quote · Legacy record
She rose from her untroubled sleep, And put aside her soft brown hair, And in a tone as low and deep As love’s first whisper, breath’d a prayer. And there, from slumber soft and warm, Like a young spirit fresh from heaven, She bow’d her slight and graceful form, And humbly pray’d to be forgiven. Oh, God! if souls unsoiled as these Need daily mercy from Thy throne, If she, upon her bended knees, Our loveliest and purest one— She, with a face so clear and bright, We deem her some stray child of light; If she, with those soft eyes in tears, Day after day, in her first years, Must kneel and pray for grace from Thee, What far, far deeper need have we? How hardly if she win not heaven, Will our wild errors be forgiven?
She rose from her untroubled sleep, And put aside her soft brown hair, And in a tone as low and deep As love’s first whisper, breath’d a prayer. And there, from slumber soft and warm, Like a young spirit fresh from heaven, She bow’d her slight and graceful form, And humbly pray’d to be forgiven. Oh, God! if souls unsoiled as these Need daily mercy from Thy throne, If she, upon her bended knees, Our loveliest and purest one— She, with a face so clear and bright, We deem her some stray child of light; If she, with those soft eyes in tears, Day after day, in her first years, Must kneel and pray for grace from Thee, What far, far deeper need have we? How hardly if she win not heaven, Will our wild errors be forgiven?
In print by 1888 AD · industrial
Recorded in a printed collection by this date; the original date of these words is still unknown.
Meaning not yet available
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Begin with source-checked readings and explanations ↗Attribution & collection notes
- Author or tradition
- N. P. Willis (identity unresolved)
Attribution: unknown - Country attributed
- Not established
A country attribution does not establish the earliest origin. - Historical period
- In print by 1888 AD · industrial
In print by 1888: recorded in A Cyclopædia of Sacred Poetical Quotations (catalogued1888). Collection publication is an upper bound for this wording, not its earliest origin, composition date or the author's lifetime.
An author lifetime, approximate period or collection date is not necessarily the date when these words were first written or spoken. - Recorded source
- A Cyclopædia of Sacred Poetical Quotations (catalogued1888) (1888 AD)
Page 234 · printed citation: N. P. Willis · subject: FORGIVENESS
A collection's publication date can be later than the words it records.