Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1844-02-22
A PARENTS PRAYER.
by REV LEONARD

by REV. LEONARD WELLINGTON.
Al this hushed houi, when all my children sleep,
Here, in thy presence gracious God knecl
And, while the tears Of gratitude weep,
Would pour the prayer which gratitude must feel
Parental love o set thy holy seal
On these soft hearts hch thou TO me hast sent
Repei temptation, guard their better veal;
BE thy pure spirit to their frsty lent,
And lea a them 10 the path their infant Savior went
ask not for them eminence or wealth.
For these in VISIONS view, are trifug toys,
But occupation, competence and health,
Thy love, thy presence, and the lasting Joys
Tha, flow tberefrom'; the passion which employs
The breast of holy men and thus to be
From all that taints, or darkcns, or destroys,
The strength Of principle forever free;
Thine is the better boon, God, l ask of the.
This world know is but bridge,
And treachcrous waters roar and foam below,
IVi;h feeble feet walk the wooden ridge
Some fall by accident and thousands throw
Their bodies headlong in the hungry stream,
Some sink by secret means, and never know
The hand which struck them from their transient dream,
TIL wisdom wakes in death, and in despair they
Ifthese soft feet which now these feathers press.
Are doomed the paths Of ruin to tread;
u vice, consealed in her unspotted dress,
Ifsoon 10 turn 20 her polluted bed
filthy foresecing eye descerns thread
or sable guilt, impelling their doom,
spare them not-in mercy strife them dead
Prepare for them early, welcome tomb,
Nor for eternal blight let my false bosom bloom.
Ru: ifs some useful path before them lie
Where they may walk abedient to thy laws,
Though never baskng in ambitions eye,
And pampered never with the worlds applause.
Active, ethumble, virtuous too. the cause
OF virtue in the dwellings where they dwell,
Still following where thy Perfect Spirit draws,
Releas ing OF hers from the hands of hell
II this be life, then let them longer live, tits WE'LL
And teach me Power Supreme, in their green days,
With meekest skill, thy lessons 10 in part
To shun the harlot, and TO show the
Through her honeyed accents reach the heart.
Help them to learn without the bitter smart
or bad experience, vices TO decline
From treachery falsehood, knavc,y, may they start
As from hiden snake-from woman, vino
From the guilty pangs with which such combine
How soft they sleep, what innocent reposc
Rests on their eyeeds. from what older free,
Sweet babes. the curtain would not unclose,
Which wraps the future, from your m nds, and me-
But, heavenly Father. leaving them with Thee
Whether on high or low may be their lot,
Or early death, or life awaits ,hem,-be
Their Guardian. Savior Guide, an d bless the spot
whers they shall live detl neath orsake them not
Though Prosecutions arches DER them spread,
Or sickness undermine consuming SLOW
Though they should lead the life their Savior led,
And his deep poverty be doomed to know
Whatever thou shah order, let them 90
] give them up to tbee-they not mine
And could call the swinest wings to blow
To bear them from O the Pole or Line
In distant lands to plant the Gospels bleeding shrine
When as a scroll these heavens shall pass away.
When The colderave shall offer up its trust.
When seas shall burn, and the last dreadful day,
Rostores the spirit to its 9 Uttered dust,
Then thou most merciful as well as Just,
Let not my eye, when elements are tossed
10 wild confusion, see the darkest, worst
vi PAINFUL sight, that ever parent crossed
near my sad earnest prayer, and let not NINE Be lost