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with heart held
Martha Snell Nicholson — America’s beloved
writer of Christian verse ---- turns to a new work
T he scrawled lines at the right are from the hand and heart of Amer ica’s grand lady of Christian poetry. These lines are the original draft of The Heaven’s Declare, one of more than 800 published poems by Martha Snell Nicholson. Plagued from childhood by illness, she has serenely written her poetry, cheered her visitors with her gay laughter and faced each day with .heart held high. This month from her bed in W il mington, Calif., Martha Snell Nichol son was busy putting the finishing touches on a new work. This time she had forsaken her beloved verses to write her autobiography. The poems on these pages are all by Mrs. Nicholson. “ The Heavens Declare” and “High Heart” are from her book “Heart Held High” (Moody Press). The others are from “Family of God.” — ED.
T h e H e a v e n s D e c la r e God swings the censer of the sun Across the sky. When day is done And sunset cools the heat of noon, He sets in place the silver moon, Which, silent, slips from rim to rim Of the horizon, back to Him. The hosts of stars bum steadily, And all of heaven’s pageantry Declares the glory of His name; It sings His praise in glad acclaim Which echoes to the farthest star . . . But down below, too busy far, Men look not up, but back to earth, And busy them with lust and mirth And war and greed. No thought at all Of God. . . But there shall come a call. As they behold with frightened eyes The Lord descend through opening skies, “ I am the Lord, yea, I am He. Too late ye have looked up to Me!” W a it in g The years fly fast to meet Thee, The days are on tiptoe, The hours are home on wind’s wings, So swiftly do they go. The flowers look toward heaven, The clouds drop longing tears, The tallest trees reach skyward, The golden hemispheres. In heaven’s farthest reaches, Each sparkling, shining star, Would pave Thy path from glory Where all the blessed are. Though earth and whirling planets Await advent of Thine, None, none can know such longing As this poor heart of mine! S a tis fie d We shall be satisfied. What more is there to say? We know not what ’twill be, We only wait the day
With lifted hearts serene. Enough to be His bride. More than enough to know We shall be satisfied!
On radio interview Mrs. Nicholson told Bible Institute Hour director AI Sanders that her favorite hymn is "Amazing Grace." Beside her on bed is her faithful pet dog, Paddy. 6
THE KING'S BUSINESS
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