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more aptly express the heart that beats, in living words, than the inspiring melody of "Arise and Shine," and the sweet, solemn strains of "Eternity," as completed by him.

It is not claimed for Mr. Bliss that the work he leaves behind

him would give him a reputation as a great poet. He was very far from classing himself in the list of poets at all. But it is claimed that he possessed the true poetic genius in a far more than ordinary degree, and that, had his life been spared, he would have given expression to poetry equal to the very best of our sacred hymns. There will be many who will claim this for some of the pieces that he has left behind him. Let the hymns speak for themselves, and may his prayer be answered, that the gifts, the style and the person of the author be lost sight of in the theme they present.

It has been stated that Mrs. Bliss wrote several hymns which were published in Mr. Bliss' books under the name of "Paulina." This is a mistake. So far as is known, Mrs. Bliss never wrote any hymns or songs. Two pieces of very popular music were suggested by her to Mr. Bliss, and were written out by him and published as her compositions. One of them was "I will Love Jesus;" the other, "Rock of Ages." Both melodies are very beautiful, and were Mrs. Bliss' suggestion. The words, "I will Love Jesus," were written by Mrs. Dr. Griswold, of Chicago, for many years a friend of Mr. Bliss, and the writer of many popular hymns set to music by Mr. Bliss, George F. Root, and other composers. Her nom de plume has always been "Paulina." The above and three other pieces written by Mrs. Griswold, viz., "We're going Home To-morrow," "Hold Fast till I Come," "Who is on the Lord's Side ?" with music by Mr. Bliss, appear in Gospel Hymns. The name "Paulina" was associated with Mrs. Bliss in the Memorial Services held in Chicago, and the impression there given that she was the writer of the hymns credited to that name.

Several pieces known as Mr. Bliss', and made popular by his music, will be missed from this collection. They are omitted because the words were not written by him. Several of them were changed by him to adapt them to the music. Many of them have an entire verse or words for chorus added by Mr. Bliss; but no pieces, so far as could be known, have been printed in his memoirs, except those of which he was the sole author. Among popular pieces known as

Bliss' hymns, the following, with the names of the authors of the words, are given :

The latter piece was found in manuscript, set to music, among Mr. Bliss' papers, and was supposed, by friends, to have been written by him, and has been so spoken of. It was certainly among the last pieces that he set to music, and the thoughts it expresses, so appropriate to what awaited him, were vividly upon his mind in changing the words and arranging the music during his last days. It can thus truly be regarded as his last song. But the sweet poem he used was from the pen of the gifted Miss Brainerd. All of these corrections and the giving of credit to whom it is due

are so in accordance with the spirit of Mr. Bliss, that the writer takes pleasure in making these remarks.

CHAPTER VII.

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THE JOYFUL EXPERIENCES OF 1876-GOSPEL MEETINGS AT ST. LOUIS-TRIP TO ALABAMA-"NOT TOM THUMB -VISIT TO KENESAW MOUNTAIN-THE INSPIRATION OF THE SCENE-" HOLD THE FORT AND THE INCIDENT WHICH SUGGESTED IT.

IN writing of the last days of Mr. Bliss, his own words near the

close of 1876 are recalled, and naturally introduce what comes to the mind, and lead to a brief resumé of the work of the whole of the last year of his life. He counted it a year of special mercy and blessing. He had been permitted to carry out his plans as to places he would like to visit, and as to songs he would like to publish, and had had his prayers answered in the conversion of friends, and deeper spiritual experience for himself and others. The reader can out notice, as he follows him through the year, that, by the mercy of God, his work rounded out to completion, and it was a year passed very much as he would have liked to have had it, had he known that upon the very last day of the year his friends would have been searching for his body, and that his work on earth was to end with 1876.

In January of that year, Mr. Bliss was at Racine and Madison, Wisconsin, and was much blessed and very happy in Gospel work. Christians were much revived, and many unsaved in both places were led to Christ. In the latter place he became much attached to Rev. Mr. Bright, pastor of the Baptist Church, who, a few months later, fell dead in his pulpit from disease of the heart. Mr. Bliss was much impressed by the news of his sudden death, and expressed himself as wishing just such a departure.

In the latter part of January, Mr. Bliss went to St. Louis, where he remained until March, singing in the Gospel meetings held in the Rink, and holding a service of his own for the young people in Dr. Ganse's (Presbyterian) Church, which was largely attended, and will be long remembered by scores of the young people in St. Louis.

He sang the Gospel Hymns in the Jail and Reform Schools and in nearly all the reformatory institutions, while there. In March, he went to Mobile, Alabama, to fill an appointment for a Gospel meeting. The route chosen was by rail to Vicksburg, Mississippi, and from thence by steamer to New Orleans, and by rail from there to Mobile. Mrs. Bliss accompanied him, and the trip was a great source of pleasure to them both. The new section of country, the scenes of interest connected with the war, the rapid entering into spring, as they traveled south, all conspired to make the journey a delightful one. In the evening upon the steamboat, Mr. Bliss entertained the passengers for half an hour or more in singing at the piano; and at the close, when Captain and all who could come in to the cabin were collected, he would sing a familiar hymn, and then very pleasantly propose and lead in worship. The visit to Mobile was a delightful one. The pastors, the Mayor (an excellent Christian man), and Christian people generally, manifested the utmost cordiality and kindness, and did all in their power to make the visit a happy one, and the meetings a success. God was pleased to add His blessing upon the efforts put forth, and many were impressed by Gospel truth, and many were led to confess Christ. The meetings of Mr. Bliss for young people, held in the Baptist church, were much blessed. The church was crowded each afternoon, and very many were led to the Savior by his preaching of Christ in song, in Bible instruction, and personal appeal.

Never did his singing seem more effective than in one of the meetings held in this city, on Sunday evening, in the Opera House. The audience was composed entirely of men, and crowded every part of the house. He sang as solos, "Pull for the Shore," "Nothing but Leaves," ," "What shall the Harvest Be?" and "Memories of Childhood," with great power. A solemnity came over all who listened as his deep, sweet voice took up the mournful cadence, "Nothing but Leaves," and when he sang the "Trundle Bed," there was hardly a dry eye in the audience. Nearly two hundred men sought an interest in the prayers of Christians, that they might be saved. Mr. and Mrs. Bliss were very happy in the work in Mobile, and cherished pleasant memories of the friends there.

After ten days in Mobile, Mr. Bliss went to Montgomery, and sang in the meetings held in the City Hall. Great interest was at once manifested, and the meetings were largely attended. The

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pastors and people here, as at Mobile, were most hospitable and cordial in the welcome extended to their Northern brethren. Here, as in Mobile, special pains were taken to hold services for the colored people, and arrangements made for their attending the general meetings. Mr. Bliss' singing was greatly enjoyed by the colored people, and he in turn was much moved by their wild and plaintive melodies. When he had been singing the song of his composing, "Father, I'm Tired," they would be broken down in uncontrollable emotion. His labors at Montgomery were owned of God, and closed in a meeting participated in by all the pastors, and where scores of souls confessed to a hope in Christ.

Selma has become well known in Christian circles throughout the country, for the consecrated activity of a band of Christian laymen, who, under the inspiration of Hall and Cree, some five years ago, organized there the first Young Men's Christian Association of Alabama. These dear brethren made Christian work in their city a delight to their visitors. Their hearts and homes were wide open -their enthusiasm and zeal in the work unbounded. An immense cotton warehouse was cleaned up and seated for the meetings; ladies and gentlemen from the church choirs came in to supply a fine chorus; the sainted Rev. Alfred Morrison-taken to heaven. just a little before Mr. Bliss-and all the pastors, gave a hearty support to the effort, and a blessed work was enjoyed. Here, as in Montgomery and Mobile, Mr. Bliss conducted young people's meetings, with precious fruit for Christ.

Mrs. Bliss returned to Chicago from Selma, to arrange for closing up their house for a summer's removal to Rome, leaving Mr. Bliss to fill an appointment at Augusta, Georgia. The trip to Augusta was made via the Selma and Dalton Railroad through Rome, Georgia, and from thence to Atlanta, to give Mr. Bliss an opportunity to visit Kenesaw Mountain, where occurred the incident that gave rise to the song, "Hold the Fort." He stopped at Marietta on a beautiful April morning, and, after dinner with the writer, rode out two miles to the mountain. The carriage left us about three-fourths of a mile from the summit, and we pursued our journey on foot. The violets were just in blossom, and we paused frequently to stoop and gather them, or to cut canes from the young hickory trees, by the side of the path. Upon the summit, the ruins of the earthwork near which General Polk was killed, and part of the