The Mother's Prayer
by Theodore Tilton
I.
With eager arms a mother pressed
A laughing babe against her breast.
II.
Then thus to Heaven she cried in prayer:Now even as his face is fair,
III.
O Lord! keep Thou his soul within
As free from any spot of sin.
IV.
From heaven the Lord an answer made:Behold! I grant as thou hast prayed.
V.
Within her door the darkness crept,
And babe and mother sweetly slept.
VI.
The belfry rang the midnight bell;
The watchman answered, All is well.
VII.
The mother, by the cradle-side,
Awoke to find the babe had died.
VIII.
With grief to set a woman wild,
She caught and clasped the marble child, --
IX.
Until her heart against his own
Was broken, beating on a stone!
X.
O God!
she cried, in her despair,Why hast thou mocked a mother's prayer?
XI,
Then answered He, As I have willed,
Thy prayer, O woman! is fulfilled:
XII.
If on the earth thy child remain,
His soul shall gather many a stain:
XIII.
At thy behest, I stretch my hand
And take him to the heavenly land!
XIV.
The mother heard, and bowed her bead,
And laid her cheek against the dead,
XV.
And cried, O God! I dare not pray --
Thou answerest in so strange a way!
XVI,
In shadow of a taper's light,
She moaned through all the livelong night;
XVII
But when the morning brought the sun,
She prayed, Thy will, O God, be done!
Source:
The Sexton's Tale, And Other Poems.Copyright 1867
Sheldon And Company, New York.