Queen Victoria Praises “Sacred Songs for Little Singers”

“Little singers and their teachers will rejoice greatly over this admirably conceived and executed collection of twelve songs. The object has been to provide these small folk with vocal music, words and notes of which shall be alike pure, and which shall be, as regards compass and style, generally within the ordinary standard of their capacity. These conditions have been entirely fulfilled, and our young friends may be safely entrusted with his little book, which is full of sweet, happy thoughts. The subjects of its dozen songs are, respectively, ‘Flowers,’ ‘Sunday,’ ‘Evening Prayer,’ ‘Stars,’ ‘My Little Tree,’ ‘Thy Kingdom Come,’ ‘The Moon,’ ‘Jessie’s Friend,’ The Bower,’ ‘Trust,’ ‘The Dying Sister,’ and ‘The Angel’s Song.’ The merit of these is so equal that we can hardly say which are our particular favourites. Perhaps ‘Flowers,’ ‘Jessie’s Friend,’ and ‘The Angel’s Song,’ are those we shall longest remember; the first is quite gay, the second full of tender sweetness, and the last has a breadth and dignity quite remarkable, considering the limited means employed. We must not omit to name the service a sister art has contributed towards the general attractiveness of this little volume; the pictorial designs and their engraving on wood being of the very best, and illustrating the subjects of the several songs in the happiest manner.”