Life and Literature Part 55

And so I know That day is lost wherein I fail to lend A helping hand to some wayfaring friend; But if it show A burden lightened by the cheer I sent, Then do I hold the golden hours well spent, And lay me down to sleep in sweet content.

767

GOLF AND MATRIMONY.

"As an ill.u.s.tration of the enthusiasm with which golf is pursued by its votaries," says _Harper's Weekly_, "the following anecdote is told of a well known Scotch author, and a young friend of his. The two had spent the whole day on the links, and had had some close and exciting matches; as they left for home the elder man remarked:

"'Do you think ye could play again to-morrow, laddie?'

"'Well,' answered the youth, 'I was going to be married to-morrow, but I can put it off.'"

768

All things come round to him who will but wait and work.

769

Every person is responsible for all the good within the scope of his abilities.

770

Doing good is the only certainly happy action of a man's life.

--_Sir P. Sidney._

771

The pleasure of doing good is the only one that never wears out.

772

The good we have received from a man requires us to be tender of the evil he does us.

773

Seeking others' good, we find our own.

774

What is the difference between being good and bad? The good do not yield to temptations, and the bad do.

The definition was so simple and so wise, that Leonard was more struck with it than he might have been by an elaborate sermon.

--_Sir E. B. Lytton, Bart._

775

TOO LATE.

And as each day, that ne'er returns, But joins the past, Comes and goes by, the rich man toils Hard at his task,-- No time for thought or anything But just his wealth.

Can he be dreaming life's for aye?

Now fails his health, And death comes in and beckons him away.

Good that was in his hands to do, He left undone, Forgetting, in his race for wealth, Life's setting sun!

His thoughts all lay in how to make One dollar seven: And then, too late, he found, for gold There's no demand in heaven.

776

GOOD-BY.

"Farewell! farewell!" is often heard From the lips of those who part: 'Tis a whispered tone,--'tis a gentle word, But it springs not from the heart.

It may serve for the lover's closing lay, To be sung 'neath a summer sky; But give to me the lips that say The honest words, "Good-by!"

"Adieu! adieu!" may greet the ear, In the guise of courtly speech: But when we leave the kind and dear, 'Tis not what the soul would teach.

Whene'er we grasp the hands of those We would have forever nigh, The flame of friends.h.i.+p bursts and glows In the warm, frank words, "Good-by."

The mother, sending forth her child To meet with cares and strife, Breathes through her tears, her doubts, and fears For the loved one's future life.

No cold "adieu," no "farewell," lives Within her choking sigh, But the deepest sob of anguish gives, "G.o.d bless, thee, boy! 'Good-by!'"

--_Anonymous._

777

The sign of goodness in the young is to love the old; and in the old to love the young.

778

To all, to each, a fair good night, And pleasing dreams, and slumbers light.

--_Sir Walter Scott._

779

The Cross is the guarantee of the Gospel; therefore it has been its standard.

--_Amiel._