St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-01-29
PRAYER IS GRATITUDE.


I oft have read in many minds,
As many answers there;
Thus questioned those i'll different ranks
Pray tell me What is prayer!i
Oh. what is prayer, I ask the man
Who labors day by day;
All what The blessings most you crave
When kneeing down TO pray!
Tell, if you beg for Iuxuries,
For less of work and care;
All. Tell me. for long 10 know
The burden of your prayer.
Then turning to q little lad,
Whose life is filed with play
When on your knees, with folded hands,
What motive makes you pray.
Then. to the little, laughing boy,
When by his trundle bed
He kneels- with mama for his prayer,
What longings fill his head.
What is prayer ask the maid
With dreamy, distant eyes.
As l would know, pray tell me true
just how maiden prays.
Is 1t for lovers, fond and true,
Or do you pray to be
The prettiest lady IN the land
The faireSt on the sea?
Aud of woman. next 1 beg,
Oh, woman, Mother Time,
Pray tell me, with your children round,
What prayer now means 10 you?
All do you pray for blessings sweet,
That duty you may do;
For blessings on the baby's life,
Or yet, for treasures new?
I ask the question of Old Age,
Who, trembling in his chair,
Lifts up his eyes to answer this,
My question: What is prayer?
AT last when life is almost spent
And with the end SO near.
Do. still. you pray for blessings new,
For hope to vanqu1sh tearg
An angel then appeared and said
AT uightfall when you see,
AS each one kneeleth down to pray
What special prayer has hep
I saw a workman. bent his knee,
Upon his cheek tear
II thank Thee, God. for blessings sweet
That have been ours this year.
II thank Thee labor has been mine
For children to provide;
1 thank Thee for the health and peace
That kept US side by SIDE
Down knelt the lad and bowed his head.
Father, l heard him say.
II thank Thee for the joyful hours
That have be en- mine this day."
~ thank Thee that l won the prize
l tried so hard to gain,
1 thank Thee, Father, for the strength
To rise and try again.
And then beside his trundle bed,
All in his night gown white,
With little hands so tightly clasped
The baby kneh tonight.
Though sleep had almost closed his ewes
de slowly. family said.
Il thank Thee, God. for my mama"
And tumbled into bed.
And next beside the maiden's couch,
SO humble sweet and fair
Enshrouded in her robes of white,
saw her kneeling there.
Alas! My Father. how enough
Can give thanks to Thee
For all the blessings Thou hast brought
The whole day unto meg"
saw the mother kneeling down
Above her sleeping child;
AS only mothers voice can be,
Her voice was soft and mild.
MY Heavenly Father, good and kind,
Ny words can never tell
One-half the grateful heart have"
The words SO softly fell,
THAT children Thou has given me
Grow strong and straight and fair,
And that have the daily strength
To give them tender care"
And now, by Grandpas early bed
We find him, kneeling there
With folded haLds. his halloWed face
Half tells US Of his prayer
"Oh, Father Mine, i'll trembling tones.
Il thank Thee for this day,
thank Thee that yet have strength
To live and love and pray
NOW, what is prayer?n the Angel asked.
An read it as we would
In every earnest heart, we find
That prayer IS Gratitude
Lynn Hamilton.