Favorite Songs and Hymns For School and Home, page: 0026

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	It was the great organ uttering the low first notes of the closing hymn. The music began soft and faint. It rose and swelled into a wave of tender melody. Then it died away, soon the sound poured from the church again, swelling, rolling, then sinking to a sigh. When it came again voices were mingled with it, chanting a hymn. At its fullness the blended harmony seemed to fill the whole air�to drop from the leaves, from the mysterious stars. The solemn roll of the organ, the clear, tender chanting of the voices, swelled into a billow of peace and resignation. There was grief in it�the chastened grief of perfect faith. There was joy in it also�the exalted joy of adoration. It	touched the girl like a hand of love; it thrilled he like the voice of hope. As she listened she trembled, and her head slowly sank until her hands covered her face, she sobbed so that her whole frame shook; and the music, now faint, now deep and strong, poured a balm of melody upon her wounds. And as it soothed and comforted her, she lifted her face to the stars whence this hymn of peace seemed to come. She made the sign of the cross upon her. breast and her lips moved. Soon she was crying again, but softly. When the last note of the hymn trembled and ceased, she arose and went slowly away. Her head was bent, but in her step was to be seen the firmness of hope.

	IN HEAVENLY LOVE ABIDING. Felix Mendelssohn.