Song Sparrow in white flowers by Daves BirdingPix

While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease. (Genesis 8:22 KJV)

Words by  Al­ice J. Clea­tor  (1871-19260), in Light in the Val­ley (Phil­a­del­phia, Penn­syl­van­ia: George C. Hugg, 1898), pag­e 196.

Music: Sant­i­a­go, Ro­bert Brooks Finch  (Late 19th Century)

Return of Summer

We hail thee, glorious summer,
We welcome thee today,
With all thy flowery legions
And all thy songbirds gay.
The happy rills to meet thee
With merry laughter run;
While woodland banners greet thee,
Beneath a smiling sun.

Refrain

We hail thee, joyous summer!
We welcome thee today!
With all thy flowery legion,
And all thy songbirds gay.

We hail thy smile of gladness
O Summer fair and sweet;
O let us lay all sadness
And sighing at thy feet.
The woodland ways are ringing
With many a merry lay;
Oh let us join in singing
With nature’s choir today.

We hail thee, joyous summer!
We welcome thee today!
With all thy flowery legion,
And all thy songbirds gay.

O Summer, thou hast brought us
A message sweet and fair;
O Summer, thou hast taught us
Of Heaven’s brooding care.
Thy gleaming skies of glory
Watch o’er the world in love;
They tell a glad, sweet story
Of summer lands above.

We hail thee, joyous summer!
We welcome thee today!
With all thy flowery legion,
And all thy songbirds gay.

Thus hath the Lord GOD shewed unto me: and behold a basket of summer fruit. (Amos 8:1 KJV)

Al­ice J. Clea­tor, Born in An­dre­as, Isle of Man, Eng­land and died April 27, 1926 in Cleve­land, Ohio.

Cleator’s family ev­i­dent­ly em­igrat­ed to Amer­i­ca in the 1870’s. She was liv­ing in Clar­idon, Ohio, in 1880, & Geau­ga Coun­ty, Ohio, in 1900, 1910, & 1920. She taught school in New York Ci­ty, re­tir­ing some time be­fore 1915.

Ro­bert Brooks Finch, – No information on him other than this Santiago music

More Birds in Hymns

Most information from The Cyber Hymnal – Return of Summer

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