Hymn, Sung at Christmas by the Scholars of St. H
The poem describes a Christmas hymn sung by scholars on an island off the coast of South Carolina. It portrays a scene of joy and celebration amidst the beauty of nature. The hymn itself is a tribute to the spirit of Christmas, emphasizing its message of love, peace, and redemption.
By John Greenleaf Whittier · First published 1861 · Genre: Religious Poetry, Spiritual, Historical · 197 words
First lines
OH, none in all the world before Were ever glad as we! We're free on Carolina's shore, We're all at home and free.
Thou Friend and Helper of the poor, Who suffered for our sake, To open every prison door, And every yoke to break!
Bend low Thy pitying face and mild, And help us sing and pray; The hand that blessed the little child, Upon our foreheads lay.
We hear no more the driver's horn, No more the whip we fear, This holy day that saw Thee born Was never half so dear.
What this Textopian page supports
Hymn, Sung at Christmas by the Scholars of St. Helena's Island, s. C is listed on Textopian as a poem by John Greenleaf Whittier, dated 1861 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: John Greenleaf Whittier
- Date: 1861 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Religious Poetry, Spiritual, Historical, Celebratory, Narrative Verse
- Length: 197 words
- Structure: 1 section, 7 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Hymn, Sung at Christmas by the Scholars of St. Helena's Island, s. C by John Greenleaf Whittier
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Similar titles
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Genres
- Religious Poetry — The work expresses themes of faith, prayer, and divine intervention, characteristic of religious poetry.
- Spiritual — The poem reflects a deep spiritual yearning for freedom and divine presence, aligning with spiritual literature.
- Historical — The context of freedom and the reference to Carolina's shore situate the poem within a historical framework.
- Celebratory — The tone and content celebrate liberation and joy, particularly in relation to Christmas.
Tags
Christmas hymn · Poetry · American literature · 19th century poetry · Religious poetry · Spiritual poem · Seasonal poem · Winter poem · Nautical theme · Island setting · Historical reference · Colonial era