ARGIE LEARNED FROM MOTHER EDNA

Star light, star bright,

The first star I see tonight;

I wish I may, I wish I might,

Have the wish I wish tonight.

^{Mother Edna would say this little verse every time we were outside at night.  She was delighted when she shared the joy of the stars with her children. I remember the day when grandmother Effie Argie Fairly Lawson passed away. That evening as mother tucked my brother and me in bed, she lay there studying the stars and said, " There is another star in Heaven tonight and that one is for your grandmother."}

Origins

Wishing on the first star seen may also predate this rhyme, which first begins to be recorded in late nineteenth-century America. The song and tradition seem to have reached Britain by the early twentieth century and have since spread worldwide.

My mother Edna would say this prayer with brother C. L. and me.

Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep,
If I shall die before I wake,
I pray the Lord my soul to take.
Other versions
Thank you Lord for another day,
The chance to learn, the chance to play.
Now as I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep.
Please, guard me, Jesus, through the night,
And keep me safe till morning's light.
But should I die before I wake,
I pray the Lord my soul to take.
And should I live for other days,
I pray that God will guide my ways.
Amen


Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep,
Lord, be with me through the night
And keep me 'til the morning light.



Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep,
If I should die before I wake,
I pray the Lord my soul to take.
If I should live for other days,
I pray the Lord to guide my ways.


Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep;
If I should die before I wake,
I ask the Lord my soul to take.


Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep;
When in the morning light I wake,
Teach me the path of love to take.


Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray, Dear Lord, my soul to keep;
And if I die before I wake,
I pray, Dear Lord, my soul He'll take.


Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep;
Guard me Jesus through the night,
And wake me with the morning light.


Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep,
thy angels watch me through the night,
And keep me safe till morning's light.^[1]


Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep,
If I should die before I wake,
Bless me Lord my soul to take.^[1]

Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep,
Keep me safe all through the night,
And wake me with the morning light.
AMEN

Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep.
Angels watch me through the night,
And wake me with the morning light.^[2]
Amen


Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray thee Lord, my soul to keep;
Guide me safely through the night,
Wake me with the morning's light.


Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray thee, Lord, my soul to keep;
See me safely through the night,
And wake me with the morning's light.


Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep, Guide me through the starry night, Wake me when the sun shines bright, For Jesus' sake. Amen.

Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep;
Guide us through the starry night,
and wake us with the morning's light.
I ask not for myself alone,
but for thy children—every one.


Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep;
If I should die before I wake,
I pray the Lord my soul to take.


Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep
may angels watch me through the night
and wake me with the morning light"

Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord, my soul to keep.
May angels watch me through the night,
And keep me in their blessed sight.


Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep.
Thank you for another day,
A chance to learn, a chance to play
Amen


Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep.
See me safely through the night,
And wake me with the morning light.
Amen

Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep.
May angels watch me through the night,
And keep me in their pleasant sight
Amen

Now I lay me down to sleep
I pray the Lord my soul to keep
God bless those who are so dear
And thank you lord for all good cheer
Amen

Now I lay me down to sleep
And pray the lord my soul to keep
And if I die before I wake
I pray my family attend my wake


Now I lay me down to sleep
fourteen angels watch do keep
watch above me lord I pray
through the night till break of day


Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep;
If I die before I wake,
I ask the Lord my soul to take. And if I shall wake I thank the lord for another day
Amen

Edna Lawson memorized The Village Blacksmith

I feel that Mother lead me to a book today. Our Lucy dog had eaten several books from our library for which there was no redemption. So we started relocating the lower shelf of old books. A rather large and thin book by the editors of Country Beautiful entitled AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL IN THE WORDS OF HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW, was unharmed. I appreciate the writings of Longfellow. As I flipped through the book, a hand  played my heart strings as a read:

“I memorized this for school program when in the fourth grade. Edna Fay Lawson Hoskins

Age 78 (1987)"

 

The Village Blacksmith

UNDER a spreading chestnut-tree

The village smithy stands;

The smith, a mighty man is he,

With large and sinewy hands;

And the muscles of his brawny arms

Are strong as iron bands.

His hair is crisp, and black, and long,

His face is like the tan;

His brow is wet with honest sweat,

He earns whate'er he can,

And looks the whole world in the face,

For he owes not any man.

Week in, week out, from morn till night,

You can hear his bellows blow;

You can hear him swing his heavy sledge,

With measured beat and slow,

Like a sexton ringing the village bell,

When the evening sun is low.

And children coming home from school

Look in at the open door;

They love to see the flaming forge,

And hear the bellows roar,

And catch the burning sparks that fly

Like chaff from a threshing-floor.

He goes on Sunday to the church,

And sits among his boys;

He hears the parson pray and preach,

He hears his daughter's voice,

Singing in the village choir,

And it makes his heart rejoice.

It sounds to him like her mother's voice,

Singing in Paradise!

He needs must think of her once more,

How in the grave she lies;

And with his hard, rough hand he wipes

A tear out of his eyes.

Toiling,---rejoicing,---sorrowing,

Onward through life he goes;

Each morning sees some task begin,

Each evening sees it close;

Something attempted, something done,

Has earned a night's repose.

Thanks, thanks to thee, my worthy friend,

For the lesson thou hast taught!

Thus at the flaming forge of life

Our fortunes must be wrought;

Thus on its sounding anvil shaped

Each burning deed and thought.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow