Oh! there I'll be an angel,
And with the angels stand;
A crown upon my forehead,
A harp within my hand.
And there, before my SAVIOUR,
So glorious and so bright,
I'll join the heavenly music,
And praise Him day and night.
JESUS, tender Shepherd, hear me;
Bless Thy little lambs to-night:
Through the darkness be Thou near me,
Watch my sleep till morning light.
All this day Thy hand has led me,
And I thank Thee for Thy care;
Thou hast clothed me, warmed, and fed me;
Listen to my evening prayer.
my sins be all forgiven,
Bless the friends I love so well; Take me, when I die, to heaven, Happy there with Thee to dwell.
When from duty I depart,
And wring with grief my father's heart;
Let his reproof my errors stay,
And lead me back to virtue's way;
His kind instruction let me hear,
Nor deem his just rebuke severe.
When from my mother's gentle law,
My heart inclines me to withdraw;
Let me remember all her cares,
And think upon her anxious prayers;
Her counsel let me ne'er forsake,
Nor cease her fond advice to take.
While I thus live, my God will bless
The earthly portion I possess;
Will guide the flight of youthful years,
And save me from the sinner's fears;
His love will light me on the way
That leads to everlasting day.
THANKFULNESS.
WHEN thou hast truly thanked thy Go
For every blessing sent,
But little time will then remain
For murmur or lament.
"HUG me closer, closer, mother,
Put your arms around me tight,
I am cold and tired, mother,
And I feel so strange to night!
Something hurts me here, dear mother,
Like a stone upon my
breast:
O! I wonder, wonder, mother,
Why it is I cannot rest.
"All the day, while you were working, As I lay upon my bed,
I was trying to be patient,
And to think of what you said:
How the kind and blessed JESUS
Loves His lambs to watch and keep;
And I wish'd He'd come and take me
In His arms, that I might sleep.
"Just before the lamp was lighted:
Just before the children came:
While the room was very quiet,
I heard some one call my name.
All at once the windows opened:
In a field were lambs and sheep;
Some from out a brook were drinking,
Some were lying fast asleep.
"But I could not see the SAVIOUR,
Though I strained my eyes to see;
And I wondered, if He saw me,
If He'd speak to such as me.
In a moment I was looking
On a world so bright and fair,
Which was full of little children,
And they seemed so happy there.
"They were singing, oh, how sweetly!
Sweeter songs I never heard;
They were singing sweeter, mother,
Than can sing our pretty bird;
And while I my breath was holding,
One, so bright, upon me smiled,
That I knew it must be JESUS,
And He said, 'Come here my child.
"Come up here, my little Bessie; Come up here and live with Me
Where the children never suffer,
But are happier than you see.'
Then I thought of all you told me
Of that bright and happy land;
I was going, when you called me,
When
and kissed
"And at first I felt so sorry
You had called me; I would go-
O! to sleep, and never suffer;-
Mother, do n't be crying so!
Hug me closer, closer, mother;
Put your arms around me tight;
O! how much I love you, mother,
But I feel so strange to-night!"
And the mother pressed her closer
To her over-burdened breast;
On the heart so near to breaking,
Lay the heart so near at rest!
In the solemn hour of midnight,
In the darkness calm and deep,
Lying on her mother's bosom,
Little Bessie fell asleep!
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