And Jesus taught them as they walked,
By pointed parable,
That all shall have equal right
Who serve the Master well.
* * *
He told them of a man who hired
Some laborers to work,
And promised each a penny, for
The day, from morn to dark.
* * *
Again at noon, and later still,
He others idle found,
And sent them into his vineyard
To work upon the ground.
* * *
And then again, and just before
The closing of the day,
He hired others who should get
A penny for their pay.
* * *
But when the eventide had come,
And the day’s work was done,
The men were called, that each might get
Whatever was his own.
* * *
The last come were paid first, and each
A pleased expression wore.
But when the first were paid they thought
That they should get still more.
* * *
And when a penny each received,
They murmured at the pay,
Which was the same for one hour’s work
As for the long, warm day.
* * *
The good man answered one of them :
“Friend, I do thee no wrong;
A penny I agreed to give–
That doth to thee belong.
* * *
“Take that thine is and go thy way,
I will to this last one
Give just the same as unto thee–
Is it not all my own?
* * *
“So shall the last be as the first,
And first as last to view;
For many be the called of God,
And yet, the chosen, few.”
