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13. THE CHILD AND THE ANGELS.

THE HE sabbath's sun was setting low
Amidst the clouds at even:

"Our Father," breathed a voice below, -
"Father who art in heaven."

Beyond the earth, beyond the clouds,
Those infant words were given :
"Our Father," angels sang aloud, -
"Father who art in heaven."

"Thy kingdom come," still from the ground That child-like voice did pray; "Thy kingdom come," God's hosts resound Far up the starry way.

"Thy will be done," with little tongue
That lisping love implores;
"Thy will be done," the angelic throng
Sing from the heavenly shores.

"Forever," still those lips repeat Their closing evening prayer; "Forever," floats in music sweet High 'midst the angels there.

Charles Swain.

T

14. THE CHILD AND THE DOVE.

HERE sitteth

a dove so white and fair,

All on the lily spray,
And she listeth how to Jesus Christ
The little children pray.
Lightly she spreads her friendly wings,
And to heaven's gate hath sped,
And unto the Father in heaven she bears

The prayers which the children have said.

And back she comes from heaven's gate,

And brings - that dove so mild

From the Father in heaven who hears her speak

A blessing on every child.

Then, children, lift up a pious prayer:

It hears whatever you say,

That heavenly dove so white and fair,

All on the lily spray.

Fredrika Bremer (Trans. by Mary Howitt).

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Thou knowest my resting and my rising;

Thou understandest my thoughts afar off.
Thou watchest my path and my lying-down,

And art acquainted with all my ways.

Before the word is on my tongue,

Behold, O Lord! thou knowest it altogether.
Thou besettest me behind and before,
And layest thine hand upon me.
Whither shall I go from thy Spirit,
And whither shall I flee from thy presence?
If I ascend into heaven, thou art there;

If I make my bed in the under-world, behold!

thou art there.

If I take the wings of the morning,
And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
Even there shall thy hand lead me,
And thy right hand shall hold me.
If I say, Surely the darkness will cover me,
Even the night shall be light about me.

Yes, the darkness hideth not from thee,

But the night shineth as the day:

The darkness and the light are both alike to thee.

How precious to me are thy thoughts, O God!

How great is the sum of them!

If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand.

When I awake, I am still with thee.
Search me, O God! and know my heart;
Try me, and know my thoughts;
And see if there be any evil way in me;
And lead me in the way everlasting.

II.

I will extol thee, my God, my King;
I will praise thy name for ever and ever.
Every day will I bless thee,

And praise thy name for ever and ever.
Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised:
His greatness is unsearchable.

The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion;
Slow to anger, and rich in mercy.

The Lord is good to all,

And his tender mercies are over all his works.
The Lord upholdeth all that fall,

And raiseth up all that are bowed down.

The eyes of all wait upon thee,

And thou givest them their food in due season. Thou openest thine hand,

And satisfiest the desire of every living thung.

The Lord is just in all his ways,

And merciful in all his works.

The Lord is nigh to all that call upon him, —

To all that call upon him in truth.

He meets the desire of them that fear him;
He heareth their cry, and helpeth them.

The Lord preserveth all those that love him :
Let all men bless his holy name for ever and

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Praise the Lord, O my soul!

I will praise the Lord as long as I live;

I will sing praises to my God while I have my

being.

He made heaven and earth;

The sea, and all that is therein.

He keepeth truth forever;

He maintaineth the cause of the oppressed;

He giveth food to the hungry;

He setteth free the prisoners;

He openeth the eyes of the blind;

He raiseth them that are bowed down;

He loveth the good;

He defendeth the stranger;

He relieveth the fatherless and the widow;

He gathereth together the exiles;

He healeth the broken in heart,

And bindeth up their wounds.

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