A Father To His Child


MY precious boy, go fold thy hands

And lift them to thy God in prayer;

Know that his eye doth o'er thee watch,

For God is everywhere.

Thy heart is full of life and glee,

As warbling birds in Summer's bower;

No thought of ill, my darling boy,

Has curbed thy spirit's power.

Though happy now, thy mother's love

Has shielded thee from every ill

Go pray, my child, that God may spare

Thy mother to thee still.

Bright hope is beaming in thine eye

Thy cup of gladness runneth o'er;

Thy merry shout and sunny smile

Are rife with very joy.

To evil thought, nor unkind word.

Has marred the beauty of thy soul:

But time a wondrous change shall bring.

Upon thy being's whole!

Then bow thy suppliant knee in prayer,

Seek grace and wisdom from above;

To guard thee safe in trial's hour

Go pray, for "God is love."

Go lisp the Saviour's precious name.

And ask of him in accents mild.

To be the object of his care.

That he may bless my child.





YI