FATHER

Out in the morning Father goes,
Whether it pours with rain or snows,
Whether the wild wind beats and blows:–
By the fire sit Mother and I
Doing our lessons quietly.
Back in the twilight Father comes,
When I’ve finished with books and sums.
Not all the noise of all the drums
Is a jollier noise, I know,
Than Father when he says, “Hallo!”

~Author Unknown~

Be kind to thy father, for when thou wert young,
Who loved thee so fondly as he?
He caught the first accents that fell from thy tongue,
And joined in thy innocent glee.
~ Margaret Courtney

Two Prayers

Last night my little boy confessed to me
Some childish wrong;
And kneeling at my knee
He prayed with tears–
Dear God, make me a man
Like Daddy–wise and strong;
I know you can.
Then while he slept
I knelt beside his bed,
Confessed my sins,
And prayed with low-bowed head.
O God, make me a child
Like my child here–
Pure, guileless,
Trusting Thee with faith sincere.

~ Andrew Gillies

(The beautiful graphics are courtesy of Snapshots of Joy.)