The Sabbath Bells

"I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul will exult in my God;

for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered

me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with

a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with jewels.

For as surely as the earth brings forth its shoots, and as a garden causes

what is sown in it to spring forth, so surely the Lord God will cause

rightness and justice and praise to spring forth before all nations

through the self-fulfilling power of His word."

Isaiah 61:10-11

Little Stone Church

A painting by William Saunders

The Sabbath Bells are ringing

With clear and cheerful notes

And from the steeple springing

Far off the music floats

To yonder mountains reaches,

The ever rising strain

And Echo's dying speeches

Repeat it o'er again.

The summer woodlands filling,

The solemn cadence rolls,

And through the leaves is thrilling

Like soft, pulsating souls.

The air with rippling motion,

Aeolian answers gives

And like a trembling ocean,

Its outspread bosom heaves.

The far horizon sweeping,

Each tone majestic swells,

And all the world is leaping

Beneath the sounding bells.

'Tis solemn, yet 'tis cheerful

A clear and pleasant voice,

That bids the sad and tearful

Be hopeful and rejoice.

Let Sabbath morns unclouded

Still hear these tones of peace,

For earth with woe is shrouded

When Sabbath bells, shall cease.

The Sabbath Bells

John Rollin Ridge

(1827-1867)

Cherokee Nation writer and poet

First Native American novelist