At the Bars of Memory and Other Poems/Give Me the Love of a Child

by Andrew Francis Lockhart

GIVE ME THE LOVE OF A CHILD

Oh, give me the love of a little child,
An' grant me the right to claim
The fond, soft pats o' his chubby hands
As he seeks to lisp my name!

Oh, give me the love of a little child,
An' grant me the pow'r to say
A prayer for him in the quiet night
When his toys are laid away!

Oh, give me the love of a little child,
When my eyes grow weak an' dim,
An' the golden sun o' life sinks down
O'er Eternity's purple rim!

Oh, give me the love of a little child.
An' I'll prize it evermore
When my lonely ship goes a-sailin' on
For a far an' misty shore!