A BENEDICTION.
God bless thee! is my fervent prayer,
At morn and eve, from day to day,
Ev'n as thou tend'st, with anxious care,
Thy children dear with love alway.
God keep thee ever in His grace,
And still new mercies on thee shower,
Ev'n as thou fold'st in thy embrace
Thine infants tender every hour.
God love thee, with the love he shows
Still to his own, in earth and heaven,
Ev'n as thou lov'st, with true love, those
Who to thy keeping have been given.
God guide thee still through all thy days,
And let no evil on thee light,
Ev'n as thou guid'st and guard'st the ways,
Of thy dear offspring day and night.
God comfort thee in all thy grief,
And ever thy sure Hope remain,
Ev'n as thou comfort'st with relief
Thy little ones in woe and pain.
God cherish thee throughout thy life,
In weal and woe thy guardian be,
Ev'n as a mother and a wife
Thou still hast cherished them and me.