[1000] See also the extract from Dorothy Wordsworth's Journal, in the note to The Excursion (vol. v. p. 189).—Ed.
[1001] 1837.
... the ... 1835.
[1002] The owl became the emblem of Athens—and was associated with Minerva—because the birds abounded there.—Ed.
THE LABOURER'S NOON-DAY HYMN
Composed 1834.—Published 1835
[Bishop Ken's Morning and Evening Hymns are, as they deserve to be, familiarly known. Many other hymns have also been written on the same subject; but, not being aware of any designed for noon-day, I was induced to compose these verses. Often one has occasion to observe cottage children carrying, in their baskets, dinner to their Fathers engaged with their daily labours in the fields and woods. How gratifying would it be to me could I be assured that any portion of these stanzas had been sung by such a domestic concert under such circumstances. A friend of mine has told me that she introduced this Hymn into a village-school which she superintended, and the stanzas in succession furnished her with texts to comment upon in a way which without difficulty was made intelligible to the children, and in which they obviously took delight, and they were taught to sing it to the tune of the old 100th Psalm.—I.F.]
One of the "Poems of Sentiment and Reflection."—Ed.
Up to the throne of God is borne
The voice of praise at early morn,
And he accepts the punctual hymn
Sung as the light of day grows dim.