Scripture Verse

As a bird that wandereth from her nest, so is a man that wandereth from his place. Proverbs 27:8

Introduction

portrait
Aldine Kieffer (1840–1904)

Words: Charles M. Hott, in Sweet Fields of Eden, ed­it­ed by Al­dine Kief­fer, John H. Ten­ney & Will­iam B. Blake (Day­ton, Vir­gin­ia: Rue­bush- Kief­fer, 1882), page 8.

Music: Ash­ga­bat Al­dine S. Kief­fer, 1882 (🔊 pdf nwc).

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

Lyrics

Far in the de­sert wild,
Walking a drea­ry way,
Suffering and sin de­filed,
Going as­tray.

Refrain

Pray for the wan­der­er,
Pray for the wan­der­er,
Pray for the wan­der­er,
Going as­tray!

Tenderly bid, they come,
Back from sin’s wil­der­ness,
Come to our Fa­ther’s home,
Saved by His grace.

Refrain

Plead now at mer­cy’s gate
For each poor wan­der­ing one;
Soon it will be too late,
Life will be done.

Refrain

Pray, and with love en­treat,
All who by sin are pressed,
Bid them at Je­sus’ feet
Find end­less rest.

Refrain