p. 3 | MY BIBLE by Alice M. Avery-Harper

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Nov 3, 1898

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 24, No. 44.

MY BIBLE.

By Alice M. Avery-Harper

A PRECIOUS relic, oft I clasp within my hands and hold The Bible, with its written page, and edges bound in gold. It was a treasure of my mother's, blessed gift to me. With joy I read the precious Word, and all about the sea, The crystal sea, the growing fruit, the song by seraph sung, And I long to praise my Saviour with an immortal tongue. As all the joys of Paradise are pictured to my view, I long to join the heavenly choir, and bid old earth adieu.

I love the Book; the charming Book is stored with heavenly love. I love to read its teachings, and its precepts o'er and o'er. When wearied with the cares of life, I take the treasured Book, And often as I study it the pages fairer look. To me it is a comfort, and I prize it for its worth. And often when I'm tired with the vexing cares of earth, Then I go and take my Bible, and pray with all my heart, And find, as often as I do, the cares of earth depart.

I love the Book, the grand old Book; sweet peace it doth afford. I'll hold it fondly to my heart, and ever seek the Lord, And pray its blessed truths may be a lamp unto my feet, That, through each heaving billowy tide, therein I find retreat. Through every bitter trial then, through tempests dark and drear, With all its charming poetry, this Book I most revere. Then may I never read the Book, the wondrous Book, in vain, But ever from its sacred page new truth and light obtain.

Alice M. Avery-Harper.

Laingsburg, Mich.