a story in song

yesterday my pastor used this story as part of its sermon. so i hunted for it online today. and i actually found it - not in a story, but in a song! here is is: The Touch of The Master's Hand by Wayne Watson


Well, it was battered and scarred
An the auctioneer felt
It was hardly worth his while
To waste much time on the old violin
But he held it up with a smile
It sure ain't much
But it's all we got left
I guess we ought to sell it too
Now who'll start the bid on this old violin
Just one more and we'll be through

And then he cried
One, give me one dollar
Who'll make it two
Only two dollars
Who'll make it three
Three dollars twice
Now that's a good price
But who's got a bid for me
Raise up your hand
And don't wait any longer
The auction's about to end
Who's got four
Just one dollar more
To bid on this old violin

Well the air was hot
And the people stood around
As the sun was setting low
From the back of the crowd a gray-haired man
Came forward, picked up the bow
He wiped the dust from the old violin
And tightened up the strings
Then he played out a melody pure and sweet
Sweeter than the angels sing

And then the music stopped
And the auctioneer with a voice that was quiet and low
He said
What am I bid for this old violin
Then he held it up with a bow

(Chorus)
Then he cried out
One, give me one thousand
Who'll make it two
Only two thousand
Who'll make it three
Three thousand twice
Well, that's a good price
But who's got a bid for me
The people cried out
What made the change
We don't understand
Then the auctioneer stopped
And he said with a smile
It was the touch of the master's hand

Now you know
Many a man with a life out of tune
Is battered and scarred with sin
And he's auctioned cheap to a thankless world
Much like that old violin
Then the master comes and the foolish crowd
They never understand
The worth of a soul
And the change that is wrought
Just by one touch of the Master's hand