 | A New Year's Eve, and Other Poems |  |
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A CHILD'S EVENING HYMN.
Before I close my eyes in sleep,
Lord, hear my evening prayer;
And deign a helpless one to keep
By thy protecting care.
Lord, hear my evening prayer;
And deign a helpless one to keep
By thy protecting care.
Though young in years, I have been taught
Thy Name to love and fear,
Of Thee to think with solemn thought,
Thy goodness to revere.
Thy Name to love and fear,
Of Thee to think with solemn thought,
Thy goodness to revere.
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That goodness gives each simple flower
Its scent and beauty too,
And feeds it in night's darkest hour
With heaven's refreshing dew.
Its scent and beauty too,
And feeds it in night's darkest hour
With heaven's refreshing dew.
Nor will Thy mercy less delight
The infant's God to be,
Who through the long and sleepless night,
For safety trusts to thee.
The infant's God to be,
Who through the long and sleepless night,
For safety trusts to thee.
The little birds that sing all day
In many a leafy wood,
By Thee are clothed in plumage gay,
By Thee supplied with food.
In many a leafy wood,
By Thee are clothed in plumage gay,
By Thee supplied with food.
And when at night they cease to sing,
By Thee protected still,
Their young ones sleep beneath their wing,
Secure from every ill.
By Thee protected still,
Their young ones sleep beneath their wing,
Secure from every ill.
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Thus mayst Thou guard with gracious arm
The couch whereon I lie,
And keep a child from every harm
By Thy all-watchful eye.
The couch whereon I lie,
And keep a child from every harm
By Thy all-watchful eye.
For night and day to Thee are one,
The helpless are Thy care;
And for the sake of Thy dear Son,
Thou hear'st an infant's prayer.
The helpless are Thy care;
And for the sake of Thy dear Son,
Thou hear'st an infant's prayer.
| A New Year's Eve, and Other Poems | |