Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep

Found in the knapsack of a soldier of the Civil War, after he had been slain in battle.

Near the camp fire's flickering light

In my blanket bed I lie

Gazing through the shades of night

And the twinkling stars on high

O'er me spirits in the air 

Silent vigils seem to keep

As I breathe my childhood's prayer

"Now I lay me down to sleep"

Sadly sings the whip-poor-will

In the boughs of yonder tree

Laughingly the dancing rill 

Swells the midnight melody

Foemen may be lurking near

In the canyon dark and deep

Low I breathe in Jesus' ear

"I pray Thee, Lord, my soul to keep" 

'Mid those stars one face I see

One the Saviour turned away

Mother, who, in Infancy

Taught my baby lips to pray

Her sweet spirit hovers near

In this lonely mountain-brake

Take me to her, Saviour, dear

"If I should die before I wake" 

Fainter grows the flickering light

As each ember slowly dies

Plaintively the birds of night

Fill the air with saddening cries

Over me they seem to cry

"You may never more awake" 

Low I lisp, If I should die

I pray Thee, Lord, my soul to take"

God Knows

"Now I lay" - "Repeat it, darling."

"Lay me," lisped the tiny lips

of my daughter kneeling,

bending o'er her folded fingertips.

"Down to sleep." - "To sleep" she murmured

and the curly head bent low.

- "I pray the Lord," I gently added,

"You can say it all, I know"

"Pray the Lord"- the sound came faintly, then fainter still - "My soul to keep."

Then the tired head fairly nodded

and the child was fast asleep.

But the dewy eyes, half opened

when I clasped her to my breast,

and the dear voice softly whispered

- "Mama, God knows all the rest"

Oh the trusting, sweet confiding

of the child heart.

Would that I thus might

trust my Heavenly Father,

He who hears my feeblest cry.