Saint Cecilia martyred A.D. 230.
Sir Henry Havelock died 1857.
Justin M'Carthy born 1830.
Sometimes the sun, unkindly hot,
My garden makes a desert spot,
Sometimes a blight upon the tree
Takes all my fruit away from me;
And then with throes of bitter pain
Rebellious passions rise and swell;
And so I sing and all is well.
--Paul Laurence Dunbar.
Such songs have power to quiet
The restless pulse of care,
And come like benediction
That follows after prayer.
--Henry W. Longfellow.
Songs consecrate to truth and liberty.
--Percy Bysshe Shelley.
David took the harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was
refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.
--1 Samuel 16. 23.
Almighty God, I thank thee that thou wilt come to me as my heart cries
for need. I bless thee that thou dost come to me as my lips sing thy
praise. I pray that I may be saved from a cruel and cheerless heart,
and be a sharer of the songs that are sung to the soul. Amen.