Leaves of Life Part 11

--Sir Thomas More.

A human heart knows aught of littleness, Suspects no man, compares with no one's ways, Hath in one hour most glorious length of days, A recompense, a joy, a loveliness;

Like eaglet keen, shoots into azure far, And always dwelling nigh is the remotest star.

--William Ellery Channing.

Teach me thy way, O Jehovah; I will walk in thy truth: Unite my heart to fear thy name.

--Psalm 86. 11.

Gracious Father, I pray that thou wilt control my impulses, and protect me from false interpretations. May I have wisdom, and search for the high and holy ways. Help me to be patient for thy purposes, and may my relations to life be triumphant in thy standards. Amen.

FEBRUARY EIGHTH

Samuel Butler born 1612.

John Ruskin born 1819.

General Sherman born 1820.

Jules Verne born 1828.

Richard Watson Gilder born 1844.

If you want knowledge, you must toil for it; and if pleasure, you must toil for it. Toil is the law. Pleasure comes through toil, and not by self-indulgence and indolence. When one gets to love work his life is a happy one.

--John Ruskin.

Whatever sceptic could inquire for, For every why he had a wherefore.

--Samuel Butler.

Through love to light! O wonderful the way, That leads from darkness to the perfect day!

From darkness and from sorrow of the night To morning that comes singing o'er the sea.

Through love to light! through light O G.o.d to Thee!

Who art the love, the eternal light of light!

--Richard Watson Gilder.

We must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.

--John 9. 4.

My Father, I pray that I may not weight my life with worthless efforts. May I be guided to the right work, and through the love of it find strength for my soul. Amen.

FEBRUARY NINTH

C.F. Volney born 1757.

William Henry Harrison, Virginia, ninth President United States, born 1773.

Anthony Hope (Hawkins) born 1863.

George Ade born 1866.

A man's own observation, what he finds good of, and what he finds hurt of, is the best physic to preserve health. But it is a safer conclusion to say, "This agreeth not well with me, therefore I will not continue it"; than to say, "I find no offense of this, therefore I may use it." For strength of nature in youth pa.s.seth over many excesses, which are owing a man till his age.

--Francis Bacon.

Though man a thinking being is defined, Few use the grand prerogative of mind.

How few think justly of the thinking few!

How many never think, who think they do!

--Jane Taylor.

Blessed is the man that endureth temptation; for when he hath been approved, he shall receive the crown of life.

--James 1. 12.

Almighty G.o.d, I would learn that while thou art a forgiving Lord, nature has no mercy on them that break her laws. Forgive me for all my neglect, and help me to see the way in which thou hast through mercy led me. Give me the power to endure and the strength to resist temptation. May I seek to understand thy laws, that I may not fail through ignorance. Amen.

FEBRUARY TENTH

Rev. Henry Hart Milman born 1791.

Charles Lamb born 1775.

Sir William Napier died 1860.

Never let the most well-intended falsehood escape your lips; for Heaven, which is entirely Truth, will make the seed which you have sown of untruth to yield miseries a thousandfold.

--Charles Lamb.

We cannot command veracity at will; the power of seeing and reporting truly is a form of health that has to be distinctly guarded, and as an ancient rabbi has solemnly said, "The penalty of untruth is untruth."

--George Eliot.

The bat hangs upside down and laughs at a topsy-turvy world.