Scripture Verse

Go work today in my vineyard. Matthew 21:28

Introduction

Words: Mrs. E. J. Fos­ter, in Songs of Gra­ti­tude, by James H. Fill­more, Sr. (Cin­cin­na­ti, Ohio: Fill­more Bro­thers, 1877), page 92.

Music: En­tram­ba­sa­guas Ed­ward A. Per­kins (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know Fos­ter’s full name, or where to get a good pho­to of her or Per­kins (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

Lyrics

Workers in the Mas­ter’s vine­yard,
Toilsome though the way may be,
Scatter, ear­ly morn and ev­en­ing,
Far and wide the pre­cious seed.
In the by­ways and the hedg­es,
On the nar­row, crowd­ed street,
You may drop a word of wel­come,
For the Sav­ior’s com­ing feet.

Refrain

Crowns and stars await thy com­ing,
Over on the gold­en shore,
Precious fruits of thine own sow­ing,
When thine earth­ly work is o’er.

Smiling lips and tear­ful eye­lids;
Gentle words and sim­ple song,
Oft, per­haps, by thee un­heed­ed,
Fall in bless­ings on the throng.
Hearts that pine in sin and sor­row,
Blighted sore by care and want,
May be led, by love and kind­ness,
To the ev­er heal­ing fount.

Refrain

Heart and voice may oft­times fail thee,
Faith may wa­ver, hope may die;
God has pro­mised to go with thee,
Work and trust, He’s ev­er nigh.
Crown and stars await thy com­ing,
Over on the gold­en shore.
Precious fruits of thine own sow­ing,
When thine earth­ly work is o’er.

Refrain