Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-10-11
Little Barbara's Hymn.


My friend builded better than she knew"
when she read aloud for our evening poem.
" Little Barblra's LYNN go
She had just been playing, in the sweet
spring twilight, that .trikingly unique and
beautiful composition by Batiste, which was
at first used only during the offettory, but
which ia now sung quite generally 10 several
hymns. Tie SUNDAY before, ! had heard Il
sung by quartette choir 70 hymn well
adapted TO the style of composition. The
first four lines. which expressed humble con-
triton for past sins, and dependence on
Gods merciful forgiveness, were sung in
unison ON one tone the organist meanwhile
playing the exquisite melody. In the next
four lines, the rich, clear soprano voice
scared above the others with the melody
every tone expressing the exultant Joy and
triumph that the words expressed. How de
lightful and satisfactory it was
And now while sat by the glowing fire,
which the cool evening still made necessary.
the same sweet strains came into my heart
and mind, for my friend having readily
caught the air, was rendering it with all her
peculiar charms Of touch and voice. How
wildly the whole scene comes back TO me as
| write The flckering freight, sending
dancing shadows all over the room, and out
on the sidewalk, brought out the bright col
ors in the paintings of foreign scenes, and
made quite life-like the pictured faces of
friends who were "uot lost but gone before"
Even the titles of the books on the table
and book-rack could be easily read in the
brilliant light. Dick, the black-and-tan de
fender Of household goods, lay sleeping on
the hcarth-rug, as if enjoying the quiet rest
that well-performed duty deserves; while
the seven spice-birds in their large gilded
cage, having plumed their feathers and
chosen their usual places for the night, were
also asleep; the strains from the piano in
the adjoining room seeming to soothe them
like lullaby.
This was the prelude TO " Little Barbara's
Hymn which gives first. "a sweet word-pic-
ture of home life and after each story of
pain and sorrow, comes the joyful, restfu,
hopeful refrain at the close of every verse !.
Whether we sleep or whether we wake,
We are His, who gave His life for our sake.
1t was this characteristic that made it har-
monize so perfectly the prayera and praise
in the words sung TO Batiste's thrilling mu-
sic-frst the pain, then the relief first the
struggle, then the victory
Little Barbara must have made a sweet
picture, keeping time with toe and heel, to
the hum OF the thread and her mothers song
as the spinning wheel was brisklv turned
and the snow white wool was changed into
fine, soft threads. | could imagine golden
haired, rosy checked little girl, sitting at the
cottage door with her cat or engaged in some
simple household task drinking in, mean.
while, the holy significance of the quaint old
hymn her mother sang as she watched the
wheel. ! could imagine that it was only
another instance, where the words of the
Psalmist had been proved, "Out of the
mouths of babes and sucklings hast thou
ordained strength - for Barbara with bound
ing heart and feet, set forth, in the early
morning, on a mission of loving cheer and
the words she sang aroused the attention OF
all who heard them. Her sweet, childish
voice rang out full and clear, as she passed
along through the crowded streets, half un.
consciously singing the words that had
stamped themselves on her heart and brain.
But not unconsciously were they heard. A
weary wanderer, sick and alone, resting by
the wayside,-
Raised his head with a look Of cheer
A. the gentle tones fell ON his ear
and the child's sweet face may have added
to the effect Of her tones as she sang
Whether we sleep or whether we wake,
We are Ills who gave Ills life for our sake"
The same cheering words iloated in at the
window, where pale, tired weaver sat at
her noisy loom, and listened with beating
heart as the tones rose above the ceaseless
clashing and whirripg Of the machinery
They were heard, too by a moumer who sat
with a crushed heart by loved ones bier
and whose agonizing sobs were stilled as she
felt the meaning of the tender words the
child was singing. They entered in at an
open door whore sick man was tossing
wildly with feverish pain and to him the
comfort, the joy and the peace of the holy
words gave sweet relief, coming again and
again to the heart after the child had passed
out of sight. All who can tell the power
that even little child can WELD What
ever the burden that was being carried on
those days of labor, aud grief, and pain, il
was lightened by the memory of the blessed
truth the child had told -
Whether we sleep or whether we wake,
We are His who gave Ills life for our sake,
Church Journal