Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-08-27
r a. Z: + IS
EVENING PRAYER.

THE Cu;LD'S EVENING PRAYER.
who the; has lived through years oi carcises soy
A.. or sorrow or crime has forgotten that lttle pray
&, an often mur,nurea st the rnothers knee
Now Law me- down to sleep.
pray tn. Lord my soul to keep;
If should die before wake,
pray the Lord my soul to take"
The origin Of THE stanzs il is difficult to trace
appeared in the "New Englsnd Primer more 'hai'
four score years ago, and probably men as Ha"
yeaIs older, although some osV1 nScr,oeu ~ ~
Waite. Mr.. Tower, in HE "Pictorlai heaoei, i"eu'
tons az fact related 10 j. Q Adsms iEat our'' me
long ife he never retired 10 oeo without repeating
the above prayer of his ch,dhoou' wnlch, ieaIneo
from mothers lipa, he had been early sugnt 10 mp
The prevailing sentiment, 81 suSnuiey s'npe' 10"
ever childishly expressed. SO Affected some poet OF
later dsys as 10 originate one OF the most touching
little poems in our language Inc name OK the au
thor lie not remembered; OUT the oeauuiui pioou
ton ought 10 be lmu'of'a"1eu Wy Eene'o 'ePu'"'
ton every year;
The dreamy night draws nigh;
Soft airs delicious breathe OF mingled flowers
And ON the wings OF sumber creep the hours;
The moon is high
See yonder tiny cot,
The lattice decked with vnes-a tremuoue ray
Steals out TO where the silver mOonbeams lay,
Yet pales them not,
Within, two holy eyes,
Two little hands clasped softly, aud brow
Where thought sits busy, weaving galiouu' NV
Or joys and sights
For the swift coming years.
Two rosy lips with innocent worsh'p par.
List DO thou sant-or skeptic' u lnou o''
Thou must have ears
"Now lay me down to Sleep
/ pray the Lord my soul 10 Keep
Ii should die before wake, ;,
pray the Lord my soul To take.
Doth il not noselessy ope
The very hoodgates OF thy heart ana mske
A halter man OF thee ? for her sweet SAKE
Who, with strong hope,
Her sweet task ne'er forgot
To whisper Nov lay me, Ger ana o or
As thou d,dst knee upon the sanded Hoor-
Forget then not.
From many a festive hall
Where flashing light and flushing chances vie,
And robed in splendor, mirth makes reVery-
Soft voices call
On the light hearted throngs,
To sweep the harp strings. and 10 JOIN toe dance'
The careless girl starts lightly as perchance,
imiG the songs,
The merry laugh. the jest,
Come TO her vision songs OF long age,
When By Der snowy couch che murmureo 'o"'
Before her rest,
That single infants prayer;
Once more at home. che lays her jewels by,
Throws back the curls that shade her heavy eye
And kneeipg there
With auvering lip and sigh,
Takes from her 6Dgers white the sparkling rings
The golden coronet from her brow, and n'ngs
The bsubles by;
Nor doth che thoughess dare
To seek her rest, Till she hath ssked OF Heaven
That all her sins, through Christ may be forgven;-
Then comes the prayer
Now lay me down TO sleep,
pray the Lord my soul TO keep;
If should die before wake
pray the Lord my soul TO take
The warrior on the field,
After the BATHS, pillowiug his head
Perhaps upon a fallen comrade dead,
Scorns not to yield
To the sweet memories OF his chdhood's hour,
When fame was bartered for crimson 1ower-
The statesman gray,
His massive brow all hung with laurel leaves,
Forees his honors while hs memory weaves
picture Of that home, mid woods and streams,
Where hoary mountains caught the suns first oeame,
A cabin rude-the wide 6-ds glisteniDg,
The cattle yoked, and mutely listening,
The farmers toll, the farmers fare, and best
OF earthly Injuries the farmers rest;-
But bark! soft voice steals upon his heart
Now cay your prayer, my son, before We part"
And, clsspihg his great hsnds-a child once MORE
Upon his breast forgetting lfe's long war
Thus hear him pray
SHOW i lay me down TO sleep,
l pray the Lord my soul to keep;
Ii 1 should die before l wake,
pray the Lord my soul TO take"