HFMISH'S PRAYER.

Matamata Record, Volume VII, Issue 580, 10 November 1924, Page 1

HFMISH'S PRAYER.

Goodness and mercy all my life Shall surply follow me. And in. God's house for evermore Mv dwelling place tihall bo.

"Amen!" .said the shepherd, an" shut the Buik "May we a' in oor turn win' haroe ;" An' ha look'd on the circle aroun' the fire Wi' a fu' heart—" Praised be Hi.s name!"

Wee Hamish, his youngest, a touchtfu' bairn. Though sturdy an' blythe like the lave, Wi' a Tarawa' look in his bonnie blue e'en Hal listened, intent, an' grave.

An' syne, wi* hi.s airms ai'oun' the collie's neck Hi.s ain on the shaggy head. He lookit up in his feyther's face. ' An' in won'ering tone he said—

"Are there doggies in Heaven ? Will Donal' gane;?" Then silence fell for a space; An' the shepherd sighed, an' a tear an* a smile Were seen on the mither's face.

An' the collie look'd up on hearin' its name, Look'd up wi' a wistfu' e'e. As gin it wad trust to its maister's hert. An' lifted ae paw on his knee —

"Whar a' 'ill win in that are brave an' kin'. An' obedient an' faithfu' and true." Said the bairn ; "an", feyther, it's that i' the Buik, They'll surely tak' Donal' too."

"Ay, sy, my wee mannia, the Lord ken's best Nane daur limit His po'er aya : Nae service for love is without its reward, He made Donal* as weel's us a'."

That nicht, when Hamish was prayin' his prayers, He paused as he cam" to the en'. An' opened his e'en and said, "Bide fo l- a wee. Afore that I say Amen."

"An' mither, ye're no' to hearken the noo An' he whispered a bit by hinjsel'. An' did the like after at a' his prayers. An' what it meant mither could tell:

For that nicht, as she hushed him to sleeo on her breast. To the tune o' a croonin' sang. He tcll't her his secret low in her enr "I was askin' for Donal' to gang."

Ae Sunday at gloamin' wee Hamish lay. Wi' his pictur' buik. on the fluir; An' as he gaed owre, it. a strange, b»-icht thocht Flew into his min' —frae where?

And' he cried oot wi' glee, "Oh, Donn!'. ye're saun ! Ye'ro gaun I I ken it's sac. For whar there's a Shepherd, an* sheep, an' Jambs, There's bude to be doggies tae!"

An' so that nicht. frae the mither's knee. This message in heaven was heard, "Oh. Lord, I'm happy that Ponal's tae pane. I kent Ye wad sen* me word.

He's a bonnie bit beast, an' kens a' aboot sheep. He'" awfu' -.rentlr: wi* laml>s. An' Yo ov'n could Unpen the weans till his care That play wi* the golden palms!"

Wee Hamish grew up to hae honour an' wealth : He was !.ne o* the world's great men ; But :iye he wad say o' his childish days, "I was nearer to heaven then."

An' when he look'd back wi' a wistfu' sigh To the laddi" wi' yellow hair. That played wi' the doc on the steep hillside. Then rose from his heart this prayer—

"Oh. Lord win I lore my child like trust. Grant I may be forgiven : An' mnk' me doon to a bairn again. For of such is the kingdom of heaven."