A fairy prayer to a butterfly, from Fairy Legends and Traditions of the South of Ireland by Thomas Crofton Croker, 1882.

From The Improvement Era, 1969.  See Strange Prayers for Strange Times.

This prayer is a Googlewhack: "O sterner angel of life's bitter ways, turn back my steps unto those halcyon days."  From Swarthmore College's 1904 yearbook.  See Strange Prayers for Strange Times.

From Together magazine, 1962.

"Patience, prayer, and a space ship."  From The Instructor, 1967.  See Strange Prayers for Strange Times.

From Washington College's 1944 yearbook.  See Strange Prayers for Strange Times.

From the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's 1917 yearbook.  See Strange Prayers for Strange Times.

Lost words from a prayer are hovering about you.  From California Sunshine by Lillian Hinman Shuey, 1888.

Here's a strange prayer about canned beef.  From Ohio State University's 1894 yearbook.

"How long, O Lord, how long?"  From The Children's Newspaper, 1939.  See Strange Prayers for Strange Times.

From Chatterbox, 1909.  See Strange Prayers for Strange Times.

From the University of the South's 1892 yearbook.  See Strange Prayers for Strange Times.

From Mental Disease by Peter Michaels.

From Jack & Jill, a Fairy Story by Greville Macdonald and illustrated by Arthur Hughes, 1913.  See Strange Prayers for Strange Times.

"Crier of the Dead: 'Wake! wake!  All ye that sleep!  Pray for the Dead!  Pray for the Dead!"  From The Golden Legend by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and illustrated by Sidney H. Meteyard, 1914.  See Strange Prayers for Strange Times.

You that uphold the world

Uphold me.

You that light the Sun

Make me see.

Bear with me my sollor:

Help me meet the morrow

Patiently.

From The Children's Newspaper, 1929.

"A short life in the saddle, Lord!  Not long life by the fire." —Louise Imogen Guiney, The Knight Errant journal, 1892.  See Strange Prayers for Strange Times.

From Lebanon Valley College's 1928 yearbook.

"Prayer in all times.  Men take naturally to supplication to God, says rabbi.  Deeds are best evidence of sincerity of words uttered."  From the Duluth Herald, 1912.  See Strange Prayers for Strange Times.