Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1858-09-10

less cavety. or sorrow. or crime, has forgot
ten that little prayer so often murmured at
tho mothers knee -
'Now I lay me down to sleep.
pray the Lord my soul TO keeps
III should die before wake,
pray the Lord my soul 10 take
The Post says "the origin Of this stanza it
is difficult to trace. 1t appeared in the NEW
Enelend Primer" more than four score years
ago, and probably then was as many years
older, although some have ascribed it to DR..
w ats. Mr.. Tower, in his Pictorial Reader,
mentions. as fact related of j. q. Adams,
that during his long life he never retired to
bed without repeating the above prayer OF
his childhood, which, learned from his moth
crs lips. he had been early taught TO lisp
The prevailing sentiment, so sublmely simple,
however childishly expressed, so affected
some poet of later days as to originate one of
the most touching little poems in our Ian
guage. The name Of the author is not now
remembered but his beautiful production
ought to be immortalized by general rcpubi-
cation every year
The dreamy night draws nigh
Soft airs delicious breathe Of mingled flowers,
And on the wings OF slumber creep the hoursi
The moon is high -
See wonder tiny cot,
Steals out to where the silver moonbcams lay.
Yet paes them not
Within, two holy ewes,
Two little hands claspcd softly, and brow
Where thought sits busy weaving garlands now
OF Joys and sghs
For the swirl coming years
Two ROSY lips with innocent worship part -
List be thou saint-or skcpuc, II thou art
Thou must have
Now ] Law me down to Sleep
I pray the Lord my soul 20 keep;
II | should die before wake.
pray the Lord my soul 10 take
Doth it not noisclcss opc
The very hoodgatcs Of thy heart and make
A better man Of thee for her sweet sake,
Who, with strong hopes
Her sweet task ne'er forgot
To whisper "Now lay me-" o'cr and DER,
As thou didst knccl upon the sandcd foor,-
Forget them not
From many festive hall
Where flashing light and flashing glances vic,
And, rcbed in splendor mirth makes revelry--
Soft voices call
On the lisht.hear,ed throngs
To sweep the harp strings, and TO Join the dance,
The careless girl starts lightly as pcrehance,
The merry laugh, the jest,
Come to her vision songs long ago,
When by her snowy couch she murmured low,
Before her rest,
That single infants prayer;
Once more at homo. she ayi her jewels ,ls by, .
And kneens there,
With quiycring Tin and sigh,
Takes ffom her fingers white tho sparkling rings,
The golden coronct from her brow, and filings
The haublcs by;
Nor doth she thonghilcss dare
To seek her rest, Till She hath asked Of Heaven
That all her sins, through Christ, may be forgiven
Then comes the PRAYER
- Now lay me down TO sleep,
pray the Lord my soul TO keep;
II / should die beiorc | wake,
pray the Lord my soul to take"
The warrior on the field,
Afcr the battle, pillowng his head
Perhaps upon a fallen conrade dead,
Scorus to yield
To the sweet memories Of his childhnOd's hour,
When fame hartercd for a crimson flower =
The statesman gray,
His massive brow all hung with laurel leaves,
Forgets his honors while his memory weaycs
A picture OF that home, mid woods and streams,
Where hoary mountains caught the sun first beam
A cabin rude--the wide fields gsteniug,
The cattle yokcd and mutely listening,
The farmers toll. the farmers fare, and best
or earthly Injuries, the farmers rest -
But bark a soft voice steals upon his heart
Now say your PRAYERS my son, before We part :;
And clasping his great hand--a child once more,
Upon his breast, forgetting lifc's long
Thus hear him pray
Now lay me down 20 sleep,
Ipray the Lord my soul to keep;
II should die before l wake,
/ pray the Lord my soul to take"
AN OLD IMPROMPrU SLIGHTLY ALTERE
FOR THE PRESENT OCCASION.
The news from two continents now,
Is sent through the depths Of the sea,
While the fishes all waggng their tails,
Cry, Gracious, how wise we shallbel
cABLEIsTIC.
John Bull and Brother Jonathan
Each other ought TO greet,
They've always been extravagant,
But now - make both ends meet"