Favorite Songs and Hymns For School and Home, page: 0030

450 Of The World's Best Songs And Hymns, With Lyrics & Sheet music for voice & piano.

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FAVORITE SONGS FOR SCHOOL AND HOME.
In the pl*za at St. Augustine, Florida, there stands a monument erected to the memory of the Confeder�ate soldiers of that place who fell during the late war. Their names are given, mostly Spanish names. But it was the inscription, so unusual and so beautiful, that stayed our steps, and took us back again to the place to make sure that there might be no mistake in recall�ing it. We had never seen or heard it, and did not know it to be an adaptation of the last words of " Stonewall" Jackson as he sank to death on the field of Chancellorsville: " They have crossed over the river and rest under the shade of the trees." We were sim�ply impressed and attracted by its beauty and appro�priateness. A brief extract from Sarah Nicholas Ran-
dolph's life of Gen. Thomas J. Jackson («* Stonewall * Jackson) published in 1876, will be read with interest in this connection : " A few minutes before he died, he cried out in his delirium, ■ Order A. P. Hill to prepare for action; pass the infantry to the front; tell Major Hawks�' then stopped, leaving the sentence unfin�ished. Presently a smile of ineffable sweetness spread itself over his pale face, and he said, quietly and with an expression as of relief, ' Let us cross over the river and rest under the shade of the trees.' And then, without pain or the least struggle, his spirit passed from earth to the God who gave it." A foot-note upon the page states that the account here given of the death of this distinguished officer was written by Dr. McGuire,
UNDER THE SHADE OF THE TREES.
Moderato con express.
E. O. Lyte.
and is taken from the " Battle-Fields of Virginia." The beautiful lines which are here set to music are from an ode written by Mrs. Margaret J. Preston, of Lexing�ton, Virginia, at the request of the authorities of the Virginia Military Institute, to celebrate its semi-cen�tennial anniversary. This lady is one of the noted female writers of America. Though written by request this ode is far from being written to order. It is full of genuine inspiration; and these verses, their burden the dying words of a heroic soul passing from the storm of battle into a dream of sylvan rest, fasten themselves upon the memory and linger like music in our ears. There are vears in them but they are not tears born of despair.
The aching head may well cease to throb when laid upon that softest pillow for human pain�" God knows!" The sleep that falls like heavenly dew to the music of the lullaby�" All things work together for good to them that love God," and " Fear not! I am with thee!" brings strength and renewal of youth, with balm for present ills. Your " shadowy future " is definite and distinct to Him. Whatever of seem�ing disaster it may hold for you be assured that it is only in seeming; that His purposes toward you must, from the necessities of His own nature, be all love and goodness. Be patient, yet hopeful, in await�ing the development of His will.�Marion Harland
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