His breath gives warmth to summer days; His billows cool the air; In heaven bears witness of his ways, The rainbow bright and fair. And meadows, mountains, fields, and woods, Display his goodness round: With his great name resound. Sings gladly ;-let us join, And raise, in concert with the lark, A melody divine. Our fields of late were hard and white Earth's breast there seemed no glow in ; From labouring brows down trickle drops, We toil, and trust that autumn's crops Without a fear we strew the seed, And yield the birds their due; Help every soul that suffers need, And bid him gladden too. In love for us the Lord of all Be like the Lord, the bountiful, But he who but his harvest takes And friendship from the Lord descends; He loves the sight when faithful friends He smiles when wedded love is blest And when the infant at the breast Receives the mother's kiss. THANKSGIVING SONG. With joy he sees our children fair Or when the youth, with studious lore Or the poet's wings would upward soar, As mothers show their little ones Care, on our life's swift-flowing stream, A slumber short is death. We sink, contented, in the dust- We give the worms their due, and trust Then let us all together raise, A song of praise, and children's lays Shall mingle in the strain. And when to know our children pray The name of Him above, O clasp them to your hearts and say, 175 THE DAYS OF CREATION. FROM THE GERMAN OF KRUMMACHER. ALL dead and silent was the earth, The Eternal spoke Creation's word, Chor. It streamed from on high, And angels' songs welcom'd God spake the murmuring waters fled, Wide over-arching heaven's blue vault Chor. Now sparkles above It sends to the earth The light and the dew. God spake he bade the waves divide; From hill, from rock, the gushing streams In heaven's blue bosom God spake the hills and plains put on And budding trees are seen. Chor. The word of his breath Clothes the forest with leaves, The high gift of beauty The spring-tide receives. THE DAYS OF CREATION. God spake and on the new-dress'd earth God spake the waters teem with life, Low hid in the valley The nightingale sings. God spake the lion, steer, and horse Chor. They give life to the mountain, But their eyes fix'd on earth God spake he look'd on earth and heaven With mild and gracious eye: In his own image man he made, And gave him dignity. Chor. He springs from the dust, The chorus of heaven Exult at his birth. And now Creation's work was ended, Man raised his head, he spoke : The day of rest by God ordained, 177 The Sabbath morning broke. Penny Magazine. |