HYMN OF THE CHILDREN

SUNG AT THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE CHILDREN'S MISSION, BOSTON, 1878

John Greenleaf Whittier

This Document is on The Quaker Writings Home Page.

Thine are all the gifts, O God!
  Thine the broken bread;
Let the naked feet be shod,
  And let the starving fed.

Let Thy children, by Thy grace,
  Give a they abound,
Till the poor have breathing-space,
  And the lost are found.

Wiser than the miser's hoards
  Is the giver's choice;
Sweeter than the song of birds
  Is the thankful voice.

Welcome smiles on faces sad
  As the flowers of spring;
Let the tender hearts be glad
  With the joy they bring.

Happier for their pity's sake
  Make their sports and play,
And form their lips of childhood take
  Thy perfected praise!