The Christian — Family Devotion

Softly fades the twilight ray

No. 564
Words Samuel F. Smith.
Singing key F major
5 stanzas

Sung to ALETTA (hymn 457)

Words

Softly fades the twilight rayOf the holy Sabbath-day,Gently as life's setting sunWhen the Christian's course is run.

Night her solemn mantle spreadsO'er the earth as daylight fades,All things tell of calm reposeAt the holy Sabbath's close.

Peace is on the world abroad;'Tis the holy peace of God,Symbol of the peace withinWhen the spirit rests from sin.

Still the Spirit lingers near,Where the evening worshiperSeeks communion with the skies,Pressing onward to the prize.

Saviour, may our Sabbaths beDays of joy and peace in thee,Till in heaven our souls repose,Where the Sabbath ne'er shall close.

About this hymn

As printed Words only. As printed: hymn number «564» (large) in the left column of p. 184, under «George W. Doane.» of hymn 563, with the italic reference line «720, 457, 953.» (= sing to the tunes of hymns 720, 457 or 953) beside the number; five stanzas of four lines, numbered «1»–«5» without periods (written «1.»–«5.» here, as in the other deliveries of this book), all lines flush; «Samuel F. Smith.» in italics, right-aligned, after stanza 5. The first word «SOFTLY» is set in capitals and small capitals (written «Softly» here). Stanza 5 is printed over a patch of specks of the exemplar; every word is legible. The print sets a thin space before «;» («abroad ;»); it is closed up here. No meter is printed (the text is 7s, like the three reference tunes). Spelling («Sabbath-day», «worshiper», «Saviour», «ne'er»), punctuation and capitals are the print's.