EVENING HYMN

Ploughing a straight furrow!

Taken at Beamish a few years ago

The farmers are busy in the fields - mostly on their large tractors these days. It will soon be harvest time. This is an old hymn but I like the words.

Earth below is teeming, Heaven is bright above;

Every brow is beaming

in the light of love;

Every eye rejoices,

every thought is praise,

Happy hearts and voices

Gladden nights and days.

Every youth and maiden

On the harvest plain,

Round the waggons laden

With their golden grain,

Swell the happy chorus

On the evening air,

Unto Him who o'er us

Bends with constant care.

For the sun and showers,

For the rain and dew

For the happy hours

Spring and summer knew,

For the golden autumn

And its precious stores

For the love that brought them

Teeming to our doors.

Earth's broad harvest whitens

In a brighter sun

Then the orb that lightens

All we tread upon.

Send our labourers Father,

Where fields ripening wave;

And the nations gather

Gather in and save.

(John Samuel Bewley Monsell)