20 
The God of the Open Air. 
YI. 
These are the gifts I ask 
Of Thee, Spirit serene, 
Strength for the daily task, 
Courage to face the road, 
Good cheer to help me bear the traveller's load, 
And for the hours of rest that come between 
An inward joy in all things heard and seen. 
These are the sins I fain 
Would have Thee take away : — 
Malice, and cold disdain. 
Hot anger, and sullen hate, 
Scorn of the lowly, envy of the great. 
And discontent that casts a shadow grey 
On all the brightness of the common day. 
These are the things I prize 
And hold of dearest worth : — 
Light of the sapphire skies, 
Peace of the silent hills, 
Shelter of woods, and comfort of the grass, 
Music of birds, murmur of little rills. 
Shadow of clouds that swiftly pass, 
And, after showers, 
The smell of flowers. 
And of the good brown earth; 
And best of all, along the way, friendship and mir 
So let me keep 
These treasures of the humble heart 
In true possession, owning them by love; 
And when at last I can no longer move 
Among them freely, but must part 
From the green fields, and from the waters clear 
Let me not creep 
Into some darkened room, and hide 
