HELPLESSNESS OF INFANCY. SAFE sleeping on its mother's breast The smiling babe appears; Now sweetly sinking into rest, Now wash'd in sudden tears : Hush, hush, my little baby dear, Without the mother's tender care And not a little does it know What kind of world 'tis come into. The lamb sports gaily on the grass, Trots frolicking away : And not a creature, tame or wild, Is half so helpless as a child. Full many a Summer's sun must glow, And lighten up the skies, Before its little limbs can grow To any thing of size: And all the while the mother's eye Must every little want supply, Then surely when each little limb And youth and manhood strenghten him His mother's kindness is a debt, He never, never should forget. THE CHILD'S PRAYER. BE with me, Lord! where'er I go; Direct me in thy narrow way. Prevent me lest I harbour pride, Enrich me always with thy love; Assist and teach me how to pray, What thou abhorr'st that bid me flee, And only love what pleaseth thee. EARLY PIETY, SOME little children young in years Then tenderness and heavenly love And often when they sit alone His spirit makes them pray; The shepherd's voice to them is known, They hear it and obey. And in the darkness of the night, They feel that darkness and the light And sometimes tears of heav'nly joy Sweet, silent tears! without alloy, And not unheeded do they flow, And humble tears, the Lord doth know,- Father of all! he soothes their woe, EARLY TRUST IN GOD. Now that my journey's just begun, And lest I should be ever led Through sinful paths to stray, What sorrows may my steps attend But if the Lord should be my friend, If all my earthly friends should die If I am rich, he'll guard my heart, And make me willing to impart If I am poor he can supply Who has my table spread Who feeds the ravens when they cry, THANKSGIVING FOR REST. My Father, I thank thee for sleep, O how can a poor little creature repay, My voice would be lisping thy praise, And fit me to see thee above : For Jesus said, let little children come nigh,— As long as thou seest it right That here upon earth I should stay, That when all the days of my life shall have past, |