Poems (Sherwin)/Early prayer

by Elizabeth Sherwin

EARLY PRAYER.

Oh, teach the little child to pray,
 E'er sin polute its opening mind;
In sweet religion's gentle sway,
 T'will balm for sin and sorrow find.

Oh, fill its soul with precepts sound,
 Of true morality and love,
And teach it where true joys are found,
 And fix its hopes on things above.

Then will it walk life's thorny road
 Unscathed by guilt's corrupting power;
Unhurt by pleasure's maddening goad,
 Safe in temptation's trying hour.

When plodding through this world of care,
 And when despair and anguish lower,
Remembrance of the early prayer
 Steals o'er the heart with unknown power,

And oft' arrests the wild career,
 Pursued in pleasure's thrilling thought;
A firm but gentle reign is there,
 The prayer by tender mother taught.

Then teach the little child to pray,
 E'er sin polute its opening mind,
In calm religion's gentle sway,
 'Twill balm for sin and sorrow find.