The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land.
Song of Solomon 2:12
Words: Alice J. Cleator, in The Service of Praise, by Lincoln Hall et al. (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Hall-Mack, 1900), number 180.
Music: J. Lincoln Hall (🔊 pdf nwc).
If you know where to get a good photo of Cleator (head-and-shoulders, at least 200×300 pixels),
Beautiful lilies,
White as the snow,
Speak to us softly
Of long ago;
Telling of Jesus,
Who from the grave
Rose all victorious,
Mighty to save.
Refrain
Beautiful lilies,
White as the snow,
Speak to us softly
Of long ago;
Beautiful lilies,
Beautiful lilies,
Speak to us softly
Of long ago.
Lilies of Easter,
Blossoms of spring,
Wake from their slumber
Gladness to bring.
O they are ever
Heaven’s bright sign
Of life beyond us,
Endless, divine.
Refrain
E’en as our Father
From winter’s night
Waketh the lilies
To summer’s light,
So His dear children
His love will keep,
Waking them softly
From death’s long sleep.
Refrain