Never, My Child, Forget To Pray

 NEVER, MY CHILD, FORGET TO PRAY

Never, my child, forget to pray,
Whate'er the business of the day;
If happy dreams have blessed thy sleep,
Or startling fears have made thee weep.

With holy thoughts begin the day,
And ne'er, my child, forget to pray;
Ask Him, by whom the birds are fed,
To give to thee thy daily bread.

If wealth her bounty should bestow,
Praise Him from whom all blessings flow;
If He, who gave, should take away.
Never, my child, forget to pray.

The time will come, when thou wilt miss
A father's and a mother's kiss;
And then, my child, perchance thou'lt see.
Some who, in prayer, ne'er bend the knee;
From such examples turn away,
And ne'er, my child, forget to pray.