Mrs. Cross also published a volume of hymns on the Holy Communion, and among them is one for Sunday morning: it is through this hymn that she is somewhat known in America. Of this hymn of sweetness and rhythmic beauty there are several abridgments, but I give the whole text:

The dawn of God's dear Sabbath

Breaks o'er the earth again,
As some sweet summer morning
After a night of pain:

It comes as cooling showers
To some exhausted land;
As shade of clustered palm-trees
'Mid weary wastes of sand.

O day, when earthly sorrow
Is merged in heavenly joy,
And trial changed to blessing

That foes may not destroy;
When want is turned to fulness,
And weariness to rest,
And pain to wondrous rapture
Upon the Saviour's breast.

Lord, we would bring for offering,
Though marred with earthly soil,

A week of earnest labor,

Of steady, faithful toil;

Fair fruits of self-denial,

Of strong deep love to Thee,
Fostered by Thine own Spirit
In our humility.

And we would bring our burden
Of sinful thought and deed,
In Thy pure presence kneeling,
From bondage to be freed;
Our heart's most bitter sorrow

For all Thy work undone,
So many talents wasted!

So few bright laurels won!

So be it, Lord, for ever!
Oh, may we evermore,
In Jesus' holy presence,
His blessèd name adore,
Upon His peaceful Sabbath,
Within His temple walls,
Type of the stainless worship
In Zion's golden halls;

So that, in joy and gladness

We reach that home at last, When life's short week of sorrow, And sin, and strife is past : When angel-hands have gathered The fair ripe fruit for Thee, O Father, Lord, Redeemer, Most Holy Trinity!

Mrs. Cross has been a voluminous contributor to periodical literature, and has written some ten or twelve volumes of popular stories; but if in the years to come her name shall live, it will be through her hymns, which are characterized by gracefulness and fervid spirituality.

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