PRAYER.

173

PRAYER.

WAKE, little child, the morn is gay,
The air is fresh and cool;

But pause awhile, and kneel to pray
Before you go to merry play,

Before you go to school.

Kneel down and speak the holy words:
God loves your simple prayer
Above the sweet songs of the birds,
The bleating of the gentle herds,
The flowers that scent the air.

And when the quiet evenings come,
And dew-drops wet the sod,

When bats and owls begin to roam,
And flocks and herds are driven home,
Then kneel again to God.

Because you need him day and night,
To shield you with his arm;

To help you always to do right,
To feed your soul and give it light,
And keep you safe from harm.

MELODIES FOR CHILDHOOD.

174

MORNING HYMN.

MORNING HYMN.

AWAKE, my soul, and with the sun
Thy daily stage of duty run ;
Shake off dull sloth, and joyful rise
To pay thy morning sacrifice.

Wake, and lift up thyself, my heart,
And with the angels bear thy part,
Who all night long unwearied sing
High praises to the Eternal King.

Glory to thee, who safe hast kept,
And hast refreshed me while I slept :

Grant, Lord, when I from death shall wake,
I may of endless life partake.

Lord, I to thee my vows renew;

Dispel my sins as morning dew;

Guard my first springs of thought and will,

And with thyself my spirit fill.

Direct, control, suggest, this day,
All I design, or do, or say,

That all my powers, with true delight,
To thy sole glory may unite.

BISHOP KENN.

EVENING HYMN.

175

MORNING HYMN.

O GOD! I thank thee that the night
In peace and rest hath passed away ;
And that I see, in this fair light,

My Father's smile, which makes it day.

Be thou my Guide, and let me live
As under thine all-seeing eye:
Supply my wants, my sins forgive,
And make me happy when I die.

REV. J. PIERPONT.

EVENING HYMN.

ANOTHER day its course hath run,

And still, O God! thy child is blest; For thou hast been by day my sun, And thou wilt be by night my rest.

Sweet sleep descends, mine eyes to close ;
And now, when all the world is still,

I give my body to repose,

My spirit to my Father's will.

IBID

176

GOOD NIGHT.

GOOD NIGHT.

THE sun is hidden from our sight,
The birds are sleeping sound;
'Tis time to say to all, "Good night!"
And give a kiss all round.

Good night! my father, mother, dear,

Now kiss your little son;

Good night! my friends, both far and near,
Good night to every one.

Good night! ye merry, merry birds,
Sleep well till morning light;
Perhaps if you could sing in words,

You would have said, "Good night!"

To all my pretty flowers, good night!
You blossom while I sleep;

And all the stars, that shine so bright,
With you their watches keep.

The moon is lighting up the skies,
The stars are sparkling there;
"T is time to shut our weary eyes,

And say our evening prayer.

MRS. FOLLEN.

EVENING HYMN.

177

THE GOOD BOY'S HYMN ON GOING TO BED.

How sweet to lay my weary head
Upon my quiet little bed,

And feel assured, that all day long
I have not knowingly done wrong!

How sweet to hear my mother say,
"You have been very good to-day!"
How sweet to see my father's joy
When he can say, "My dear, good boy!"

How sweet it is my thoughts to send
To many a dear-loved distant friend,
And feel, if they my heart could see,
How very happy they would be!

How sweet to think that He whose love
Made all these shining worlds above,
My pure and happy heart can see,
And loves a little boy like me!

MRS. FOLLEN.

EVENING HYMN.

Now the sun hath gone so rest,
Stars are coming faint and dim,
And the bird within his nest
Sweetly sings his evening hymn.