Standard Recitations: For the Use of Catholic Colleges, Schools and Literary ...

That the Father of all would be very kind
And bless His creatures with raiment and food.
That His blessing each day might be renewed,
That every want might find relief,

And plenty for hunger, joy for grief,
Be measured out by the merciful One,
To all who suffered beneath the sun.

The prayer concluded, the godly man
Went forth in peace to inspect his farm;
And by his side, delighted ran,

Blooming with every healthful charm,
A little son, a sprightly boy,

Whose home was love and whose life was joy.
And they rambled over the golden fields,
And the father said "The harvest yields
A plentiful crop, my son, this year,

My barns are too small for the grain, I fear."

And they wandered on through row upon row,
Of plumy sheaves, till at lenght the child,
With earnest look and a brighter glow
On his shining face, looked up and smiled,
And said, "My father, do you not pray
For the poor and needy every day,

That the good God would give the hungry food?" "I do, my son." "Well, I think as you plead," His eye waxed bright, for his soul shone through it, "That God, if He had your wheat, would do it."

I

II. THE CHILD'S DREAM.

MARY H. BOODEY.

DREAMED a strange dream last night, mother,
And it made me laugh and cry;

'Twas a very wonderful dream, mother,
Of a city in the sky.

But first 1 dreamed of the earth, mother,

I was glad it faded soon,

For the tall pines stood out black and still,
The moon was a ghostly moon.

The light was so weird and dim, mother,
That it made me feel afraid;

And a cold wind blew from a darksome cloud
Which covered me with its shade.

My heart stood still in my fear, mother;
I shivered, and shrank, and wept,
Till a soft hand gently lifted me up,
And a sweet voice said I slept.

So I dreamed it was a dream, mother,
And turned to look in the face

Of him whɔ had broken the fearful spell,
While a glory filled the place;

And O, that face was so sweet, mother,
With eyes full of peace and love,
That I knelt at the angel's feet, mother,
For I knew he dwelt above.

Then he took me in his arms, mother,
I laid my head on his breast,

And I felt so safe from all harm, mother,
As if I could always rest.

And I saw a golden road, mother,¦
Leading up from earth to sky,
And over that beautiful way we went,
This loving angel and I.

Ere long, for we seemed to fly, mother,

We entered a land so fair

That it filled my heart with the sweetest joy To look on the beauty there.

I saw many children, too, mother,

And they gathered round my guide, Kissing the hem of his shining robe, And pressing close to his side.

His grand face shone like the sun, mother, But yet with a softer light,

For I gazed upon it with awe and love,

And it did not blind my sight.

He spoke; and the sound was sweeter far

Than any I ever heard,

And a glow of the purest ecstasy

Came after every word.

The language was not like ours, mother,

But still I could understand;

And I knew he welcomed the child of earth Among that heavenly band.

I took my place before him, mother,
And stood among all the rest,
And the beautiful angel gave to me
The white rose from his breast.

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