And I too fast, or they too slow,

To "mansions in the skies."

An' after every verse, you know They played a little tune;

I didn't understand, an' so

I started in too soon.

I pitched it pretty middlin' high,
I fetched a lusty tone,
But oh, alas! I found that I

Was singing there alone!
They laughed a little, I am told,
But I had done my best:
And not a wave of trouble rolled
Across my peaceful breast.

And sister Brown-I could but look-
She sits right front of me ;
She never was no singin' book,

An' never meant to be;

But then she al'ays tried to do

The best she could, she said;

She understood the time right through,
An' kep' it with her head;

But when she tried this mornin', oh,
I had to laugh, or cough-
It kep' her head a bobbin' so,
It e'en a' most came off!

An' Deacon Tubbs,- he all broke down, As one might well suppose,

He took one look at sister Brown,

And meekly scratched his nose.

589

He looked his hymn book through and through

And laid it on the seat,
And then a pensive sigh he drew,

And looked completely beat.
An' when they took another bout,
He didn't even rise,

But drawed his red bandanner out,
An' wiped his weepin' eyes.

I've been a sister good an' true,
For five an' thirty year;
I've done what seemed my part to do,
And prayed my duty clear;
But death will stop my voice, I know,
For he is on my track;

And some day, I to church will go
And never more come back.
And when the folks get up to sing-
Whene'er that time shall be-
I do not want no patent thing
A squealin' over me!

UST as God leads me I would go;
I would not ask to choose my
way;
Content with what He will bestow,
Assured He will not let me stray.
So as He leads, my path I
make,

And step by step I gladly take,
A child in Him confiding.

Just as God leads, I am content;

I rest me calmly in His hands; That which He hath decreed and sentThat which His will for me commands, I would that He should all fulfil

That I should do His gracious will
In living or in dying.

Just as God leads, I all resign;

I trust me to my Father's will;
When reason's rays deceptive shine,
His counsel would I yet fulfill;
That which His love ordained as
right,

Before He brought me to the light,
My all to Him resigning.

Just as God leads me, I abide

In faith, in hope, in suffering, true; His strength is ever by my side

Can aught my hold on Him undo?