On the Dewy Breath of Even

portrait — Luther O. Emerson
(1820–1915)

Words: Julia A. Elliott, 1835. First published anonymously in her husband’s Psalms and Hymns. Her authorship was acknowledged in the 1839 Third Thousand by the addition of her initials in the index. Some hymnals erroneously credit the words to James Martineau (they appeared in a later collection of his).

Music: Crawford (Emerson) Luther O. Emerson, in the Hymn and Tune Book for the Church and the Home, revised edition (Boston, Massachusetts: American Unitarian Association, 1883), page 67 (🔊 pdf nwc) (repeats first two lines of each verse).

Alternate Tune:

Emerald English tune, in the Plymouth Collection of Hymns and Tunes, by Henry W. Beecher (New York: A. S. [Alfred Smith] Barnes, 1855), page 430 (🔊 pdf nwc) (repeats first two lines of each verse)

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

On the dewy breath of even
Thousand odors mingling rise,
Borne like incense up to Heaven,
Nature’s evening sacrifice.

With her fragrant offerings blending,
Let our glad thanksgivings be—
To Thy throne, O lord, ascending—
Incense of our hearts to Thee.

Thou, whose favors, without number,
All our days with gladness bless,
Let Thine eye, that knows no slumber,
Guard our hours of helplessness.

Then, though conscious we are sleeping
In the outer courts of death,
Safe beneath a Father’s keeping
Calm we rest in perfect faith.

Scripture Verse

Introduction

Lyrics