The Contest of Hymns

Today my fellow Christians Today we have a need to pay To pave the way for Godly deeds I offer this contest today Three hymns you may choose To whom may ever give the most Of dollars which are in need So may you be leaded by the Holy Ghost Thus the collection plate did pass Among the members who gladly gave As cheerful givers do make Treasures in heaven to gain The assembled elders preacher and me To start the count now gathered But the preacher gasped When he did smilingly behold A folded thousand dollar Shouting praise the Lord do pray tell Who gives such grand benevolent a gift Who wins the hymns of three Who has sacrificed the best And spied he did old hard hearing Edda May Slouched low a back row seat Shyly raising hand to the sky The preacher ran to greet Come forth and choose thy prize Three hymns to you now may claim As Edda May began to stand Edda May the winner of three With back bone straight and wondering eye Edda May released a snickering grin Declaring her name loudly spoke Giving voice for all with in I do tell at this moment of truth Pointing her crooked index out So many to choose from So many have I always liked And thus she began Pointing to Sam Raymond And Claude I’ll take him and him and him The congregation began to sing Have Thy own why Have thy own way Edda May the potter The three are the clay Edda May just smiled The children all did snicker As Edda May walked arm in arm With her new paid for fellers