Scripture Verse

I must be about My Father’s business. Luke 2:49

Introduction

portrait
Margaret Fuller (1810–1850)

Words: Mar­gar­et Full­er (1810–1850). Pub­lished post­hu­mous­ly in her Life With­in and Life With­out, 1859.

Music: Er­nan Lo­well Ma­son, 1850 (🔊 pdf nwc).

illustration
Christ Teaching at the Temple
Carl H. Bloch (1834–1890)

Lyrics

Jesus a child His work be­gun:
How ra­di­ant dawned His hea­ven­ly day!
And those who such a race would run
As ear­ly should be on their way.

His Fa­ther’s bu­si­ness was His care;
Yet in man’s fa­vor still He grew;
O might we learn by thought and pray­er,
Like Him a work of love to do!

For all man­kind He came, nor yet
An in­fant’s vi­sit would de­ny;
Nor friend nor mother did for­get
In His last hour of ago­ny.

O child­ren, ask Him to im­part
That spi­rit clear, that tem­per mild,
Which made the mo­ther in her heart
Keep all the say­ings of her Child.

Bless Him who said, of such as you
His Fa­ther’s king­dom is: and still,
His yoke to bear, His work to do,
Study His life to learn His will.