The Little Prayer

Bright angels shake the trees of heaven To bring the snow-flakes down, And turn this grey and darkling place Into a silver town!

Out where the hurrying crowds go by, Where shops shine for a mile, Please put on everybody's face A merrie Christmas smile!

And in our stockings let us find The things that we would choose; And send the carol-singers down A lot of over-shoes.

For singing in the silver street The 'Herald Angel' song, Makes even carol-singers cold Before so very long.

O keep the little kittens safe From motor cars and things Because they really can't run fast And haven't any wings.

And dogs that have no collars on,— The lost ones, sad and thin,— Dear heavenly angels, find a house Where they may all go in.

And if I get some Christmas skates (As happened once or twice) Do please to make the weather freeze And turn the pond to ice!

Because old Santa Claus will have Ten trillion things to do, O angels ever bright and fair! I make this prayer to you.