PRAYERS OF ALL LIVING CREATURES 341 165 THE PRAYERS OF ALL LIVING The Hen praiseth God, Saying, "Thou hast given me As much intelligence As unto the Cock; Therefore do I praise Thee Unto the end, which fleeth The Raven sayeth: "Who prepareth the Raven his food, The young ravens when they cry!" The Parrot sayeth: "Praise the Lord with the harp! Praise Him with the ten-stringed nabluim! For God hath gifted me That I can speak His praise. Lo! ye, the other birds Cannot do like unto me!" The bird Tsih sings: "Light is sown unto the holy ones, And joy unto those Who are of upright minds!" The Frog singeth a Psalm: For ever and ever!" The Cat sayeth When the Mouse escapeth her Yea, though thou should'st nest On high among the stars, Yet will I bring thee down! For I have sharp nails To climb and to spring, For all of which I praise the Lord!" The Mouse sayeth, Escaping from the Cat: "I thank Thee, O God, That mine enemy Hath not rejoiced over me!" The Dog sayeth: "Come, let us throw ourselves down, Let us kneel and bow Before God, our Maker!" The Weasel sayeth: "Let all things which breathe Praise the Lord through ages! A PRAYER 343 I am not of the earth, Nor yet am I of the sea, So I declare, All creatures that have souls, That His holy name may be whole, And say, Let Him be praised For ever and for ever." FROM AN OLD JEWISH CANTICLE 166 A PRAYER O God, my Father and my Friend, FELICIA D. HEMANS [At the age of nine] 167 BEAUTIFUL THINGS What millions of beautiful things there must be The tossing, the foaming, the wide flowing sea, O there are the mountains, half covered with snow, Vast caves in the earth, full of wonderful things, Here spread the sweet meadows with thousands of flowers, Far away are old woods that for ages remain ; Wild elephants sleep in the shade of their bowers, Or troops of young antelopes traverse the plain. O yes, they are glorious, all to behold, And pleasant to read of, and curious to know, And something of God and His wisdom we're told, Whatever we look at-wherever we go. ANN TAYLOR LORD, WE ARE THANKFUL 345 168 EVENING HYMN FOR A CHILD Another day its course has run, And still, O God, Thy child is blest; Sweet sleep descends, my eyes to close; I give my body to repose, My spirit to my Father's will. JOHN PIERPONT 169 LORD, WE ARE THANKFUL Lord, we are thankful for the air, For place in Thy infinity, Lord, we are thankful unto Thee. For years and seasons as they run, For winter cloud and summer sun, In due succession evermore, For flower and fruit, for herb and tree, |