Down by the rushes I paused and bent— I bent with a sudden lovely pang of joy, And I knew that my hope was true.... Lord God of our fathers, if Thou send me a son He shall be bred in Thy fear, But if Thou send me a daughter She shall be bred in Thy love. Lord, I pray Thee, send me a girl. LADY DAY IN HARVEST A LULLABY FOR THE FALLING ASLEEP OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY ❦ MARY _sleeps—and as she sleeps the angels sing_: Sleep, sleep, sweetly sleep, Sweetly sleep, sleep, sleep, You who rocked the cradle—so— In the stable long ago. Golden Rose of David’s stem, Sleep, and dream of Bethlehem; Dream of herald angels singing, Dream of Christmas bells a-ringing In the steeples of the town, Telling of the Christ come down To a stable long ago; Dream in harvest of the snow; Dream His head is on your breast, Then, smiling, sleep and take your rest— Golden Rose of David’s stem, Sleep and dream of Bethlehem. MARY _sleeps—and as she sleeps her Son sings_: Sleep, sleep, sweetly sleep, Sweetly sleep, sleep, sleep: You rocked the cradle once for Me, Mother of sweet liberty; And now I sing your lullaby, While angels watch us from the sky, And the August stars are bright In the dark, hop-scented night. Rest, darling mother, rest With your head upon My breast, For all the hundred happy hours That My head has lain on yours. Mother whose hair is grey with love, With memories of Calvary’s day.... Darling, in the fields above The young angels wait to play, And all the holy innocents, Who once laid down their lives for Me, Will climb into your lap and lie Where once I lay so lovingly. Rest, darling mother, rest With your head upon My breast. MARY _sleeps—and as she sleeps we all sing_: