I prayed, at first, a little Girl,

I prayed, at first, a little Girl,

Because they told me to --

But stopped, when qualified to guess

How prayer would feel -- to me --

If I believed God looked around,

Each time my Childish eye

Fixed full, and steady, on his own

In Childish honesty --

And told him what I'd like, today,

And parts of his far plan

That baffled me --

The mingled side

Of his Divinity --

And often since, in Danger,

I count the force 'twould be

To have a God so strong as that

To hold my life for me

Till I could take the Balance

That tips so frequent, now,

It takes me all the while to poise --

And then -- it doesn't stay --