"The Faded Black Book" by Judge Roy Moore

Came an old gray-haired man down the road one day,
Struggling in the hot summer sun.
Two boys, traveling along the way that he went,
Decided to have some fun.

“Hey, old man,” hollered one of the boys,
“Why are you going so slow?
Move on to the side so we can pass by,
Then on down the road you may go.”

But the old man couldn’t move as fast as they did,
So they grabbed him and shoved him down.
Then one boy said, “Let’s take all his money,”
As the old man got slowly off the ground.

One held the old man as the other one searched;
Not a place did they fail to look.
Finally one said, “He’s got nothing at all,
Just this little old faded black book.”

“That little black book,” the old man said,
“It may be faded and old.
But the things you will find written within,
Are worth more than silver and gold.”

“Shut-up, old man,” cried one of the lads,
As impatient he began to grow.
“All weak and old, with clothes of rags,
What could you possibly know?”

“Judge not that you be not judged,” said he,
“For I, too, was once young and strong.
But time and age comes the same to all,
And you’ll be here before long.

“Riches and clothes do not a man make,
Nor in them will you find a friend.
To have a good name is what you should seek,
For it will last ’til the end.

“Do unto others, the good book says,
As you would have them do unto you.
If I were you, and you were I,
Would you still want that to be true?

“Further down the road waits a band of thieves,
I’ve been this way before, you see.
But I know of another path we can take,
And you’re welcome to come go with me.”

“Why, old man,” said one of the boys,
“This beats all I’ve ever seen
For you to offer to help us now,
After we’ve treated you ugly and mean.”

“Even a fool,” replied the old man,
“Learns quickly to love his own kind.
But the man who returns good for evil,
Is surely much harder to find.”

“Well, old man,” said one of the youths,
“I’ve never really thought of things so.
And if you don’t mind we will go your way,
Perhaps more of this book we should know.”