Blesstousourextraordinarymercies;ifthedaycomewhenthesemustbetaken,braceustoplaythemanunderaffliction.Bewithourfriends,bewithourselves.Gowitheachofustorest;ifanyawake,tempertothemthedarkhoursofwatching;andwhenthedayreturns,returntous,oursunandcomforter,andcallusupwithmorningfacesandwithmorninghearts—eagertolabour—eagertobehappy,ifhappinessshallbeourportion—andifthedaybemarkedforsorrow,strongtoendureit.
WethankTheeandpraiseThee;andinthewordsofhimtowhomthisdayissacred,closeouroblation.
FORSELF—BLAME
LORD,enlightenustoseethebeamthatisinourowneye,andblindustothemotethatisinourbrother\'s.Letusfeelouroffenceswithourhands,makethemgreatandbrightbeforeuslikethesun,makeuseatthemanddrinkthemforourdiet.Blindustotheoffencesofourbeloved,cleansethemfromourmemories,takethemoutofourmouthsforever.LetallherebeforeTheecarryandmeasurewiththefalsebalancesoflove,andbeintheirowneyesandinallconjuncturesthemostguilty.Helpusatthesametimewiththegraceofcourage,thatwebenoneofuscastdownwhenwesitlamentingamidtheruinsofourhappinessorourintegrity:touchuswithfirefromthealtar,thatwemaybeupanddoingtorebuildourcity:inthenameandbythemethodofhiminwhosewordsofprayerwenowconclude.
FORSELF—FORGETFULNESS
LORD,thecreaturesofthyhand,thydisinheritedchildren,comebeforeTheewiththeirincoherentwishesandregrets:Childrenweare,childrenweshallbe,tillourmothertheearthhathfeduponourbones.Acceptus,correctus,guideus,thyguiltyinnocents.
Dryourvaintears,wipeoutourvainresentments,helpouryetvainerefforts.Iftherebeanyhere,sulkingaschildrenwill,dealwithandenlightenhim.Makeitdayaboutthatperson,sothatheshallseehimselfandbeashamed.Makeitheavenabouthim,Lord,bytheonlywaytoheaven,forgetfulnessofself,andmakeitdayabouthisneighbours,sothattheyshallhelp,nothinderhim.
FORRENEWALOFJOY
WEareevil,OGod,andhelpustoseeitandamend.Wearegood,andhelpustobebetter.Lookdownuponthyservantswithapatienteye,evenasThousendestsunandrain;lookdown,calluponthedrybones,quicken,enliven;recreateinusthesoulofservice,thespiritofpeace;renewinusthesenseofjoy.
EndoftheProjectGutenbergeTextPrayersWrittenatVailima***
ALowdenSabbathMornbyRobertLouisStevensonScannedandproofedbyDavidPrice,emailccx074@coventry.ac.ukALowdenSabbathMornI
THEclinkum—clanko\'SabbathbellsNootothehoastin\'rookeryswells,Noofaintin\'laighinshadydells,Soundsfaran\'near,An\'throughthesimmerkintrytellsItstaleo\'cheer.
II
An\'noo,tothatmelodiousplay,Adeidlyawnthequietsway—
A\'kentheirsolemnholiday,Bestialan\'human,Thesingin\'lintieonthebrae,Therestin\'plou\'man.
III
He,mairthana\'thelaveo\'men,Hisweekcompletitjoystoken;
Half—dressed,hedaundersoutan\'in,Perplextwi\'leisure;
An\'hisraxtlimbshe\'llraxagainWi\'painfu\'pleesure.
IV
Thesteerin\'mitherstrangafitNooshoosthebairniesbutabit;
Noocriesthemben,theirSindayshuitToscartuponthem,Orsweetiesintheirpouchtopit,Wi\'blessin\'sonthem.
V
Thelasses,cleanfraetaptotaes,Arebuskedincrunklin\'underclaes;
Thegartenedhose,theweel—filledstays,Thenakitshift,A\'bleachedonbonnygreensfordays,An\'white\'sthedrift.
VI
An\'nootofacethekirkwardmileTheguidman\'shato\'dacentstyle,Theblackitshoon,wenoonmaunfyleAswhite\'sthemiller:
Awaefu\'peetytae,tospileThewartho\'siller.