Before I lie upon my bed,
In sweetest sleep to rest my head,
Let me to God sincerely raise
A song of glad and grateful praise.
What happy hours I've spent to-day,
In useful work and healthful play;
And all the pleasure I have known
Was by thy goodness to me shown.
Forgive each wrong that I have done,
For Jesus' sake, thine only Son;
Make me more good and pure and mild,
That I may be Thine own dear child.
When morning brightens o'er the skies,
From gentle slumbers may I rise,
With happy thoughts and spirits free,
Resolved each day to live to Thee!
The morn is breaking;
Night flies away;
The lark uprising,
Salutes the day.
Low droop the flowers,
All wet with dew;
The last star quivers,
Then fades from view.
The cattle lowing
The milkmaid greet;
To labour hastening
Are busy feet;
The wain 's slow rolling
The road along;
The peasant's trolling
His matin song.
The cock's shrill crowing,
The bee's low hum,
The sheep-bell tinkling
Tell day is come.
In this bright season,
Shall I in bed,
'Gainst sense and reason,
Still hide my head?
No! lightly springing,
I'll break the chain
My senses holding
In sleep's dull reign;
Then bending lowly,
With heart and mind,
Thank Him most holy
For blessings kind;
And seek protection,
Lest I should stray,
Or sin's infection
Corrupt my way;
Then, rising meekly,
With strengthened heart,
Prepare discreetly
To act my part.
Stars, that on your wondrous way
Trayel through the evening sky,
Is there nothing you can say
To a child so young as I?
Tell me, for I long to know,
Who has made you sparkle so?
"Child, as surely as we roll
Through the dark and distant sky,
You have an immortal soul,
Born to live when we shall die.
Suns and planets pass away;
Spirits never can decay.
"Yes, and God, who bade us roll,-
God, who hung us in the sky,
Stoops to watch an infant soul
With an ever-gracious eye;
And esteems it dearer far,
More in value than a star!"
I'm not too young for God to see,
He knows my name and nature too;
And all day long he looks at me,
And sees my actions through and through.
He listens to the words I say,
He knows the thoughts I have within,
And, whether I'm at work or play,
He's sure to see me if I sin.
Oh how could children tell a lie,
Or cheat in play, or steal, or fight
If they remembered God was nigh,
And had them always in his sight?
Then when I wish to do amiss,
However pleasant it may be,
I'll always try to think of this-
I'm not too young for God to see.
To depths of darkness and of night
God spoke the word, and there was light;
And at his call the night and day
Held o'er the earth alternate sway.
The waters gathered in a heap,
And formed the mighty, rolling deep;
Whilst o'er the fresh young earth were seen
Trees, herbs and plants in richest green.
God made the starry worlds on high,
Sun, moon, that light us from the sky;
Within the waters fish had birth,
And birds flew lightly o'er the earth;
Whilst on it shining insects crept,
And beasts disported, fed and slept.
God saw that it was good, when done,
As thus the whole in beauty shone.
God next, in condescending love,
Made man to lift his thoughts above,
Whilst he the fruits and flowers enjoyed,
With purest pleasures unalloyed,
And o'er all living things held sway,
A kingly ruler day by day,
That, for this bounty, he might raise
To heaven sweet songs of grateful praise.
THANKS FOR THE GIFTS OF PROVIDENCE.
I have a home in which to live,
A bed to rest upon,
Good food to eat, and fire to warm,
And raiment to put on.
Kind parents full of gentle love,
Brothers and sisters too;
With many kind and loving friends,
Who teach me what to do.
How many little children have
No food, no clothes to wear,
No house nor home, no parents kind
To guide them by their care.
For all thy bounty, O my God,
May I be grateful found,
And show my love by constant aims
To love all those around.
Love God with all your soul and strength,
With all your heart and mind;
And love your neighbour as yourself;
Be faithful, just and kind.
Deal with another as you'd have
Another deal with you:
What you're unwilling to receive
Be sure you never do.
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