Scripture Verse

Let the little children come to Me…for the kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these. Matthew 19:14

Introduction

portrait
Frederick A. Challinor
1866–1952

Words: Will­iam H. Par­ker, 1885. Par­ker wrote this hymn for his Sun­day school stu­dents at the Chel­sea Street Bap­tist Church, New Bas­ford, Not­ting­ham, Eng­land.

Music: Stor­ies of Je­sus Fred­er­ick A. Chal­li­nor, 1903 (🔊 pdf nwc). Chal­li­nor wrote this tune for a com­pe­ti­tion spon­sored by the na­tion­al Sun­day School Un­ion in Lon­don.

If you know where to get a good pho­to of Par­ker (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els), or a bet­ter one of Chal­li­nor,

Lyrics

Tell me the stories of Je­sus
I love to hear;
Things I would ask Him to tell me
If He were here;
Scenes by the wayside,
Tales of the sea,
Stories of Je­sus, tell them to me.

First let me hear how the children
Stood round His knee,
And I shall fancy His blessing
Resting on me;
Words full of kindness,
Deeds full of grace,
All in the love light of Je­sus’ face.

Tell me, in accents of wonder,
How rolled the sea,
Tossing the boat in a tempest
On Ga­li­lee;
And how the Maker,
Ready and kind,
Chided the billows,
And hushed the wind.

Into the city I’d follow
The children’s band,
Waving a branch of the palm tree
High in my hand.
One of His heralds,
Yes, I would sing
Loudest hosannas,
Jesus is King!

Tell how the sparrow that twitters
On yonder tree,
And the sweet meadow-side lily
May speak to me—
Give me their message,
For I would hear
How Je­sus taught us
Our Fa­ther’s care.

Show me that scene in the garden,
Of bitter pain.
Show me the cross where my Sav­ior
For me was slain.
Sad ones or bright ones,
So that they be
Stories of Je­sus,
Tell them to me.