Teaching Little Children.
1 O, say not, think not, heavenly notes
To childish ears are vain,--
That the young mind at random floats,
And cannot reach the strain.
2 Was not our Lord a little child,
Taught by degrees to pray,
By father dear and mother mild
Instructed day by day?
3 And loved he not of heaven to talk
With children in his sight,
To meet them in his daily walk,
And to his arms invite?
4 And though some tones be weak and low,
What are all prayers beneath,
But cries of babes, that cannot know
Half the deep thought they breathe?
5 In his own words we Christ adore;
But angels, as we speak,
Higher above our meaning soar
Than we o'er children weak.
6 And yet his words mean more than they,
And yet he owns their praise;
O, think not that he turns away
From infants' simple lays!