This is missionary music, and it has a pleasant sound,
For pennies make a shilling, and shillings make a pound;
And many pounds together the gospel news will send,
Which tell the distant heathen that the Saviour is their Friend.
And oh! what joyous music is the missionary song,
When it seems to come from every heart and sounds from every tongue—
When happy Christian little ones all sing with one accord
Of the time when realms of darkness shall be kingdoms of the Lord!
But sweeter far than all, which Jesus loves to hear,
Are children’s voices when they breathe a missionary prayer—
When they bring the heart-petition to the great Redeemer’s throne,
That He will choose the heathen out, and take them for His own.
This is the music Jesus taught when he was here below;
This is the music Jesus loves to hear in glory now;
And many a one from, distant lands will reach His heavenly home,
In answer to the children’s prayer, “O Lord, Thy kingdom come!”
Then, missionary children, let this music never cease;
Work on, work on in earnest, for the Lord, the Prince of Peace;
There is praying work and paying work for every heart and hand,
Till the missionary chorus shall go forth through all the land.
—Selected.