TWO PRAYERS.

By Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Dear, when you lift your gentle heart in prayer,

Ask God to send His angle Death to me

Long ere He comes to you, if that may be.

I would dwell with you in that new life there,

But having, man-like, sinned, I must prepare,

By sad probation, ere I hope to see

Those upper realms which are at once thrown free

To sweet, white souls like yours, unstained and fair

Time is so brief on earth, I well might spare

A few short years, if so I could atone

For my marred past, ere you are called above.

My soul would glory in its own despair,

Till purified I met you at God’ s throne,

And entered on Eternities of Love.