Scripture Verse

Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. Revelation 2:10

Introduction

Words: Al­me­da H. Tar­rant, in The New Praise­wor­thy, by Ed­win Ex­cell (Chi­ca­go, Il­li­nois: E. O. Ex­cell, 1916), num­ber 68.

Music: Ed­win O. Ex­cell (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a good pho­to of Tar­rant (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

portrait
Edwin O. Excell (1851–1921)

Lyrics

When your path is smooth and peace­ful,
And your skies are clear and blue,
You may smile in glad con­tent­ment
All the hap­py morn­ing thro’;
If af­flict­ion’s call is sound­ed,
And the num­ber rings for you,
When the clap­per strikes the gong,
Strikes the gong,
Will your heart ring true?

Refrain

Will your heart ring true?
Are you loy­al thro’ and thro’?
When the clap­per strikes the gong,
Strikes the gong,
Will your heart ring true?

When the beau­ty-bend­ing rain­bow
Lays its trea­sures at your feet,
And a field of lov­ing friend­ships
Makes your hap­pi­ness com­plete,
If you meet with sad rev­ers­es
And the tempt­er fac­es you,
When the clap­per strikes the gong,
Strikes the gong,
Will your heart ring true?

Refrain

When you think you’re ful­ly trust­ing
In the Sav­ior’s match­less love,
And thro’ faith you feel the woo­ing
Of com­pan­ionship above,
If the clouds of doubt as­sail you
Will you look be­yond the blue,
When the clap­per strikes the gong,
Strikes the gong,
Will your heart ring true?

Refrain