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Tune in F. Sq., 30. (S. S., 89.-H. T., 784.)

My country, 'tis of thee,
Sweet land of liberty,-
Of thee I sing:

Land where my fathers died,
Land of the Pilgrims' pride,
From every mountain side
Let Freedom ring!

My native country, thee,—
Land of the noble free,—
Thy name I love:

I love thy rocks and rills,
Thy woods and templed hills;
My heart with rapture thrills
Like that above.

Let music swell the breeze,
And ring from all the trees
Sweet freedom's song!
Let mortal tongues awake,
Let all that breathe partake,
Let rocks their silence break-
The sound prolong!

Our father's God, to thee,
Author of Liberty,—

To thee we sing:

Long may our land be bright

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THE DESIGN.

To comprise in one small book, forms of choral worship and hymns for the Sunday School, having in mind two objects:

1. To call to our aid the principle of hallowed association.

2. To obtain freshness by sufficient variety.

THE METHOD.

1. The six forms are so arranged that when the child has acquired No. 1 and No. 4, he can use all of them immediately.

2. Association is sought by similarity in the simple form, and in the responsive music.

3. Variety is sought in the different selections for responsive reading.

THE MUSIC.

1. In the Services it has been the aim to have the music so good, simple and sincere, that it may be used constantly without growing common. 2. In the Hymns, the taste of children for lively song is consulted, but common jingles are excluded. Sincerity and worth are sought in the music as well as in the words.

DIRECTIONS FOR HELPING CHILDREN TO SING.

1. Always, in rehearsal, beat time for them with a baton, and conduct

the music with reference to its meaning.

2. For this purpose require the children to look at the conductor.

3. Insist upon their beginning as one voice upon the first note.

4. Teach them to mind the punctuation.

5. Teach them the suitable expression, as loudly or softly, crescendo or diminuendo, staccato or legato movement.

6. Do not let them slide from one note to another; let each interval be a stepping, not a gliding.

7. Have regular rehearsals, the best time being just before closing the school, i. e., before No. 9 in the services.

8. Confine new music to rehearsals. Never use any music in the devotional service except such as the school sing well.

9. Insist upon accuracy in the above points; and in rehearsal try a passage over and over till it is well done. In the end, this makes children glad to sing. Excellence is always joyful.

FOR THE FUTURE.

It is the plan to issue other numbers of this little book at intervals of six months or a year, as may be found best; saving the stereotype plates. Thus in time a sufficiently large book will be obtained, at a very small price, both for the successive parts and for the whole. Quincy, Ill., Nov., 1878.

J. V. BLAKE.

Music Typographers, R. R. MEREDITH & SON, 186 Clark St., Chicago.

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