AN EVENING PRAYER. BEFORE I close my eyes in sleep, Lord, hear my evening prayer, And deign a helpless child to keep With Thy protecting care. Though young in years, I have been taught Thy name to love and fear; Of Thee to think with solemn thought, Thy goodness to revere. That goodness gives each simple flower And feeds it in night's darkest hour With heaven's refreshing dew. Nor will Thy mercy less delight The infant's God to be, Who, through the darkness of the night, For safety trusts to Thee. The little birds that sing all day In many a leafy wood, By Thee are clothed with plumage gay, By Thee supplied with food. And when at night they cease to sing, By Thee protected still, Their young ones sleep beneath their wing Secure from every ill. Thus may'st Thou guard with gracious arm The bed whereon I lie, And keep a child from every harm By Thy all-watchful eye. For night and day to Thee are one; Each little flower that opens, The purple-headed mountain, The tall trees in the greenwood, FALLING TO SLEEP. EVENING is falling to sleep in the west, And Jesus will give His beloved ones sleep. Now all the flowers have gone to repose, Sweetly sleep; Jesus doth keep; And Jesus will give His beloved ones sleep. Sleep till the flowers shall open once more; Sweetly sleep; Jesus doth keep; And Jesus will give His beloved ones sleep. - From the German THE GOD OF MY CHILDHOOD. O GOD! who wert my childhood's love, A presence felt the livelong day, They bade me call Thee, Father, Lord! I could not sleep unless Thy hand And quite alone I never felt; I knew that Thou wert near, A silence tingling in the room; A strangely pleasant fear. I know not what I thought of Thee; Of that Eternal Majesty To whom my childhood prayed. |