A Prayer in Sickness

Send down Thy wingèd angel, God!
   Amid this night so wild;
And bid him come where now we watch,
   And breathe upon our child!

She lies upon her pillow, pale,
   And moans within her sleep,
Or wakeneth with a patient smile,
   And striveth not to weep.

How gentle and how good a child
   She is, we know too well,
And dearer to her parents' hearts
   Than our weak words can tell.

We love - we watch throughout the night,
   To aid, when need may be;
We hope - and have despaired, at times;
   But now we turn to Thee!

Send down Thy sweet-souled angel, God!
   Amid the darkness wild;
And bid him soothe our souls to-night,
   And heal our gentle child!