Leaves of Life Part 15

Edmund William Gosse born 1849.

Karl Czerny born 1791.

Cardinal John H. Newman born 1801.

Jean L.E. Meissonier born 1815.

Alice Freeman Palmer born 1855.

Prune thou thy words, the thoughts control That o'er thee swell and throng; They will condense within thy soul, And change to purpose strong.

--John H. Newman.

Think truly, and thy thoughts Shall the world's famine feed; Speak truly, and each word of thine Shall be a fruitful seed; Live truly, and thy life shall be A great and n.o.ble creed.

--Horatio Bonar.

We ought to love everybody and make everybody love us. Then everything else is easy.

--Alice Freeman Palmer.

Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thy healing shall spring forth speedily; and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of Jehovah shall be thy rearward.

--Isaiah 58. 8.

Almighty G.o.d, look upon me with pity; so often I have obeyed the thoughts that have been misleading and profitless. Make me more careful of what I think and say, and may I learn from my mistakes the forbidden paths. Help me to keep my mind in unity with thy will. Amen.

FEBRUARY TWENTY-SECOND

George Was.h.i.+ngton, Virginia, first President United States, born 1732.

James Russell Lowell born 1819.

Margaret E. Sangster born 1838.

Labor to keep alive in your breast that little spark of celestial fire called conscience.

--George Was.h.i.+ngton.

Life is a sheet of paper white Whereon each one of us may write His word or two, and then comes night.

Greatly begin! though thou hast time But for a line, be that sublime.

Not failure, but low aim is crime.

--James Russell Lowell.

G.o.d keep us through the common days, The level stretches white with dust, When thought is tired, and hands upraise Their burdens feebly since they must; In days of slowly fretting care Then most we need the strength of prayer.

--Margaret E. Sangster.

Make level the path of thy feet, And let all thy ways be established.

--Proverbs 4. 26.

Lord G.o.d, help me to realize the influence of the individual life. And as I would care for my own, may I seek to do for others; and may I not criticize, but help all who are trying to make the world better. Amen.

FEBRUARY TWENTY-THIRD

Samuel Pepys born 1633.

George F. Handel born 1685.

George Frederick Watts born 1817.

John Keats died 1821.

Margaret Deland born 1857.

Labor is life! 'tis the still water faileth; Idleness ever despaireth, bewaileth: Keep the watch wound, or the dark rust a.s.saileth; Flowers droop and die in the stillness of noon.

Labor is glory! the flying cloud lightens; Only the waving wing changes and brightens, Idle hearts only the dark future frightens, Play the sweet keys, wouldst thou keep them in tune.

--Frances S. Osgood.

KEATS

Palled death, with kisses ghostly, Wooed and won him while too young, And the world reveres him mostly, For the songs he might have sung.

--Samuel A. Wood.

Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thy habitations; spare not: lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes.

--Isaiah 54. 2.

Almighty G.o.d, I pray for the will to do my finest work. Disclose to me if I am being detained by serving selfishness in myself or in others.

Lead me to what is right for me to do; and may I diligently tarry in it. Amen.

FEBRUARY TWENTY-FOURTH

Samuel Lover born 1797.

Robert Fulton died 1815.