Children's Corner; Poetry

CHILD'S EVENING HYMN

Now the day is over,

Night is drawing nigh,

Shadows of the evening

Steal across the sky.

Now the darkness gathers,

Stars begin to peep,

Birds and beasts and flowers

Soon will be asleep.

Jesus, give the weary

Calm and sweet repose;

With thy tenderest blessing

May our eyelids close.

Grant to little children

Visions bright of thee;

Guard the sailors tossing

On the deep blue sea.

Comfort every sufferer

Watching late in pain;

Those who plan some evil

From their sin restrain.

Through the long night-watches

May thine angels spread

Their white wings above me,

Watching round my bed.

When the morning wakens,

Then may I arise

Pure and fresh and sinless

In thy holy eyes.

Glory to the Father,

Glory to the Son,

And to thee, blessed Spirit,

Whilst all ages run.

Amen.

Sabine Baring Gould

Children's Corner: Poetry

THE DUSTMAN

When the toys are growing weary,

And the twilight gathers in;

When the nursery still echoes

With the children's merry din;

Then unseen, unheard, unnoticed

Comes an old man up the stair,

Lightly to the children passes,

Lays his hand upon their hair.

Softly smiles the good old Dustman;

In their eyes the dust he throws,

Till their little heads are falling,

And their weary eyes must close.

Then the Dustman very gently

Takes each little dimpled hand

Leads them through the sweet green shadows,

Far away in slumberland.

Frederic Edward Weatherly