The Touch of the Master's Hand

Twas battered and scarred, 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 will start bidding for me?”

“A dollar, a dollar”—then, “Two!” “Only two?

Two dollars, and who’ll make it three?

Three dollars once, three dollars, twice; Going for three—” But no,

From the room, far back, a gray-haired man

Came forward and picked up the bow;

Then wiping the dust from the old violin

And tightening the loosened strings

He played a melody pure and sweet,

As sweet as a caroling 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 its worth?” Swift came the reply;

“The touch of the Master’s hand.”

And many a man with life out of tune,

And battered and scarred with sin,

Is auctioned cheap to the 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.

--“The Touch of the Master’s Hand” by Myra Brooks Welch