Jane Caroline Reed's Poem Book - Labor + Rest

 Labor + Rest

Two hands upon the breast,
    And Labor's done;
Two pale feet crossed in rest,
    The race is won;
Two eyes with coin-weights shut,
    And all tears cease;
Two lips where grief is mute,
    And at peace;
So pray we oftentimes morning our lot;
God in his kindness answereth not;

Two hands to work addrest,
    Aye for his praise;
Two feet that never rest, 
    Walking his ways;
Two eyes that look above
    Strive, through all tears;
Two lips that breath out love,
    Not wrath, nor fears
So pray we afterwards, low at our knees;
Pardon those erring prayers, Father, hear thee!

Miss Mulock

Minneapolis, Minn.

Oct. 18, 1868

This appears to be a slight variant of the hymn Now and Afterwords.