The Sweet Old Story

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Have you heard the wondrous story, How Messiah came to earth

Author: Laura E. Newell
Tune: [Have you heard the wondrous story] (Hall)
Published in 2 hymnals

Audio files: MIDI

Representative Text

1 Have you heard the wondrous story,
How messiah came to earth?
Angels from the realms of glory
Bro’t the message of His birth.
Unto Bethlehem of Juda,
He our Lord and King is come;
Heav’n and earth rejoice together,
Christ will lead His people home.

Refrain:
“Glory, glory in the highest,”
Hear the blessed angels sing,
“Peace on earth, good will, hosanna,
How their silv’ry voices ring.

2 Nevermore may sin enthrall us,
For a Saviour God hath giv’n;
Nevermore may death appall us,
It is but the gate of heav’n.
Joy, O earth, shout forth in gladness,
Jesus comes His own to bless;
Banish’d ev’ry doubt and sadness,
Gilded is earth’s wilderness. [Refrain]

3 Jesus comes to hearts aweary,
Comes to comfort, and abide;
Life may not seem dark and dreary,
For His own Christ lived and died,
And is ris’n, triumphant, glorious;
Blest the day He came in love,
To redeem His chosen people,
Fit them for His home above. [Refrain]

Source: Crowning Day No. 3 #122

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Author: Laura E. Newell

Born: February 5, 1854, New Marlborough, Connecticut. Died: October 13, 1916, Manhattan, Kansas. Daughter of Mr. and Edward A. Pixley, but orphaned as an infant, Laura was adopted by her aunt, then Mrs. Hiram Mabie, who at the time lived in New York. In 1858, the Mabie family moved to a farm south of where Wamego, Kansas, now stands. Two years after the move, Mr. Mabie died, and his wife resumed teaching. In 1860, Mrs. Mabie accepted a position in Topeka, Kansas, where she taught many years. Under her tutelage, Laura received her education. As early as age 12, Laura was writing rhymes, and two years later her poems began to appear in local newspapers. She had no thought of a literary career; she simply wrote… Go to person page >

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Text Information

Text Information

First Line:	Have you heard the wondrous story, How Messiah came to earth
Title:	The Sweet Old Story
Author:	Laura E. Newell
Language:	English
Refrain First Line:	Glory, glory in the highest
Copyright:	Public Domain