Scripture Verse

The word of the Lord was precious in those days. 1 Samuel 3:1

Introduction

Words: Ju­lia H. John­ston, 1901.

Music: Dan­i­el B. Tow­ner (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a good pho­to of John­ston (head-and-shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els), would you ?

portrait
Daniel B. Towner
1850–1919

Lyrics

There’s a picture fair and bright,
Hanging still on memory’s wall:
There I see my father
Take the Book divine;
Dear home faces gathered round,
As the shadows softly fall,
And a light from out the pag­es
Seems to shine.

Refrain

Dear old Book, precious Book,
On thy pag­es soiled and worn
I love to look!
O thou balm for hearts that ache,
For my sainted mother’s sake,
Thou art dearer day by day,
Thou blessèd Book!

While I look, the pictures change,
And I see my mother’s face;
In her hand the Bible,
Worn and stained with tears;
But the light is shining still,
And within the hallowed place
There is comfort for earth’s griefs
And doubts and fears.

Refrain

O the blessèd days of old,
When I felt my mother’s hand,
With its tender touch of love
Upon my head,
While the old, old, story sweet,
Which a child can understand,
From the pages of the Book
Divine she read.

Refrain

When I long for voices hushed,
And the touch of vanished hands,
In the darkness when death’s angel
Spreads his wing,
Let me turn to mother’s Book,
With its comforts and commands,
For the peace and hope
Its blessèd pages bring!

Refrain