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Poem
August 24, 1870
The Newberry Herald
Newberry, Newberry County, South Carolina
What is this article about?
A sentimental poem praising a child's innocent recitation of the bedtime prayer 'Now I lay me down to sleep,' reflecting on its piety and the speaker's wish to echo it at death, published in Putnam's Magazine.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
Beautiful are the following lines entitled "Now I lay me down to sleep."
Golden head so lowly bending,
Little feet so white and bare,
Dewy eyes, half shut, half opened,
Lisping out her evening prayer.
Well she knows when she is saying,
"Now I lay me down to sleep,
'Tis to God that she is praying—
Praying Him her soul to keep.
Half asleep, and murmuring faintly,
"If I should die before I wake'—
Tidy fingers clasped so saintly—
"I pray the Lord my soul to take."
Oh, the rapture sweet, unbroken,
Of the soul who wrote that prayer!
Children's myriad voices floating
Up to heaven, record it there,
If, of all that has been written,
I could choose what might be mine,
It should be that child's petition
Rising to the throne divine.
While the muffled bells were ringing.
"Earth to earth, and dust to dust,
My free soul, on faith depending—
Faith, and love, and perfect trust—
Would approach Him, humbly praying
(All the little ones around),
"Jesus, Savior, take thy servant;
Give to her thy children's crown."
—Putnam's Magazine.
Golden head so lowly bending,
Little feet so white and bare,
Dewy eyes, half shut, half opened,
Lisping out her evening prayer.
Well she knows when she is saying,
"Now I lay me down to sleep,
'Tis to God that she is praying—
Praying Him her soul to keep.
Half asleep, and murmuring faintly,
"If I should die before I wake'—
Tidy fingers clasped so saintly—
"I pray the Lord my soul to take."
Oh, the rapture sweet, unbroken,
Of the soul who wrote that prayer!
Children's myriad voices floating
Up to heaven, record it there,
If, of all that has been written,
I could choose what might be mine,
It should be that child's petition
Rising to the throne divine.
While the muffled bells were ringing.
"Earth to earth, and dust to dust,
My free soul, on faith depending—
Faith, and love, and perfect trust—
Would approach Him, humbly praying
(All the little ones around),
"Jesus, Savior, take thy servant;
Give to her thy children's crown."
—Putnam's Magazine.
What sub-type of article is it?
Hymn
Ode
What themes does it cover?
Religious Faith
Death Mourning
What keywords are associated?
Childs Prayer
Evening Prayer
Bedtime Prayer
Soul To Keep
Divine Petition
Faith Trust
What entities or persons were involved?
—Putnam's Magazine.
Poem Details
Title
Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep.
Author
—Putnam's Magazine.
Subject
Child's Evening Prayer
Form / Style
Rhymed Stanzas
Key Lines
"Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep,
'Tis To God That She Is Praying—
Praying Him Her Soul To Keep.
"If I Should Die Before I Wake'—
Tidy Fingers Clasped So Saintly—
"I Pray The Lord My Soul To Take."
It Should Be That Child's Petition
Rising To The Throne Divine.