 | A Wreath of Wild Flowers From New England |  |
THE TIME TO PRAY.
“What is the lady doing there?”
Louise, before a picture, cried;
“The lady kneels in holy prayer,”
Her sister, Bell, replied.
Louise, before a picture, cried;
“The lady kneels in holy prayer,”
Her sister, Bell, replied.
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Louisa's eyes in musing fell,—
“You say the lady kneels in prayer,—
To-day, you know, is Friday, Bell,
And is it Sunday there?”
“You say the lady kneels in prayer,—
To-day, you know, is Friday, Bell,
And is it Sunday there?”
“Ah! dear Louise, can no one pray
At any other time as well?
Must Sunday be the only day?”
Said thoughtful Isabel.
At any other time as well?
Must Sunday be the only day?”
Said thoughtful Isabel.
“I should be very sad, if I,
Who sorrow almost every day
For something wrong, must wait and sigh,
Till Sunday comes, to pray.
Who sorrow almost every day
For something wrong, must wait and sigh,
Till Sunday comes, to pray.
“When I have erred, in deed or word,
And tears arise, and blind my eye,
My heart and lips with prayer are stirred,
Till I forget to cry.
And tears arise, and blind my eye,
My heart and lips with prayer are stirred,
Till I forget to cry.
“When lightly on my downy bed
I wake and find the morning there,
I think, whose smile the morning made,
And speak to God in prayer.
I wake and find the morning there,
I think, whose smile the morning made,
And speak to God in prayer.
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“When day's bright door is shut, I know
Whose viewless hand forbids her beam,
And dare not to my slumber go,
Till I have prayed to Him!
Whose viewless hand forbids her beam,
And dare not to my slumber go,
Till I have prayed to Him!
“Ah! dear Louise! no matter where,
No matter what the hour or day,
The solemn eve—the morning fair—
'Tis always good to pray.”
No matter what the hour or day,
The solemn eve—the morning fair—
'Tis always good to pray.”
And young Louise said meekly then,—
“If kneeling lady any where
I see, I will not ask again,
If it is Sunday there.”
“If kneeling lady any where
I see, I will not ask again,
If it is Sunday there.”
| A Wreath of Wild Flowers From New England | |