RECOLLECTIONS

I always have remembered, tho' it's many years ago
When I would kneel these simple words to pray,
As my Mother morn and evening would recite each
Little prayer,
And I'd try to repeat every word she'd say.

"Now I lay be down to sleep", it was just an evening prayer,
Said in simple language children understand;
And methinks the prayers our mothers taught us
Often helps us through,
When we at times do need a guiding hand.

"Make me good Dear Lord I pray,
Keep and guide me through this day",
Just a daily repetition, nothing new,
Yet it is a recollection, little words I
Ne'er forgot,
Said each morning and quite often hurried through.

Where ever I have wandered, on the land, or o'er the sea
Some childhood scenes have followed all the way;
And the memories I cherish most was by my
Mother's knee,
As she first taught me these little prayers to say.

A DAILY PRAYER

Within your home please keep this scroll
Hung on the wall throughout the year,
And as your plans each morn unfold,
You may recite this simple prayer.

Our Father, bless this house each day,
As we our daily course pursue;
And may we all Thy Will obey
In everything we plan, or do.

Make our abode a happy home,
Where all is love and harmony;
Where strife or quarrels never come,
And keep from harm and dangers free.

Help us our daily griefs to bear,
Each others faults, quick to forgive;
May we give thanks for joys we share,
And for our bread by which we live.

What e'er our daily task may be,
However humble be our lot;
May each and every one agree
To be content, and murmur not.

May we be spared from day to day
To carry on, and do our best,
And may we all in some small way,
Show forth our love, and thankfulness.

Amen

1944

MOTHER'S GRACE

It's just a prayer so simple,
And it's in my memory stored
Since we were growing youngsters
Around the family board.

Around the family table
We all would take our place,
Then bow our heads in silence
While mother cited grace.

At morning, noon or evening,
Whene'er her brood were fed,
We all would wait with patience
Until the grace was said.

These memories ever linger
As now my thoughts retrace,
And live again these moments
With mother saying grace.

These days are gone forever,
And time has changed the scene
My mother now is resting
Beneath the plot so green.

But still it is a memory
That time will ne'er efface,
When we were all together
With mother saying grace.

Where ever we may wander,
What ever time or place,
May each of us remember
Our mothers saying grace.

March, 1947

THE CREATOR

Creator of the starry heights,
And ocean depth's below,
How mighty are Thy wondrous works
As all creation know.

Thy lofty snow-capped mountains stand
Like sentinels in their might,
They glistens in the morning sun,
And sun sets glow at night.

Ten thousand times ten thousand stars
Lights up the Milky Way,
The sun and moon their course pursues
As night replaces day.

Vast ocean's restless rolling seas
Harrass the ocean's shore,
And vivid lightnings pierce the skies
As thunders loudly roar.

The rainbow's arch across the sky
Sets forth Thy covenant plain,
Summer and winter, day and night
Shall be while earth remain.

February, 1949

A FISHERMAN'S PRAYER

Great Pilot of the restless sea
By Thee were all our fathers led,
Grant me success from day to day,
That I may earn my daily bread.

'Twas in a little fishing boat
Close by the shores of Galilee,
Where Thou once sat and taught the folk,
And humble fishermen like me.

And on the Galilean sea
When winds blew strong and waves raged high,
Thou hear Thy faint disciples call,
And answered "Fear not, it is I."

Protect me through the gloomy night
When skies above are overcast,
My little boat it seems so small
Upon Thine ocean wide and vast.

Strengthen my will when toil seems vain,
Uphold me when my courage fail,
And may I hear they still small voice
Both in the calm and raging gale.

And when at last my voyage is done,
When my last fishing trip is o'er,
Then master as I hear the strand
May I behold thee on the shore.

Then pilot me safe home at last
Into that Port of quiet rest,
Where I shall find safe anchorage
From every storm that cause unrest.

September, 1945

GIVING THANKS

For the beauty of the earth,
For our land that gave us birth,
And for friends, our home and hearth;
Dear Lord we give Thee thanks.

For past sunshine and the rain,
Ripened fruit, and garnered grain,
May we all each day exclaim
Dear Lord, we give Thee thanks.

Thou has given us eyes to see
Nature's beauty, flower and tree;
All earth's blessings come from Thee;
Dear Lord we give Thee thanks.

For our strength to carry on
When life's way seems hard and long
Through our weakness make us strong;
Dear Lord we give thee thanks.

For this vast Dominion's store,
Mountain, prairie, ocean's shore,
And henceforth for evermore,
May thanks dear Lord to Thee be given.

October, 1947

A PRAYER IN VERSE

Dear Lord and Saviour, hear our humble prayer,
We seek They guidance through a world of sin;
Be Thou our strength, and shield from every snare,
From foes without, and lurking fears within.

No goodness of our own have we to please,
We are not worthy of they mercies, Lord;
But Thou will hear the prayers of those in need,
As Thou has promised in They faithful Word.

We pray for those in trouble, and distress,
And weary souls all longing to be free;
May they at last repose in peaceful rest,
And find their consummation, Lord in thee.

For those we pray who falter on life's way,
And find their daily cross so hard to bear;
O keep, and guide them to a better day,
And grant them rest and peace from toil, and care.

We pray for faith to chase all gloom, and doubt,
And hope to trust Thee through all earthly life;
For perfect love that will all fears cast out,
A threefold strength to shield us in the strife.

And when at last our course on earth is run,
Dear Father may we find our rest in Thee;
And dwell forever with they blessed Son,
And Holy Spirit through eternity.

January, 1943

HYMN OF PRAISE

Come, let us join in songs of praise,
With one accord our voices raise,
Sing to the Lord with cheerful voice,
And let all thankful hearts rejoice.

O may we all on this glad day,
With grateful hearts our homage pay
Unto our God who rules on high,
For all the blessings we enjoy.

We thank Thee for past mercies, Lord;
For strength renewed, and health restored,
And for all gifts Thyself bestow
On us They creatures here below.

We thank Thee for Thy love and care,
And all the earthly joys we share;
O make us worthy of that love,
And fit us for Thy home above.

There with that great triumphant throng,
We too, may learn the heavenly song,
And join with angels as they sing
Glad songs of praise to Christ our King.

Sung in St. Chad's Anglican Church, Toronto, on July 27, 1941

THESE GIFTS I ASK

These early gifts I ask, from day to day;
To dwell in peace, to have a home, and hearth,
A will to live, and free to tread this earth,
And help my fellow man in some small way.

These early gifts I ask; good neighbours, and
True friends, who will not shun me if I fail,
A quiet street, with homes where love prevail;
All speaking in the tongue I understand.

These earthly gifts I ask; a garden plot
Behind my cottage, where in leisure hours,
I'll hoe the weeds, and cultivate fair flowers,
And live in peace, contented with my lot.

These earthly gifts I ask; a rod, and line,
And casting for the trout in stream, or brook,
And landing speckled beauties with my hook;
Is this too much to ask, this wish of mine?

These earthly gifts I ask; each day to be
A little wiser than the day before;
To take a page each day from wisdom's lore,
And learn something worth while; be this my plea.

These earthly gifts I ask; a conscience clear
That will not mar my peace of mind each day,
To live in honest life, my simple way,
And harm no man; this is my earnest prayer.

May, 1944