DEAR SUN SPOTS: A couple weeks ago, I had a letter published in this column about my Maine state report for school asking people to send me information. The response was overwhelming!

I have tried my best to send a personal thank you note to everyone, but if someone sent something and that person has not received a personal letter, please know how much I appreciate the time, thought, effort and money that you took to help me with my project. I learned so much and I will never forget this experience!

On May 18, we had a big “State Fair,” where we displayed the information and items we received. The people of the great State of Maine were well-represented!

Thank you so much! —David, Charlotte, North Carolina

ANSWER: I’m so happy to hear that you helped David out! I really want kids to know they can always reach out to Sun Spots!

DEAR SUN SPOTS: Could you print out the words to the song “Whispering Hope?”  —No name, no town

ANSWER: The hymn, “Whispering Hope,” was written by Septimus Winner who was born in 1827 in Philadelphia to a violin maker. According to Wikipedia, this song was based on the biblical verses Hebrews 6:19, Hebrews 12:1 and 1 Thessalonians 5:8. Published in 1868, “Whispering Hope” was the last popular song Winner wrote.

He was the seventh child in the family, which is why he was called Septimus. At age 20, he had his own music shop and music-publishing company. He taught several instruments, performed extensively and wrote both sacred and secular music, including “Oh Where, Oh Where Has My Little Dog Gone?”

Winner went on to write thousands of musical arrangements, published numerous instructional books for various instruments and continued to write sacred and secular pieces. He published the majority of his music under the pen name, Alice Hawthorne because he never believed he was worthy to receive recognition for his writing. He passed away Nov. 22, 1902, and 68 years later was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Here are the lyrics: “Soft as the voice of an angel/ Breathing a lesson unheard/Hope with a gentle persuasion/Whispers her comforting word: Wait till the darkness is over/ Wait till the tempest is done/ Hope for the sunshine tomorrow/ After the shower is gone.

“Whispering hope, oh, how welcome thy voice/Making my heart in its sorrow rejoice/If, in the dusk of the twilight/ Dim be the region afar/Will not the deepening darkness/ Brighten the glimmering star? Then when the night is upon us/Why should the heart sink away? When the dark midnight is over/Watch for the breaking of day.

“Whispering hope, oh, how welcome thy voice/Making my heart in its sorrow rejoice/Hope, as an anchor so steadfast/ Rends the dark veil for the soul/Whither the Master has entered/Robbing the grave of its goal/Come then, oh, come, glad fruition/Come to my sad weary heart/Come, O Thou blest hope of glory/Never, oh, never depart. Whispering hope, oh, how welcome thy voice/Making my heart in its sorrow rejoice.”

This column is for you, our readers. It is for your questions and comments. There are only two rules: You must write to the column and sign your name (we won’t use it if you ask us not to). Please include your phone number. Letters will not be returned or answered by mail, and telephone calls will not be accepted. Your letters will appear as quickly as space allows. Address them to Sun Spots, P.O. Box 4400, Lewiston, ME 04243-4400. Inquiries can also be emailed to sunspots@sunjournal.com.

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