 | Wood-notes and Church-bells |  |
DAVID PLAYING THE HARP BEFORE SAUL;
OR, MUSIC THE WORKING-MAN'S RESOURCE.
The shepherd's harp rare music yields,
Soothing dark soul and troubled looks;
It whispers of the happy fields,
It warbles of the running brooks.
Soothing dark soul and troubled looks;
It whispers of the happy fields,
It warbles of the running brooks.
It points to yonder pastures green
Where flocks repose in perfect peace,
Till charmed with that delightful scene
The monarch's wayward fancies cease.
Where flocks repose in perfect peace,
Till charmed with that delightful scene
The monarch's wayward fancies cease.
122
The king upon his royal seat
Bows to the shepherd's “cunning” hand;
His ear is touched by harpings sweet,
His soul by airs celestial fanned.
Bows to the shepherd's “cunning” hand;
His ear is touched by harpings sweet,
His soul by airs celestial fanned.
For mixed with music many a word
Of heavenly comfort wins his heart:
And thoughts of love once more are stirred,
And evil thoughts awhile depart.
Of heavenly comfort wins his heart:
And thoughts of love once more are stirred,
And evil thoughts awhile depart.
Blest melodies! ah, not in vain
That shepherd youth, through lonely days
Had tuned his harp to that high strain,
And woke his “glory” to God's praise.
That shepherd youth, through lonely days
Had tuned his harp to that high strain,
And woke his “glory” to God's praise.
Behold him in his leafy bower
While listening flocks around him lie,
To his harp singing, hour by hour,
Psalms that still echo from the sky.
While listening flocks around him lie,
To his harp singing, hour by hour,
Psalms that still echo from the sky.
123
His harp made daily work more sweet,
His work gave subjects for his song;
And not less active were his feet
For music, nor his hands less strong.
His work gave subjects for his song;
And not less active were his feet
For music, nor his hands less strong.
O glad resource for leisure time,
Soothing the spirit through the ear,
Lifting the heart to thoughts sublime,
And making home itself more dear.
Soothing the spirit through the ear,
Lifting the heart to thoughts sublime,
And making home itself more dear.
When will such harmonies resound
'Neath every workman's cherished roof?
Token that peace at home is found,
And jarring discords hold aloof.
'Neath every workman's cherished roof?
Token that peace at home is found,
And jarring discords hold aloof.
Dear solace of a blameless life,
At evening when his work is done,
And near him stands his loving wife,
Or gentle girl or prattling son.
At evening when his work is done,
And near him stands his loving wife,
Or gentle girl or prattling son.
124
His skilful hand awakes the notes
Of some familiar, sacred air,
And through the quiet room there floats
The cheerful voice of praise or prayer.
Of some familiar, sacred air,
And through the quiet room there floats
The cheerful voice of praise or prayer.
Oh, happy “days of heaven on earth,”
Brightened with music and with love,
Sure earnest of melodious mirth
In our Great Father's House above!
Brightened with music and with love,
Sure earnest of melodious mirth
In our Great Father's House above!
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