Twas battered and scared, and the auctioneer
Thought it scarcely worth his while
To waste much time on the old violin,
But he held it up with a smile.
“What am I bidden, good folks,” he cried,
Who’ll start bidding for me?
A dollar, a dollar – now who’ll make it two
Two dollars, and who’ll make it three?
Three dollars once, three dollars twice,
Going for three” . . . but no!
From the room bar back a gray-haired man
Came forward and picked up the bow;
Then wiping the dust from the old violin,
And tightening up the strings,
He played a melody, pure and sweet,
As sweet as an angel sings.
The music ceased and the auctioneer
With a voice that was quiet and low,
Said: “What am I bidden for the old violin?”
And he held it up with the bow;
“A thousand dollars – and who’ll make it two”
Two thousand – and who’ll make it three?
Three thousand once, three thousand twice
And going – and gone,” said he.
The people cheered, but some of them cried,
“We do not quite understand –
What changed it’s worth?” The man replied:
“The touch of the master’s hand.”
And many a man with life out of tune,
And battered and scared with sin,
Is auctioned cheap to a thoughtless crowd.
Much like the old violin.
A “mess of pottage,” a glass of wine,
A game and he travels on,
He’s going once, and going twice –
He’s going – and almost gone!
But the MASTER comes, and the foolish crowd,
Never can quite understand,
The worth of a soul, and the change that’s wrought
By the touch of the MASTER’S hand.
Myra B. Welch
Now, as great as this event was, one thing that touched me as a father was having Jennifer stand in front of this small group of people and declare with sweet emotion her love for Derek and her simple testimony of the gospel, and then go on to say how much she looks forward in a year to having their marriage solomnized in the temple. This is their Journey of a lifetime.
