[SIZE=+1]The Prayer of Cyrus Brown[/SIZE][TABLE="width: 601"]
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[TD][SIZE=+1]By Sam Walter Foss (1858–1911)[/SIZE][/TD]
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[TD]“T[SIZE=-1]HE PROPER[/SIZE] way for a man to pray,”[/TD]
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[TD] Said Deacon Lemuel Keyes,
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[TD]“And the only proper attitude,
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[TD] Is down upon his knees.”
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[TD]“No, I should say the way to pray,”
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[TD] Said Reverend Doctor Wise,
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[TD]“Is standing straight, with outstretched arms,[/TD]
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[TD] And rapt and upturned eyes.”[/TD]
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[TD]“Oh no; no, no,” said Elder Slow,[/TD]
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[TD] “Such posture is too proud:[/TD]
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[TD]A man should pray with eyes fast closed[/TD]
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[TD] And head contritely bowed.”[/TD]
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[TD]“It seems to me his hands should be[/TD]
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[TD] Austerely clasped in front,[/TD]
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[TD]With both thumbs pointing toward the ground,”[/TD]
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[TD] Said Reverend Doctor Blunt.[/TD]
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[TD]“Las’ year I fell in Hodgkin’s well[/TD]
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[TD] Head first,” said Cyrus Brown,[/TD]
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[TD]“With both my heels a-stickin’ up,[/TD]
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[TD] My head a-p’inting down;[/TD]
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[TD]“An’ I made a prayer right then an’ there—[/TD]
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[TD] Best prayer I ever said,[/TD]
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[TD]The prayingest prayer I ever prayed,[/TD]
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[TD] A-standing on my head.”[/TD]
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