ORIGINAL HYMN, 



■WRITTEN FOR THE 



anniversary of the essex agricultural society, 

 By Alonzo Lewis, Esq. 



We thank thee, God of harvest-home ! for what thy love bestows. 

 For all the varied providence that from thy bounty flows ; 

 We thank thee for the vernal rains that fertilized the ground. 

 We praise the for the genial sun that all man's labor crowned. 



We thank thee, God of harvest-home ! for all our wealth of grain, 

 For the tall wheat, whose waving mass like ocean filled the plain ; 

 We thank thee for the fruitfu.l store of bright and yellow corn , 

 Whose golden heaps luxuriant our fertile fields adorn. 



We thank thee, God of harvest-home ! for all thy fruit so fair ; 

 The apple with its yellow cheek, the ripe and mellow pear ; 

 The downy peach, the luscious plum, the purple-clustered vine ; 

 And the fair show of radiant flowers that in our gardens shine. 



We thank thee, God of harvest home- ! for more than we may tell ; 

 We thank thee for the fragrant hay that fills our barns so well ; 

 We praise thee for the precious gifts that make our harvest feast, 

 And the choice store of healthful roots, sweet food for man and beast. 



We praise thee, God of harvest-home ! that while in other lands 

 Pale famine stalks, and sweeps away their fever-stricken bands, 

 Onr homes are blest with health and love, with plenty and with joy, 

 While social and domestic peace yields bliss without alloy. 



We bless thee, God of harvest-home ! for all that we partake ; 

 Then let our hearts with gratitude, their hymn of praise awake ; 

 And when, our day of labor past, death's harvest-hour shall come. 

 May all our souls, like ripened fruitbe safely gathered home. 



