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A Little Prayer.
233
CLXIV.
Mary.
From her childhood flitting fancies came,
Shapes of beauty, shapes of holy fear;
Gentle visions shining heavenly clear,
Ardent spirits formed of air and flame:
Shapes of beauty, shapes of holy fear;
Gentle visions shining heavenly clear,
Ardent spirits formed of air and flame:
These made life a glory and a shame,
Held her blind to duties small and near,
Rapt beyond this rolling earthly sphere,
And her secret joys were chilled by blame.
Held her blind to duties small and near,
Rapt beyond this rolling earthly sphere,
And her secret joys were chilled by blame.
But the Lord of Love, in human guise,
Read His lowly servant’s troubled heart,
Met with sympathy her pleading eyes;
Read His lowly servant’s troubled heart,
Met with sympathy her pleading eyes;
Saw the sorrow in her quiet face,
Who had chosen first the better part;
Bade them leave her listening in her place.
Who had chosen first the better part;
Bade them leave her listening in her place.
Mary E. Richmond
CLXV.
A Little Prayer.
My days are Thine, O Lord, assign
To me a sphere of labour,
That I to Thee may faithful be
And mindful of my neighbour.
To me a sphere of labour,
That I to Thee may faithful be
And mindful of my neighbour.