Among the many evidences of the degeneracy of the age is the
scandalous ignorance of our young people regarding the sacred
Scriptures, which at the very lowest estimate are incontestably the
finest English ever written. Those whose childhood antedates the
lesson leaf are not so unfamiliar with that wondrous treasure-house
of thought. It is not for me to say what has wrought the change.
I can only point out that lesson leaves, being about the right size
for shaving papers, barely last from Sunday to Sunday, while that
very identical Bible with the blinding type that I won years and
years ago, by learning verses, is with me still. Yes, and as I
often wonder to discover, some of those very verses that I gobbled
down as heedlessly as any ostrich are with me still.
Remain to be considered the opening and closing exercises,
principally devoted, I remember, to learning new tunes and singing
old ones out of books with pretty titles, like "Golden Censer,"
"Silver Spray," "Pearl and Gold," "Sparkling Dewdrops," and
"Sabbath Chimes." I wasn't going to tell it, but I might as well,
I suppose. I can remember as far back as "Musical Leaves." There
must be quite a lot of people scattered about the country who sung
out of that when they were little. I wish a few of us old codgers
might get together some time and with many a hummed and prefatory,
"Do, mi, Sol, do; Sol, mi .
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