment like a fearful storm",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Swept o’er our country’s head.",
    "indent": 1
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "And we were captives many years,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Where Babel’s stream doth flow;",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "With harps unstrung, on willows hung,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "We wept in silent woe.",
    "indent": 1
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "We could not sing the old, sweet songs,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Our captors asked to hear;",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Our hearts were full, how could we sing",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The songs to us so dear?",
    "indent": 1
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "As one who dreams a mournful dream,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Which fades, as wanes the night,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "So God did change our gloomy lot",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "From darkness into light.",
    "indent": 1
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Belshazzar in his regal halls,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "A sumptuous feast did hold;",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "He praised his gods and drank his wine",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "From sacred cups of gold.",
    "indent": 1
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "When dance and song and revelry",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Had filled with mirth each hall,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Belshazzar raised his eyes and saw",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "A writing on the wall.",
    "indent": 1
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "He saw, and horror blanched his cheek,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "His lips were white with fear;",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "To read the words he quickly called",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "For wise men, far and near.",
    "indent": 1
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "But baffled seers, with anxious doubt",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Stood silent in the room,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "When Daniel came, a captive youth,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And read the words of doom.",
    "indent": 1
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "That night, within his regal hall,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Belshazzar lifeless lay;",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "The Persians grasped his fallen crown,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And with the Mede held sway.",
    "indent": 1
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Darius came, and Daniel rose",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "A man of high renown;",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "But wicked courtiers schemed and planned",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "To drag the prophet down.",
    "indent": 1
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "They came as men who wished to place",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Great honors on their king⁠—",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "With flattering lips and oily words,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Desired a certain thing.",
    "indent": 1
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "They knew that Daniel, day by day",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Towards Salem turned his face,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "And asked the king to sign a law",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "His hands might not erase.",
    "indent": 1
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "That till one moon had waned away,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "No cherished wish or thing",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Should any ask of men or Gods,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Unless it were the king.",
    "indent": 1
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "But Daniel, full of holy trust,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "His windows opened wide,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Regardless of the king’s command,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Unto his God he cried.",
    "indent": 1
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "They brought him forth that he might be",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The hungry lion’s meat,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Awe struck, the lions turned away",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And crouched anear his feet.",
    "indent": 1
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "The God he served was strong to save",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "His servant in the den;",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "The fate devised for Daniel’s life",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "O’er took those scheming men.",
    "indent": 1
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "And Cyrus came, a gracious king,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And gave the blest command,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "That we, the scattered Jews, should build",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Anew our fallen land.",
    "indent": 1
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "The men who hated Judah’s weal",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Were filled with bitter rage,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "And ’gainst the progress of our work",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Did evil men engage.",
    "indent": 1
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Sanballat tried to hinder us,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And Gashmu uttered lies,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "But like a thing of joy and light,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "We saw our temple rise.",
    "indent": 1
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "And from the tower of Hananeel",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Unto the corner gate,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "We built the wall and did restore",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The places desolate.",
    "indent": 1
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Some mocked us as we labored on",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And scoffingly did say,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "“If but a fox climb on the wall,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Their work will give away.”",
    "indent": 1
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "But Nehemiah wrought in hope,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Though heathen foes did frown",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "“My work is great,” he firmly said,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“And I cannot come down.”",
    "indent": 1
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "And when Shemai counselled him",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The temple door to close,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "To hide, lest he should fall a prey",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Unto his cruel foes.",
    "indent": 1
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Strong in his faith, he answered, “No,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "He would oppose the tide,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Should such as he from danger flee,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And in the temple hide?”",
    "indent": 1
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "We wrought in earnest faith and hope",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Until we built the wall,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "And then, unto a joyful feast",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Did priest and people call.",
    "indent": 1
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "We came to dedicate the wall",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "With sacrifice and joy⁠—",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "A happy throng, from aged sire",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Unto the fair-haired boy.",
    "indent": 1
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Our lips so used to mournful songs,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Did joyous laughter fill,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "And strong men wept with sacred joy",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "To stand on Zion’s hill.",
    "indent": 1
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Mid scoffing foes and evil men,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "We built our city blest,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "And ’neath our sheltering vines and palms",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "To-day in peace we rest.",
    "indent": 1
   }
  ]
 ]
}