 | Verses from The island book |  |
50
ON THE CHRISTENING OF A CHILD TO WHOM THE NAME OF ROBERT SWAIN WAS GIVEN.
The prayer was said,
And the hand was laid,
With a parent's trusting love,
On the young child's face,
Beseeching that grace
Might be given from the Father above,
His feet to guide
By the fountain's side,
Whose waters are never dry;
His soul to train,
Till freed from stain
It shall seek its home in the sky.
And the hand was laid,
With a parent's trusting love,
On the young child's face,
Beseeching that grace
Might be given from the Father above,
His feet to guide
By the fountain's side,
Whose waters are never dry;
His soul to train,
Till freed from stain
It shall seek its home in the sky.
Then the name was given
Of a loved one in heaven:
May his spirit be ever near,
With a holy joy,
To bless the boy,
And his fainting steps to cheer!
Be that name of power,
In temptation's hour,
To check the sinful thought;
A radiant star,
Whose light from afar
With warnings of love comes fraught.
And then, 'midst the strife
Of thy manhood's life,
Thou mayst ever remember with joy
That the blight of shame
Ne'er sullied the name
Which is now thine own, dear boy.
Of a loved one in heaven:
May his spirit be ever near,
With a holy joy,
To bless the boy,
51
Be that name of power,
In temptation's hour,
To check the sinful thought;
A radiant star,
Whose light from afar
With warnings of love comes fraught.
And then, 'midst the strife
Of thy manhood's life,
Thou mayst ever remember with joy
That the blight of shame
Ne'er sullied the name
Which is now thine own, dear boy.
1845.
| Verses from The island book | |