Lord God of Hosts incline thine ear,
To this Thy humble servant’s prayer;
May war and strife and discord cease,
This Century, Lord God, give us peace.
The thoughts of strife, the curse of war,
Henceforth, dear Lord, may we abhor,
One blessing more, our store increase,
This is our prayer, Lord, give us peace.
May those who rule us, rule with love,
As Thou dost rule the Courts above;
May man to man as brothers feel,
Lay down their arms and quit the field;
Change from our brows the angry looks,
Turn swords and spears to pruning hooks,
One blessing more our store increase,
This is our prayer, Lord, give us peace.
May flags of war fore’er be furled,
The milk-white flag wave o’er the world;
Let not a slave be heard to cry,
“The lion and lamb together lie;”
May nations meet in one accord,
Around one peaceful festive board.
One blessing more our store increase,
This is our prayer, Lord, give us peace.
ANNA, WON’T YOU MARRY ME?
———
Anna, child, the spring has come,
Listen to the robins, dear;
The honeysuckles are in bloom,
The fragrance fills the air.
A dove is cooing soft and low,
Telling how he loves his mate;
For you the flowers seem to grow,
For you they seem to bloom and wait.
Two by two the sparrows build,
High up in the orchard tree—
Anna, Anna, Anna, won’t you marry me?
Anna, O! ho! ho!
The aching of my heart;
It seems, my love, I’m bound to go,
If we have to live apart.
My heart says Anna all the time,
Love, I’ll die for thee—
Anna, Anna, Anna, won’t you marry me?
’Member, love, the vow you made,
When out in the orchard, dear;
The stars can witness what you said,
The moon was sailing clear.
You promised, love, that you’d be mine,
Promised in the early spring.
And now the bees are ’round the vine,
Everywhere the song-birds sing,
In every flower I see your name,
Everywhere it seems to say,
Anna, Anna, this is our wedding day.
Anna, O! ho! ho!
The aching of my heart;
It seems, my love, I’m bound to go,
If we have to live apart;
My heart says Anna all the time—
Anna, Anna, Anna, won’t you marry me?