第4章

Blesstousourextraordinarymercies;ifthedaycomewhenthesemustbetaken，braceustoplaythemanunderaffliction.Bewithourfriends，bewithourselves.Gowitheachofustorest;ifanyawake，tempertothemthedarkhoursofwatching;andwhenthedayreturns，returntous，oursunandcomforter，andcallusupwithmorningfacesandwithmorninghearts—eagertolabour—eagertobehappy，ifhappinessshallbeourportion—andifthedaybemarkedforsorrow，strongtoendureit.

WethankTheeandpraiseThee;andinthewordsofhimtowhomthisdayissacred，closeouroblation.

FORSELF—BLAME

LORD，enlightenustoseethebeamthatisinourowneye，andblindustothemotethatisinourbrother"s.Letusfeelouroffenceswithourhands，makethemgreatandbrightbeforeuslikethesun，makeuseatthemanddrinkthemforourdiet.Blindustotheoffencesofourbeloved，cleansethemfromourmemories，takethemoutofourmouthsforever.LetallherebeforeTheecarryandmeasurewiththefalsebalancesoflove，andbeintheirowneyesandinallconjuncturesthemostguilty.Helpusatthesametimewiththegraceofcourage，thatwebenoneofuscastdownwhenwesitlamentingamidtheruinsofourhappinessorourintegrity：touchuswithfirefromthealtar，thatwemaybeupanddoingtorebuildourcity：inthenameandbythemethodofhiminwhosewordsofprayerwenowconclude.

FORSELF—FORGETFULNESS

LORD，thecreaturesofthyhand，thydisinheritedchildren，comebeforeTheewiththeirincoherentwishesandregrets：Childrenweare，childrenweshallbe，tillourmothertheearthhathfeduponourbones.Acceptus，correctus，guideus，thyguiltyinnocents.

Dryourvaintears，wipeoutourvainresentments，helpouryetvainerefforts.Iftherebeanyhere，sulkingaschildrenwill，dealwithandenlightenhim.Makeitdayaboutthatperson，sothatheshallseehimselfandbeashamed.Makeitheavenabouthim，Lord，bytheonlywaytoheaven，forgetfulnessofself，andmakeitdayabouthisneighbours，sothattheyshallhelp，nothinderhim.

FORRENEWALOFJOY

WEareevil，OGod，andhelpustoseeitandamend.Wearegood，andhelpustobebetter.Lookdownuponthyservantswithapatienteye，evenasThousendestsunandrain;lookdown，calluponthedrybones，quicken，enliven;recreateinusthesoulofservice，thespiritofpeace;renewinusthesenseofjoy.

EndoftheProjectGutenbergeTextPrayersWrittenatVailima***

ALowdenSabbathMornbyRobertLouisStevensonScannedandproofedbyDavidPrice，emailccx074@coventry.ac.ukALowdenSabbathMornI

THEclinkum—clanko"SabbathbellsNootothehoastin"rookeryswells，Noofaintin"laighinshadydells，Soundsfaran"near，An"throughthesimmerkintrytellsItstaleo"cheer.

II

An"noo，tothatmelodiousplay，Adeidlyawnthequietsway—

A"kentheirsolemnholiday，Bestialan"human，Thesingin"lintieonthebrae，Therestin"plou"man.

III

He，mairthana"thelaveo"men，Hisweekcompletitjoystoken;

Half—dressed，hedaundersoutan"in，Perplextwi"leisure;

An"hisraxtlimbshe"llraxagainWi"painfu"pleesure.

IV

Thesteerin"mitherstrangafitNooshoosthebairniesbutabit;

Noocriesthemben，theirSindayshuitToscartuponthem，Orsweetiesintheirpouchtopit，Wi"blessin"sonthem.

V

Thelasses，cleanfraetaptotaes，Arebuskedincrunklin"underclaes;

Thegartenedhose，theweel—filledstays，Thenakitshift，A"bleachedonbonnygreensfordays，An"white"sthedrift.

VI

An"nootofacethekirkwardmileTheguidman"shato"dacentstyle，Theblackitshoon，wenoonmaunfyleAswhite"sthemiller：

Awaefu"peetytae，tospileThewartho"siller.