A YOUNG MOTHER'S PRAYER. OCCASIONED BY AN EXCLAMATION UTTERED BY MRS. C HER FIRST-BORN, IN THE PRESENCE OF THE WRITER. "LORD, bless my babe!" the youthful mother cried, It was her first-born, and she lov'd it well, Perhaps she thought, "Ah! If I had been blind, <Its little head had slumbered on iny breast, Its velvet cheek awakened sweet surprise; Its ruby lips a mother's bosom prest, Who longed to see it with her poor blind eyes. "Or, if I had been deaf, and could not hear Its little voice which thrills through all my soul. How often had I shed the bitter tear, And found it hard my feelings to control. ΟΥΚΡ "To know it prattled, pleasing all around, And calling Mother with an angel's voice! Unable to drink in the charming sound, How could I with a mother's joy rejoice! "But I have eyes to see my darling child, "Or, had my babe been blind, and could not see Its sightless eye-balls destitute of light. "Or, if it had been deaf, and could not hear My voice, which seeks to soothe and hush its crios; That were a burden I could scarcely bear, Though to complain, in me, would be unwise. "But my sweet babe has sight and hearing too, "I do feel grateful, O thou God of love! "Lord, bless my babe! thy daughter let it be; "A youthful mother offers up her child, Saviour, accept and fill it with thy love; May it be holy, gentle, loving, mild, And all the riches of thy mercy prove. "Teach me to train it in thy holy ways, And early lead it to thy gracious throne; Oh, let my babe show forth my Saviour's praise, And by it may thy holy will be done! "I would not nurse it for the world or sin. I'll early try its little heart to win, "It was thy gift, I love it for thy sake, And hope to see it live thy name to fear; Mother and babe into thy keeping take, And all through life, oh, may we find thee near! "Nor let my child assume my Saviour's place; "Lord, bless my babe! and spare it to me still, Oh, may it walk by thy preceptive will, "'Tis thine, created by thy power alone- And from its spirit purge each stain away. "Accept my feeble praise for mercies given, And keep me near thy side through all my way; Conduct and teach me 'till I enter heaven, Nor let me from thy holy precepts stray. "A mother's heart, before a Saviour's throne, Would thus her fondest wishes now express; To me be all thy tender mercy shown, And do, dear Saviour, do my baby bless! "Thou hadst a mother once, when here on earth; "A mother's tears are precious in thy sight, "Jesus, to thee eternal praise be given, "Thou, thou art worthy honour to receive, The highest honour earth or heaven can raise ; Let all who from thy fulness, grace receive, In one harmonious anthem sound thy praise.' |