A MOTHER’S PRAYER.
“SOMETHING for me, dear mamma, write!”
Came with her kiss and sweet “good-night!”
So thinking, with a mother’s love,
Of all that waits below, above—
Each upward step, each earthward snare,
I breathe for her a mother’s prayer.
Father, I ask not cloudless day
To shine o’er all the untried way
Appointed for these tender feet
Ere they may walk the golden street;
Whate’er the path Thy love assign,
Hold fast this little hand in Thine.
I dare not say for this young heart
So much of earthly bliss impart;
From thine it caught its earliest thrill,
Each throb but answers to Thy will,
So in Thy tender love I rest—
Whate’er betide, Thou knowest best!
Not wealth I crave, its unseen “wings”
Rank it amid earth’s baseless things;
Not on the scroll of worldly fame
I ask to write this well-loved name;
One book I know than all more fair,
The “Book of Life,” oh! write it there.
Saviour of little ones, I bring
To Thee this priceless offering,
This one sweet lamb, nor let her stray
Far from thy heavenly fold away;
“By the still waters” cool and sweet,
“In pastures green” oh! guide her feet.
