Rensselaer Union, Volume 9, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 March 1877 — The Story of a Hymn. [ARTICLE]

The Story of a Hymn.

There is a remarkable history, one which signally illustrates the special providence of Goa, attached to a beautiful German hymn. About 1050, George Neumarck, a writer of hymns and a musician of Hamburg, fell sick. He had picked up a scanty living by playing on the rioloneello in the public streets, a custom not then unusual with poor students. The sickness prevented Neumarck from going his usual rounds. He was soon reduced to such poverty as compelled him to part with his instrument, his only means of support. He pawned the violoncello to a Jew, who leut him on it a sum much below its value. The loan was to run two weeks, and if the instrument should not be redeemed within that time, it would he forfeited. As Neumarck handed it to the Jew, he looked at it lovingly, and, with tears in his eyes, said: “ You don’t know how hard it is to part with It. For ten years it has been my companion. If I had nothing else, I had it, and it spoke to me and sung back 'to me. Of all sad hearts that have left your door, there has been none so sad as mine. Let me play one more tune upon it ?” Gently taking hold of the instrument, he played so exquisitely that even the Jew listened, in spite of himself. A few more strains, and he sung to his own melody, the hymn written by bimseli: Use 1* weary, Savior, take me. Suddenly he changed the key, and his face lighted up with a smile, as he sung: Yet who knows the cross Is precious. Laying down the instrument, he said, “As God will, I am still,” rushed from the pawnbroker’s shop, and stumbled against a stranger who had been listening at the door. “ Could you tell me,” asked the stranger, “where I could obtain a copy of that song ? I would willingly give a florin for it.” “ My good friend,” replied Neumarck, “ 1 will give it to you without the florin.” The stranger was the valet of the Swedish Ambassador, and to him the singer told his sad story. He told his master, who, becoming interested in Neumarck, appointed him his Private Secretary. With his first money he redeemed his instrument, and calling in his landlady and friends, sung his own sweet hymn, of which this is a part: To let God rule who’s but contented, And humbly in Him hopetii still, Sbull marvelously be prevented Prom ev’ry sorrow, ev’ry ill. Who leanetn on God’s mighty band, He bath not built his house on sand. Por what is all onr heavy yearning. And wherefore make we such ado? What prospers it that ev’ry morning We o'er our sorrow wail anew? Wherennto works our clamor vain But to increase our grief and pain ? = Then must we for a time content ns, And for a little while be still; Await what through God’* grace t* sent us. What worketh his omniscient will. God, who our helper deigns to be. Well knoweth our necessity. —Youth's Companion.