OUR MARY by Child at Home

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 25, 1868

OUR MARY.

By Child at Home

In the cottage by the river, Where the vines are climbing high, Shading all the lowly windows, From the sunbeams glancing by;

Dwells a little fair-haired maiden, With soft eyes of violet hue, And a voice of birdlike sweetness, Chanting songs the whole day through.

When the twilight hour approaches, Cheerfully she leaves her play, And in accents soft she murmurs, “Mary has been good to-day.”

Yet her nature is but human, And sometimes she disobeys; On her brow the dark clouds gather, Tears of passion stain her face.

Soon the sun comes breaking through them, And with voice subdued and mild, At my knee she sadly whispers, “Mary’s been a naughty child.”

When the shadows fall around us, Closed the day with all its care, Little Mary, low and softly, Says her simple evening prayer.

“God, take care of little Mary,” Breathe those lips of rosy red, And repeating “Now I lay me,” Close she nestles in her bed.

May “Our Heavenly Father” guide her, In her life-path here below; That at last our darling “Mary” To his arms of love may go.

—Child at Home.