Scripture Verse

The words of the godly encourage many. Proverbs 10:21

Introduction

Words: Ma­bel Tay­lor, in On Joy­ful Wing, ed­it­ed by John Swe­ney & Will­iam J. Kirk­pat­rick (Phi­la­del­phia, Penn­syl­van­ia: John J. Hood, 1886), num­ber 84.

Music: Mount Wash­ing­ton John R. Swe­ney (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a good pho­to of Tay­lor (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

portrait
John R. Sweney (1837–1899)

Lyrics

’Twas spoken by the wayside,
A little, trembling word,
And, though ’twas but a whis­per,
It did not fall unheard.
It bade the night of sorrow
From weeping eyes depart,
It made a bur­den lighter,
And healed a breaking heart.
’Twas spoken by the wayside,
A little, trembling word,
And, though ’twas but a whisper,
It did not fall unheard.

’Twas spoken by the wayside,
Where many came and passed,
And, swiftly as an arrow,
It reached its mark at last;
’Twas spoken by the wayside,
When evening shades were dim,
It told the love of Je­sus,
And brought a soul to Him.
’Twas spoken by the wayside,
Where many came and passed,
And, swiftly as an arrow,
It reached its mark at last.

Go, stand ye by the wayside,
And breathe in fervent prayer
A word of love and kindness,
’Twill find an echo there.
Ye know not who may listen,
Or what that word may do;
But go in faith, be­liev­ing
The Lord has work for you.
Go, stand ye by the wayside,
And breathe in fervent prayer
A word of love and kindness,
’Twill find an echo there.