COTTAGE CHILDREN. 187 Give your clay to the sod, and your souls to the God Who dwells in yon bright azure sky, boys. Let the moss-covered seat, and the shade of the thorn, Which were dear to your fathers, be thine, boys; And the hut which now rears your infantile years, Let it shield, too, your hoary decline, boys. Invocation to Sleep. COME, with thy downy wings, soft to my pillow; Scatter (fresh-gathered) thy poppies around; Truce bring to care-bring a respite to sorrow; Darken the window, and hush every sound. Come, with thy chalice fill'd, just from the fountain, Causing forgetfulness still with the sip,— Rest to the weary limbs-peace to the troubledWaters of Lethe to moisten the lip. Come, with thy signet, the eye-lids impressing; Shut out the world, with its toils, from the view. Hopes all and fears all, its pains and its pleasures, Its light and its shadows-adien! and adieu! PRAYER DURING BATTLE. 189 Prayer during Battle. FATHER, I call on Thee! Roaring, the cannons hurl round me their clouds! Father, O guide Thou me! Lead me to victory, lead me to death! Lord, I'll acknowledge thee with my last breath. God, I acknowledge thee! As when the autumn-leaves fall to the ground, So, when the thunders of battle resound, Fountain of mercy, I recognize Thee. Father, O bless thou me! Father, O bless thou me! E'en to thy guidance my life I will trust, In life or in death, be thy blessing on me! Father, I honor thee! Father, I honor thee! "T is not a fight for this world's golden hoard; God, I submit to thee! When round me roar the dread thunders of death, When my veins' torrent shall drain my last breath, Then, O my God, I submit unto thee! Father, I call on thee! |