Echoes of old Gospel Music

Mrs. White's Parlour Table

Last night, after I cleaned the kitchen, I sat by the fire and did some mending.  In the background I could hear the sounds of old gospel quartets singing "They'll be no disappointments" [in Heaven], "Keep Smiling," "I've Got a Mansion," and "Brother will you meet me there?"  This was coming from my kitchen radio.

Listening to these beautiful old songs from old time singers as I worked with my sewing needle gave me a sense of great peace and joy.

Sometimes I forget how wonderful it is to sing and to hear hymns. Sometimes I forget the words to old cherished songs from my hymnbook. I am grateful for CDs of old music and a CD player to hear them.

Still, nothing is better than a church congregation holding the old hymn books and singing together songs like, "Amazing Grace," and "Rock of Ages."

Bringing the culture of holiness, into one's home and daily life is a privilege.  It is a blessing.

My children and grandchildren are familiar with the old songs as I have them playing while I cook and bake in the kitchen. The echoes of old gospel music plays quietly in the background as we visit at the table over coloring books or a game of checkers.  The music is in my car as I go out on errands.

And when the house and my life are quiet. . . . sometimes, I still hear the memory of some precious song in my mind and heart. And it is the most sweetest, comforting echo of all.

Blessings
Mrs. White

From the Archives - 


 Remembering my Father - Holiness from the Garage.

My Heritage - The Blessing of Being a Half- Southern Mama.

Hard Times - Living in Reduced Circumstances.

 - To find out more about this blog, or Mrs. White, please visit our About page. -

Now Available from The Legacy of Home Press:

"Gracious House Keeping: Advice, Encouragement, and Cleaning Help for the Christian Housewife."

Complete with Encouragement and Work Charts to cheer you along in your homemaking.

115 pages, paperback.

 

 

 

There are Scorners Everywhere

Library of Congress: 1918 Robert Carmer Hill house, NJ

                                             

There have been many great men in history who have given their time, health, and life to do the Lord's work. They have walked through their lives living the old paths despite scorners and hecklers in the sidelines.  In this great country, those scorners were the minority.  Today, it seems, in these modern days, there are many more scorners than there are people of great moral character, who openly love their Bibles and live noble lives.

I once saw a documentary of the life of Elvis Presley.  He sang old time gospel music with the great quartets like The Blackwood Brothers.  Some of these men said they would sing well into the night with him, on their own time, out of the limelight.  There was great comfort in singing, and in hearing, of hymns and old gospel music.

Every summer, my Uncle's church hosted week - long revival meetings. He was the preacher.  Everyone would get all dressed up, on hot summer evenings, and were so excited to hear his sermons.  We sang the old time songs out of the hymnals, and we would be convicted and strengthened by the powerful message. It brought many to tears.  By the time these weeks were up, we would all go home refreshed and equipped to seek a godly life, despite the scorners around us.

I have heard it said by many a preacher - "A Christian ought to be happy!"  When we have a close walk with the Lord, there is a great feeling of peace and joy in our hearts.  There is such joy that even in dark times, we have a bond with the Lord who comforts us and gives us such peace that the world can never know. This peace makes us happy!

The other day, I had a song in my mind, "I'll Meet You in the Morning" sung by The Blackwood Brothers.  I was searching through my tapes and trying to find the song.  I wanted to do some baking in my kitchen while listening to this particular tape. . .  This often happens to me.  What is familiar to us and what is precious to us, in regards to music or literature, gives us a sort of craving.   In this case, it was a craving for good things.  Sometimes the body craves a certain food and, we are told, that it is because we need a certain vitamin or nutrient and that causes the craving.  This can also happen in spiritual matters. Have you ever had a craving for the sound of "Amazing Grace" or "Peace in the Valley"?  This is a need for a spiritual vitamin to sustain you and to give you courage.

In these days, church attendance is down. Modest dressing is "out of fashion".  Purity, kindness, and the beauty of a consecrated life are rare. People today are made fun of for being sober. They are made fun of for following the Ten Commandments.  They are ridiculed for being "narrow minded" and "prudish."  These slang terms are the world's arrows against those who love the comfort and joy of a godly life.

Do not be weary of prayer meetings, all night gospel singings, tent revival meetings, and the daily time of family worship.  This is the old time religion that will quench the cravings of the soul.

Today, more than ever, we need the strength of godliness and holiness so that no heckler can make us stumble.  No heckler should be able to distract us or divert us from the most beautiful, happy life they may never know.  We must stand strong and continue to love our Bibles, love purity, and love a life of "Amazing Grace."  We are on a narrow, difficult path, toward the gates of Heaven.  But God's children shall all meet up together "over yonder" on that beautiful shore on the greatest "morning" of all.

blessings
Mrs. White

From the Archives -


Difficult Days here at Home - The Shabby Garden.

Homemaking Help - The Secret to a Clean House.

Marriage with Little Money - When Groceries are the Presents.

 - To find out more about this blog, or Mrs. White, please visit our About page. -

 

For Encouragement in Christian Homemaking, order Mrs. White's book, "Homemaking For Happiness: Wonderful Days at Home."

In this book, you will find essays, articles, and diary entries about life in a Christian home.

Entries are arranged by season, and include:  "Keeping a Frugal Kitchen;" "Missing the Lilacs;" "An Evening Walk in the Garden;" "At Grandmother's House;" and "Chores for Grandchildren."

You will also find a few photographs showing a little of the local landscape.

Paperback, 307 pages.

Blessed by the Morning Kitchen Work

Visiting by the back fence at Mrs White's Vermont Estate

I wanted to make a nice batch of banana muffins this morning.  There was an old gospel song in my head and I started looking for a CD.  The song was by an old southern quartet "The Inspirations" called, "When I wake up to Sleep No More."  I was delighted when I managed to find it among some old tapes that my father had made for me, with his gentle handwriting on the outer paper. It says, "For Sharon - gospel singing - The Inspirations."

This tape went on my kitchen radio near the back window.  It is raining and dark this morning and the wind is blowing the curtains.  Oh, how I love the sounds of old gospel music that is familiar to me.  My father had sung many of these songs in our childhood home on weekend mornings as he puttered around the house doing projects or making something in the kitchen.

As I busily labored over the complicated recipe for my special muffins, my back started to hurt, but there was great joy in my heart as song after song of heavenly peace echoed through my kitchen.

I thought of heaven and all the work I am doing to "occupy" in the will of the Lord, and in the Lord's work, as a guard and keeper of this home.  Soon I heard the old song, "Is that footsteps that I hear?" Which talks about heavenly footsteps walking towards us getting ready to sound the trumpet to call us home!

Some may focus their time and energy on great riches, and the exciting world of money or traveling to foreign lands and distant cities. Some may focus on climbing corporate ladders, or getting great fame, or accomplishing amazing things.  But this old New England housewife is doing a quiet work of seeking holiness and making home a godly haven, following the lighted path my father lit for me, to follow him to the heavenly gates.

Blessings
Mrs. White

From the Archives -

I will never regret staying Home - A Humble Parlour as a School of Theology.

For those difficult times - Prayers which Cannot be Uttered.

Caring for Babies - Bedtime at the Estate.

 - To find out more about this blog, or Mrs. White, please visit our About page. -

Read Mrs. White's book on Saving Money and Inspiring Charity:

-Economy for the Christian Home.  

Paperback, 110 pages. 

 

 

 

 

Simplifying Dreaded Obligations

I walked the property today. (Our 2 Acre, Vermont Estate). It is peaceful, quiet, and lovely. I checked on my plants and my new garden.  It is pleasant to just keep house and to work on home tasks.

But behind these domestic scenes, I have obligations that I must keep up with. There are projects I agreed to do.   But I am dragging myself to get them finished.  I don't know why I agree to do things that wear me out and cause stress, but I do.

So tonight, I will sip on hot tea and make a long list of all the things I must do.  Then each week, I will attempt to accomplish one or two until they are all completed.

Someday I will learn only to take on projects that will bring me peace and happiness, rather than make me feel overwhelmed.

Once my list is ready, the rest will be step-by-step, until it is all cleared away and finished. What a relief that will be when it is over with!

As a reward for making this list,  I will sit on my front porch and enjoy a new book, early tomorrow morning. Then I will happily shine and sparkle my home.  And I will listen to old sermons and Gospel Music, which is my greatest hobby of all.

Blessings
Mrs. White

From the Archives -

Humble but Lovely- An Elegant Home Despite Poverty.

So Precious - What Sundays Used to Mean to Housewives.

What Will it Take? - Homemaking Survival.


- To find out more about this blog, or Mrs. White, please visit our About page. -

Find Home-keeping Inspiration, in Mrs. White's book,

 - For The Love of Christian Homemaking. 

 Paperback, 274 pages.

Holiness from the Garage

I love walking into an old-time church. The congregation is often a humble, kind group who are there to join together in prayer and worship. These kinds of churches are hard to find, but they are such a blessing!

I think about these churches when my Father (Grandpa) is out working on the property. He is in his 70's and keeps busy maintaining the grounds and doing repair projects. He has full possession of our two-car garage. He uses it as a workshop. There is a wood stove in there, counters, and tools. He also has a cassette player and 8 track player in there.

Throughout the day, I can hear the sounds of holiness coming from the garage. Grandpa plays old gospel music or old sermons of his brother preaching. It gives me a warm feeling of comfort. I am safe here because of Grandpa. I go about my housekeeping with the windows open, and I can hear the precious sounds of worship and spiritual nourishment. It awakens me to live a holy life. It protects me from worldly distractions. It is a testimony that says, Grandpa is here.

In my section of the house, I am often listening to sermons or old gospel music. I read my Bible and pray and delight in spiritual duties. I am continuing Grandpa's tradition and passing it on to the next generation.  As my children age and mature, they will be drawn to this kind of life.  They will be drawn to the peace and joy which comes from religious duties. It is the legacy of holiness.

blessings
Mrs. White
(Updated Feb. 2025: Nana and Grandpa lived with us, here in this house, for 9 years. They passed into heaven some years ago.)

- To find out more about this blog, or Mrs. White, please visit our About page. -

"At Mother's House" by Mrs. White:

  For Encouragement in Homemaking, order Mrs. White's book, from 2016, "At Mother's House: The Blessing of Being a Christian Housewife."

In this book, you will find essays, articles, and diary entries about life in a Christian home.

Those who are seeking a peaceful home, with the Lord as the foundation, will find encouragement. (Paperback, 122 pages.)

The Maid Was Here

A Maid Watering Flowers, painting by Franck Antoine Bail.

 

I woke up cheerful and happy this morning. It is a beautiful day. I put on my cutest outfit - A skirt, heels, apron, etc. and got to work. I have a radio in my kitchen. I turned on a cassette tape of some old-southern gospel music and enjoyed tidying my kitchen. I started to remember my work as a maid when I was a teenager. We would go into a house and methodically clean an entire house in 2 hours. These were gorgeous houses in nice neighborhoods. I loved cleaning those homes. But you see, they were not dirty! Everything was clean when we got there. Our job was not to get rid of clutter, or wash dishes. We did not have to remove carpet stains or wash windows. Our job was simply to do the basic deep cleaning, once a week, in order to maintain a house.

Here is what we did:

Kitchen-
Wash sinks and counters. Polish the outside of appliances (stove, fridge, toaster oven, coffee maker, dishwasher). Polish table and chairs. Wash the floor.

Bathroom -
Scrub tub, toilet, sink, vanity. Wash mirrors. Wash the floor. Straighten towels. Fold the toilet paper. (This was a triangle shape at the edge of the paper roll, facing out - it left a message to say - the maid was here.)

Bedrooms-
Dust and polish all furniture. Make beds or change sheets (if these were left out for us to do). (We would fold, and tuck in, the ends of pillow cases just like they do in hotels.) Vacuum carpet.

Hallway -
Vacuum carpet.

Living room / Den / Sunroom, etc -
Dust, vacuum.

The very last thing we did was vacuum the living room carpet, as we backed out of the room. You could see neat lines in the carpet and no footprints. (This was another sign to say - the maid was here.)

So this morning, as I cleaned my kitchen and bathroom, I remembered my days as a maid (from the ages of 15 - 17). I loved my job. I loved cleaning. To have an orderly, neat home, is such a blessing. When I finished my housework this morning, I could almost sense the cheerful "rainbows" which came from the awe and wonder of a tidy house. I walked out of the rooms, and nodded my head in approval and thought - The Maid was Here.


Blessings,
Mrs. White

 From the Archives -

Old Time Manners - Waiting for the Door to Be Opened.  

A Simple Life - How to Stop Buying Things that Clutter up the Home. 

Ration Books from 1942 and helpful advice - Adapting to the High Cost of Living.

 

- To find out more about this blog, or Mrs. White, please visit our About page. -

 

Find cleaning inspiration and encouragement in Mrs. White's book, "Gracious House Keeping."

"Gracious House Keeping: Advice, Encouragement, and Cleaning Help for the Christian Housewife."

Complete with Encouragement and Work Charts to cheer you along in your homemaking!

115 pages, paperback.

Happy Homemaking

Today, I put on my favorite skirt, my Edwardian Apron and my pearl necklace. I put my hair up and got to work on making a home. Our construction crew finished their work yesterday and now I am ready to put everything back in order.

I delighted in vacuuming and sweeping. My wood stove is now polished and tidy. Our living room looks inviting and lovely.

Mr. White went to the kitchen to get some coffee. He saw me Windex-ing and scrubbing my dustpan. He smiled and thought I was bizarre. (smiles). Doesn't everyone clean their dustpan after use?

I pulled out some beef to defrost for tonight's supper. I will make beef stew and biscuits.

In a little bit, I am going to make Ghiradelli chocolate chip cookies.

I am listening to my favorite gospel music and enjoying a precious day doing my housework.

Blessings,
Mrs. White

Be Thou My Vision

I heard this precious song online yesterday and loved it. It made me sad and peaceful all at the same time. Here are the lyrics:

------------------------------------------
Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

Be Thou my battle Shield, Sword for the fight;
Be Thou my Dignity, Thou my Delight;
Thou my soul’s Shelter, Thou my high Tower:
Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.

Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,
Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.

High King of Heaven, my victory won,
May I reach Heaven’s joys, O bright Heaven’s Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.

-----------------------------

A page from our book, "Hymns for the Home and Family."

Blessings
Mrs. White

(Post updated to include our new hymn book, which includes "Be Thou My Vision" -  March 2025)

- To find out more about this blog, or Mrs. White, please visit our About page. -

"Hymns for the Home and Family: Devotional with 28 Hymns and Christmas Songs"

126 pages, paperback

ISBN: 978-1-956616-33-0

Mama's Prayers

The Residence of the Honorable Horace Greeley, Currier and Ives, 1872

 

 

Gospel Song: "Thank you Mama for Praying for Me"

 




(April 2014, edited update: I can no longer find the original video and song online, by "The Inspirations," which is my favorite version.  However, the lyrics below are from them.  The current video (above) was shared with me by a reader.  The song in the video is sung by Amos Raber.)

Lyrics for "Thank you Mama for Praying for Me" sung by The Inspirations

Somebody, somewhere was praying that night
When Jesus came in and I saw the light.
It must have been Mama
I've heard her before
as she knelt by her bedside, her tears touched the floor.

Thank you Mama for praying for me
If you had not prayed, then where would I be.
They called you old fashioned, but you loved the Lord
and your prayers touched the Master as your tears touched the floor.

She held to the altar and wouldn't give in
'Til she knew all her children had been born again.
Just an old fashioned Mama, but she loved the Lord
and her prayers touched the Master as her tears touched the floor.

Thank you Mama for praying for me
If you had not prayed then where would I be
They called you old fashioned, but you loved the Lord
and your prayers touched the Master as your tears touched the floor.

Thank you Mama for praying for me
If you had not prayed then where would I be
They called you old fashioned, but you loved the Lord
and your prayers touched the Master as your tears touched the floor.

                                ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

  - To find out more about this blog, or Mrs. White, please visit our About page. -

From the Archives - 

Making the Most of Humble Means - Poor and Pretty Living.

Contentment - A Covered Bridge and Graceful Living in Rural Vermont. 

A Peaceful Routine - The Four Little Tasks of Home.

Mrs. White's special book for homemakers:

"Introduction to Home Economics:  Gentle Instruction to Find Joy in Christian Homemaking." 

Paperback, 200 pages. 

Hello Mama - Kingsmen Quartet

Lyrics for "Hello Mama" by The Kingsmen Quartet


"Hello Mama

I just called to tell you
All those tears you shed for me
they were not in vain.

Cuz you see there was
something happened
tonight while I was traveling
down a lonely road
I thought that you should be the first to know
I'm not the same.

All those dreary days, they're over now.
Those sleepless nights are passed.
All those prayers that you have prayed so long
They're answered now at last.

I'm not the man that I used to be
and Mama you can sleep tonight
for I've found Jesus, now everything's alright.

All because
I'm not the man that I used to be
and Mama you can sleep tonight.
I found Jesus now everythings alright
It's alright."

From the Archives - 

Beautiful Living - Feminine Grace.

A Blessing - The Light in a Messy House.

Remembering my Childhood - Manners Learned at the Finishing School.

 - To find out more about this blog, or Mrs. White, please visit our About page. -

- It is an honor to be the bookkeeper for the house! - 

Find detailed instruction and inspiration in budgeting on a small income, along with a method for keeping a handwritten ledger, with lots of thrifty ideas, in Mrs. White's book:

 -An Old Fashioned Budget: Humble Financial Management for the Christian Housewife. 

 Paperback, 77 pages.