I KISSED HER IN MY HEART.
By S. T. Perry
SHE came to my room at nightfall—
My blue-eyed lass of four,
Her wee bare feet so noiselessly
Tiptoeing 'cross the floor.
"There's no one now but you, papa,"
She lisped, "to hear my prayer."
And in her snow-white gown she knelt
Devoutly by my chair. And with those holy words, it seemed
Like that pure "inner place"
Where "their angels" always do behold
The beauty of His face.
I marveled much that ne'er before
I'd turned from "fret and wear"
Of earthly strife, when nightfall came,
To hear my baby's prayer. "No one but you," the wee lass said,
Climbing upon my knee,
"To give, now dear mama's away,
A good-night kiss to me.
There are your kisses—four, five, six—
Please now a letter write,
And tell mama that I kiss her
Down in my heart to-night." I carried her so tenderly
To her wee, soft, white bed;
Loved ministries the mother gave
I tried to give instead.
And as the little lassie slept
I felt that hallowed power
Which mothers feel, of faith and love,
At children's bedtime hour.
—S. T. Perry.