The Patchwork Quilt
The members of a certain church
Worked well with willing hands
And many useful garments made
To send to heathen lands.
One dear old lady joined the group
A patchwork quilt she made
And as she joined the gaudy strips
With every stitch she prayed.
She took it to the vicarage
And beamed with pride and joy
No thought that it might useless be
Could her sweet peace destroy.
The Vicar knowing her funny ways
Thanked her with kindly chat
But when she'd gone away he said
Poor Soul, now what could you do with that.
The finished garments large and small
Into a box were pressed
The patchwork quilt was thrown on top
Just to cover all the rest.
The Missionary received the box
And soon its cords untied
But when he saw the patchwork quilt
He threw it to the one side.
Just then a heathen tribal chief
Came slowly walking by
The brightly coloured patchwork quilt
Attracted his keen eye.
Oh what a lovely cloak he cried
That's really very nice
If you will sell this cloak to me
I'll give you any price.
Before the startled missionary
A ready answer found
The chief said for this lovely cloak
I'll give you a piece of Ground
Now the man of God had often prayed
For land where He a church could build
So at this sign of assured Prayer
His heart with rapture filled.
The bargain speedily was made
And the chief walked away
And the work of building that new Church
Went on from day to day.
The happy Christian Flock
Met there in sweet accord
To hear the joyful Gospel news
And Praise their Saviour Lord.
Then suddenly the native chief
Walked down the aisle alone
The patchwork quilt across his back
Like a mantle was thrown.
With awe he listened as he heard
How Jesus died to save
And how he conquered sin and death
By rising from the grave.
The chief believed
As faithfully the Gospel truth was told
And thankfully that sin stained man
Was brought into the Fold
And so you see
A soul was saved and a mission church was built
All because a dear old praying soul
Made a patchwork quilt.