  The music found in the preceding pages, may suffice in some measure for training and exercising the voices of young children. Care should be taken that the child pronounces his words with distinctness and precision. The vowels also should be formed in the throat and not in the mouth or nose. The manner of uttering the vowels, is that which gives a pleasant or unpleasant tone of voice to the singer. Properly speaking, we are never to sing the consonants, but to articulate them instantly, much as in speech, though louder and with greater precision. We sing only the vowels, and hence our manner of treating them is almost the only circumstance that gives sweetness and polish to the voice. The music which here follows, is not intended for drilling exercises. The little songs or hymns are strictly devotional; and should as far as practicable, be accompanied with devotional associations of thought and feeling. This is a principle of unspeakable importance; and one that ought every where to pervade the cultivation of devotional song. NOW I LAY ME DOWN.Music AT NIGHT. Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep, If I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take. Watts. IN THE MORNING. Through the night with slumber press'd, The Lord hath giv'n me quiet rest; Let mercy guide me through the day, And lead me in the narrow way. THE SUN HATH GONE TO REST.Music EVENING. The sun hath gone to rest, The bee forsakes the flower, The young bird slumbers in its nest, Within the leafy bower. Where have I been this day Into what folly run? Forgive me, Father, when I pray Through Jesus Christ thy son. When all my days are o'er, And in the grave I lie; Wilt thou permit my soul to soar, To worlds beyond the sky. L. H. S. DARK NIGHT AWAY.Music MORNING. Dark night away hath roll'd, Glad birds are soaring high, The sun with rays of gold, Looks from the dazzling sky. Teach me to thank the power, Whose hand sustains me so; Who o'er each fragrant flower, Bids dews of mercy flow. O raise my heart above, Where angel hosts adore; I'll praise thee for thy love, And count thy mercies o'er. L. H. S. THE TEMPEST.Music THE TEMPEST. The night is dark, the wind is high, And rain is pouring from the sky, There is no moon, The stars are gone, The lamps are out, the fire is down. How sad and lonely is this night, I cannot see a gleam of light; Awake I keep, And silent weep, While parents dear are fast in sleep. But there is one who dwells above, Whose looks are bright, whose name is love, His guardian care Is every where, And those who love him need not fear. Such was the night in Galilee, When the disciples on the sea, Far from the coast, By tempest tost, Expected to be sunk and lost. The Lord rebuk'd the angry seas, And hush'd the winds and waves to peace, He spake the word, The tempest heard, And own'd the pow'r of Christ the Lord. Then let the rain in torrents pour, And let the winds in tumult roar; Dark be the night, Yet Christ my light, Around me shines in splendor bright. AWAKE, AWAKE MY LOVE.Music MORNING. Awake, awake my love, The Savior from above, Would lend his gracious ear To listen to your prayer, Rise and unbosom every care. Awake, awake my love, The Savior from above, In accents kind and mild, Would own you as his child, Though you're by nature all defil'd. Awake, awake my love, The Savior from above, Can pardon all your sin, And bid your soul be clean; His blood can cleanse from every stain. H. S. M. AND NOW THE DAY IS ENDING.Music EVENING. And now the day is ending, With all its toil and care: My voice to heav'n ascending Shall offer praise and prayer: The Lord is ever mindful Of those who seek his face; And children weak and sinful, May feel his saving grace. For all my sin and folly, This day from morn to e'en, I pray the Lord most holy, That I may be forgiv'n. His bleeding love so precious, I now recall to mind: The Lord is ever gracious, And pitiful and kind. While I, my sins confessing, Implore his pard'ning love; I'll praise him for each blessing Descending from above; Ingratitude, so hateful— O! keep me from that sin; Lord make me truly grateful, And cleanse my soul within. HAPPY CHILD.Music Happy, happy child am I, On a mother's arms to lie, Or to rest my weary head On a soft and downy bed, Beneath her gentle eye: While she kneels beside me there, Teaching me a holy pray'r. But the little heathen child, Naked, ignorant and wild, Has no home or downy bed, Where to rest his aching head, Or mother's arms to shield. She no prayer of love can say, Heathen mothers will not pray. Blessed Savior, now I see, Thou art kinder far to me, And I will not lay my head, On my downy peaceful bed, Till I have pray'd to thee; Thank'd thee for a mother's care, Such as heathen never share. B. THE STORM.Music THE STORM. How fierce the lightning blazes! I hear the thunders roar; Hark! how the wind arises! While clouds their waters pour: But in the Lord confiding Our souls feel no alarm: For he himself is riding Upon the angry storm. The lightnings are his arrows, The thunders are his voice Yet e'en the feeblest sparrows May safe in him rejoice; The clouds and winds and waters, Obey his sovereign word; Let Zion's sons and daughters Adore th' Almighty Lord. When lightnings red are streaking, A Father's arm is bar'd; When thunders loud are speaking, A Father's voice is heard: The foes that flee before him, Can never feel his grace; While children that adore him, Shall see his smiling face. LORD'S PRAYER.Music THE LORD'S PRAYER. Our Father, our Father in heav'n, Be hallowed thy glorious name, To thee let the kingdom be giv'n, Thy will we acknowledge supreme. We would by thy bounty be fed, By infinite mercy forgiv'n; Nor into temptation be led, Or into sad evils be driv'n. For thine is the kingdom, O Lord, The power and the glory are thine, Be forever and ever ador'd, On earth as in heav'n divine. SELF CONSECRATION.Music SELF-CONSECRATION. O, Jesus, delight of my soul, My Savior, my Shepherd divine; I yield to thy blessed control, My body and spirit are thine; Thy love I can never deserve, That bids me be happy in thee; My God and my King I will serve, Whose favor is heaven to me. How can I thy goodness repay, By nature so weak and defil'd? Myself I have given away; O call me thine own little child: And art thou my Father above? Will Jesus abide in my heart? O, bind me so fast with thy love, That I never from thee shall depart. CHILDREN, LISTEN.Music Children, listen to the Lord, And obey his gracious word, Seek his love with heart and mind, Early seek and you shall find. Sorrowful, your sins confess, Plead his perfect righteousness, See the Savior's bleeding side! Come, you will not be denied. For his worship now prepare, Kneel to him in fervent pray'r, Serve him with a perfect heart, Never from his ways depart. HOSANNA.Music Hosannas were by children sung, When Jesus was on earth; Then surely we are not too young To sound his praises forth: The Lord is great, the Lord is good; He feeds us from his store, With earthly and with heav'nly food, We'll praise him evermore. And when to him young children came, He took them in his arms: He bless'd them in his Father's name, And spoke with heav'nly charms: We thank him for his gracious word, We thank him for his love: We'll sing the praises of our Lord, Who reigns in heav'n above. Before he left this world of woe, On Calvary he died; His blood for us did freely flow Forth from his wounded side; O, then we'll magnify his name Who groan'd and died for us; We'll worship the atoning Lamb, And kneel before his cross. He rose again and walk'd abroad, And many saw his face: They call'd him the incarnate God, Redeemer of our race: He rose and he ascended high, We'll bow to his command: His glories fill the earth and sky, He sits at God's right hand. |
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