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[L. M.]

The Star of Bethlehem.

TUNE-" Cephas.”

See also Nason's "Vocal Class Book," p. 64.

1 WHEN marshalled on the nightly plain, The glittering host bestud the sky, One star alone, of all the train,

Can fix the sinner's wandering eye :

2 Hark! hark! to God the chorus breaks,
From every host, from every glen;
But one alone the Saviour speaks,
It is the STAR of Bethlehem.

3 Once on the raging seas I rode,

The storm was loud, the night was dark,
The ocean yawned, and rudely blowed
The wind that tossed my foundering bark.

4 Deep horror then my vitals froze,
Death-struck, I ceased the tide to stem:
When suddenly, a star arose,

It was the STAR of Bethlehem.

5 It was my guide, my light, my all;
It bade my dark foreboding cease,
And through the storm and danger's thrall,
It led me to the port of peace.

6 Now safely moored, my perils o'er,
I'll sing, first in night's diadem,
Forever and forever more,

The Star-the STAR of Bethlehem.

H. K. WHITE.

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[C. M.]

Early Piety.

TUNE-" Riverton."

See also Nason's "Vocal Class Book," p. 134.

1 By cool Siloam's* shady rill,

How sweet the lily grows

How sweet the breath beneath the hill,
Of Sharon's dewy rose!

2 Lo, such the youth whose early feet,
The paths of peace have trod;
Whose secret heart, with influence sweet,
Is upward drawn to God!

3 By cool Siloam's shady rill,
The lily must decay,

The rose that blooms beneath the hill
Must shortly fade away.

4 And soon, too soon, the wintry hour
Of man's maturer age

Will shake the soul with sorrow's power,
And stormy passion's rage!

5 O Thou who giv'st us life and breath,
We seek Thy grace alone,

In childhood, manhood, age and death,
To keep us still Thine own.

BP. HEBER.

* This fountain issues from a rock, twenty or thirty feet below the surface of the ground, near the South-East corner of the city of Jerusalem. "It flows out without a single murmur, and appears clear as crystal. From this place it winds its way several rods under the mountain, then makes its appearance with a gentle gurgling, and forming a beautiful rill, takes its way down into the valley, towards the South-East.

34

[C. M.]

Contentment.

TUNE- Noami."

Vide also "Nason's Vocal Class Book," p. 64.

1 FATHER, whate'er of earthly bliss
Thy sovereign will denies,
Accepted at Thy throne of grace,
Let this petition rise:

2 "Give me a calm, a thankful heart,
From every murmur free,
The blessings of Thy grace impart,
And make me live to Thee.

3 O, let the hope that Thou art mine,
My life and death attend --

Thy presence through my journey shine,
And crown my journey's end."

MRS. ANNE STEELE.

35

The Invitation.

ナ

[7s, 6s & 4s.]

AIR-" Thou, Thou reign'st," etc.

1 SOFT, soft music is stealing,

Sweet, sweet lingers the strain;

Loud, loud, now it is pealing,

Waking the echoes again,

Yes, yes, yes, yes,

Waking the echoes again.

2 Join, join, children of sadness,
Send, send sorrow away;

Now, now, changing to gladness,
Warble a beautiful lay.

Yes, yes, yes, yes,
Warble a beautiful lay.

3 Hope, hope, fair and enduring;
Joy, joy, bright as the day;
Love, love, heaven ensuring,
Sweetly invite you away.
Yes, yes, yes, yes,
Sweetly invite you away.

36

[7s.]

37

MRS. M. S. B. DANA.

Evening.

AIR-" Go, forget me."

Vide also "Nason's Vocal Class Book," p. 63.

1 SOFTLY now the light of day,
Fades upon our sight away;
Free from care, from labor free,
Lord, we would commune with Thee.

2 Soon for us, the light of day,
Shall forever pass away:

Then from sin and sorrow free,

Take us, Lord, to dwell with Thee.

EPIS. COLL.

Constant Devotion.

[C. M.] TUNE-"Enfield." "Antioch." by Handel.

1 BEFORE the rosy dawn of day,
To Thee, my God, I'll sing,
Awake, my soft and tuneful lyre,
Awake each charming string.

38

2 Awake, and let the flowing strains
Glide through the midnight air,
While high amid the silent orbs,
The silver moon rolls clear.

3 So when the starry night returns,
Or smiling day renews,

Thy constant goodness still my soul
With benefit pursues.

4 For this, I'll midnight vows to Thee
With early incense bring,
And, ere the rosy dawn of day,
Thy lofty praises sing.

The Bright Sun is Rising.

[12s & 11s.]

AIR-" Araby's Daughter."

1 O, JOY to thee, joy to thee, daughter of sorrow!
Attune thy sweet voice to a rapturous lay;
The bright sun is rising to cheer thee to-morrow,
And night's gloomy darkness is fading away.
The Friend of the friendless, the life of the dying,
The joy of the heart-broken mourner is He;
Now praises for weeping, and gladness for sighing,
And garments of promise He's off'ring to thee.

1 Come, mourners, and bathe in the life-giving waters,
Which ever are springing exhaustless and pure;
Now banish your sorrows, Jerusalem's daughters;
Here peaceful and safe you may dwell evermore.
Here's beauty and glory, all glory excelling:

The Father's bright image expressed in the Son! All mercy and peace in the Saviour is dwelling, And they must be blest whom he claims as his

own.

MRS. M. S. B. DANA.