Strangers. In 1852, after a year's absence and study in Europe, he returned to New York, and founded the Normal Musical Institute. In 1860, he removed to Chicago where he spent the remainder of his life writing and publishing music. He died Aug. 6, 1895, in Maine. In the truly popular sense Dr. Root was the bestknown American composer; not excepting Stephen C. Foster. Root's "Hazel Dell," "There's Music in the Air," and "Rosalie the Prairie Flower" were universal tunes-(words by Fanny Crosby,)-as also his music to Henry Washburn's "Vacant Chair." The songs in his cantata, "The Haymakers," were sung in the shops and factories everywhere, and his war-time music, in such melodies as "Shouting the Battle-cry of Freedom" and "Tramp, Tramp, Tramp, the Boys are Marching" took the country by storm. "SCATTER SEEDS OF KINDNESS." This amiable and tuneful poem, suggested by Rom. 12:10, is from the pen of Mary Louise Riley (Mrs. Albert Smith) of New York City. She was born in Brighton, Monroe Co., N. Y. May 27, 1843. Let us gather up the sunbeams CHORUS. Then scatter seeds of kindness For our reaping by and by. (ter) Silas Jones Vail, the tune-writer, for this hymn, was born Oct. 1818, and died May 20, 1883. For years he worked at the hatter's trade, with Beebe on Broadway, N.Y. and afterwards in an establishment of his own. His taste and talent led him into musical connections, and from time to time, after relinquishing his trade, he was with Horace Waters, Philip Phillips, W. B. Bradbury, and F. J. Smith, the piano dealer. He was a choir leader and a good composer. "BY COOL SILOAM'S SHADY RILL." This hymn of Bp. Heber inculcates the same lesson as that in the stanzas of Michael Bruce before noted, with added emphasis for the young on the briefness of time and opportunity even for them. How fair the lily grows, -is answered by The lily must decay, -but, owing to the sweetness of the favorite melody, it was never a saddening hymn for children. THE TUNE. Though George Kingsley's "Heber" has in some books done service for the Bishop's lines, "Siloam, easy-flowing and finely harmonized, is knit to the words as no other tune can be. It was composed by Isaac Baker Woodbury on shipboard during a storm at sea. A stronger illustration of tranquil thought in terrible tumult was never drawn. 66 O Galilee, Sweet Galilee," whose history has been given at the end of chapter six, was not only often sung in Sunday-schools, but chimed (in the cities) on steeple-bells-nor is it by any means forgotten today on the Sabbath and in social singing assemblies. Like "Precious Jewels," it has been, in many places, taken up by street boys with a relish, and often displaced the play-house ditties in the lips of little newsboys and bootblacks during a leisure hour or a happy mood. "I AM SO GLAD." This lively little melody is still a welcome choice to many a lady teacher of fluttering five-year-olds, when both vocal indulgence and good gospel are needed for the prattlers in her class. It has been as widely sung in Scotland as in America. Mr. Philip P. Bliss, hearing one day the words of the familiar chorus O, how I love Jesus, -suddenly thought to himself, "I have sung long enough of my poor love to Christ, and now I will sing of His love for me. Under the inspiration of this thought, he wrote— I am so glad that our Father in heaven This is the dearest that Jesus loves me. Both words and music are by Mr. Bliss. The history of modern Sunday-school hymnody --or much of it-is so nearly identified with that of the Gospel Hymns that other selections like the last, which might be appropriate here, may be considered in a later chapter, where that eventful series of sacred songs receives special notice. CHAPTER IX. PATRIOTIC HYMNS. The ethnic anthologies growing out of love of country are a mingled literature of filial and religious piety, ranging from war-like pæans to lyric prayers. They become the cherished inheritance of a nation, and, once fixed in the common memory and common heart, the people rarely let them die. The "Songs of the Fathers" have perennial breath, and in every generation The green woods of their native land The voices of their household band Shall sweetly speak again. -Felicia Hemans. ULTIMA THULE. American pride has often gloried in Seneca's "Vision of the West," more than eighteen hundred years ago. Venient annis Sæcula seris, quibus Oceanus |