Firstpublished:1835 in Southern Harmony, p. 62, attributed to William Walker Description: A folk hymn (Jackson 1953a, No. 140, with secular folk song roots. The Sacred Harp, p. 207, 1844 to the present. Words by an unknown author, first appearing in Southern Harmony, 1835, with six stanzas.
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Original text and translations
English text
1. Come, little children, now we may
Partake a little morsel,
For little songs and little ways
Adorned a great apostle.
A little drop of Jesus' blood
Can make a feast of union;
It is by little steps we move
Into a full communion.
2. A little faith does mighty deeds,
Quite past all my recounting;
Faith, like a little mustard seed.
Can move a lofty mountain.
A little charity and zeal,
A little tribulation,
A little patience makes us feel
Great peace and consolation.
3. A little cross with cheerfulness,
A little self-denial,
Will serve to make our troubles less,
And bear the greatest trial.
The Spirit like a little dove
On Jesus once descended;
To show his meekness and his love,
The emblem was intended.
4. The title of the little Lamb
Unto our Lord was given;
Such was our Savior's little name,
The Lord of earth and heaven.
A little voice that’s small and still
Can rule the whole creation,
A little stone the earth shall fill,
And humble every nation.
5. A little zeal supplies the soul,
It doth the heart inspire;
A little spark lights up the whole,
And sets the crowd on fire.
A little union serves to hold
The good and tender hearted;
It's stronger than a chain of gold,
And never can be parted.
6. Come, let us labor here below.
And who can be the straightest;
For in God’s kingdom, all must know,
The least shall be the greatest.
O give us, Lord, a little drop
Of heavenly love and union;
O may we never, never stop
Short of a full communion.