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1 The long-lost son, with streaming eyes,
From folly just awake,
Reviews his wanderings with surprise;
His heart begins to break.
2 I starve, he cries, nor can I bear
The famine in this land,
While servants of my father share
The bounty of his hand.
3 With deep repentance I'll return,
And seek my father's face;
Unworthy to be called a son,
I'll ask a servant's place.
4 Far off the father saw him move--
In pensive silence mourn--
And quickly ran, with arms of love,
To welcome his return.
5 Through all the courts the tidings flew,
And spread the joy around;
The angels tuned their harps anew--
The long-lost son is found!
Source: The Voice of Praise: a collection of hymns for the use of the Methodist Church #426
Sigourney, Lydia, née Huntley. This distinguished name stood at the head of the female poets of America a generation ago, and is still well remembered. Born in Norwich, Connecticut, in 1791, she conducted a school in the same town from 1809 to 1814, when she removed to Hartford, where she was married to Charles Sigourney in 1819. Most of her subsequent life was spent at Hartford, and she died there, June 10, 1865. Her first publication was Moral Pieces in Prose and Verse, 1815. This was followed by 58 additional works. A thorough exploration of these, or of such of them are poetical, would be necessary to trace her hymns with accuracy. They, however, are more numerous than important. Many have been used in the older collections; some are… Go to person page >| First Line: | The long lost [prodigal] son, with streaming eyes |
| Title: | The Returning Prodigal |
| Author: | L. H. Sigourney |
| Meter: | 8.6.8.6 |
| Language: | English |
| Refrain First Line: | I'll die no more for bread |
| Copyright: | Public Domain |
My Starred Hymns