Leaves of Life Part 38

James Bryce born 1838.

Sir Henry Stanley died 1904.

For four months and four days I lived with David Livingstone in the same house, or in the same boat, or in the same tent, and I never found a fault in him. I am a man of quick temper, and often without sufficient cause, I dare say, have broken the ties of friends.h.i.+p; but with Livingstone I never had cause for resentment, but each day's life with him added to my admiration for him.

--Sir Henry Stanley.

In speech right gentle, yet so wise: princely of mien, Yet softly mannered; modest, deferent, And tender-hearted, though of a fearless blood.

--Edwin Arnold.

Ye are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid.

--Matthew 5. 14.

Almighty G.o.d, help me to aspire, that my life may tend toward the ideal. May I be persuaded that I cannot be that which I do not possess, nor can I live in that which I do not know. Help me to put the best in what I do, that I may not feel I have failed, even though it may not seem to be a success. Amen.

MAY ELEVENTH

Baron Munchhausen born 1720.

William Pitt, Earl of Chatham, died 1778.

Jean Leon Gerome born 1824.

And methought that beauty and terror are only one, not two; And the world has room for love, and death, and thunder and dew; And all the sinews of h.e.l.l slumber in the summer air; And the face of G.o.d is a rock, but the face of the rock is fair.

Beneficent streams of tears flow at the finger of pain; And out of the cloud that smites, beneficent rivers of rain.

--Robert Louis Stevenson.

It is more shameful to be distrustful of our friends than to be deceived by them.

--La Rochefoucauld.

Thou shalt rejoice in all the good which Jehovah thy G.o.d hath given unto thee.

--Deuteronomy 26. 11.

Lord G.o.d, may I comprehend the sacredness of friends.h.i.+p. I thank thee for my friends, and for all the beautiful influences which they bring to my life. May I never hold friends.h.i.+p without the sincerity to return it. Correct my faults, and cause me to learn the secret of cheerful endurance, that I may be steadfast. Amen.

MAY TWELFTH

Robert Fielding died 1712.

James Sheridan Knowles born 1784.

Dante Gabriel Rossetti born 1828.

Jules Ma.s.senet born 1842.

Look in my face; my name is Might-have-been; I am also called No-more, Too-late, Farewell; Unto thine ear I hold the dead sea-sh.e.l.l Cast up thy Life's foam-fretted feet between; Unto thine eyes the gla.s.s where that is seen Which had Life's form and Love's, but by my spell Is now a shaken shadow intolerable, Of ultimate things unuttered the frail screen.

--Dante Gabriel Rossetti.

Let me not pa.s.s my work at morn And then at eve, Find for what purpose I was born-- Just as I leave.

--M.B.S.

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.

Lord G.o.d, I do earnestly pray that thou wilt give me strength to break away, if I may be trying to free myself from habits that mar my character. May I not lose courage and fall back in the old ways, but by faith be led where I should go. Amen.

MAY THIRTEENTH

Carolus Linnaeus (Karl von Linne) born 1707.

Alphonse Daudet born 1840.

Sir Arthur Sullivan born 1842.

I heard a voice in the darkness singing (That was a valiant soul I knew), And the joy of his song was a wild bird winging Swift to his mate through a sky of blue.

And his song was of love and all its bringing And of certain day when the night was through; I raised my eyes where the hope was springing, And I think in his heaven G.o.d smiled too (That was a valiant soul I knew).

--J. Stalker.

The soul aids the body, and at certain moments raises it. It is the only bird which bears upward its own cage.

--Victor Hugo.

But desire earnestly the greater gifts.

--1 Corinthians 12. 31.

Gracious Lord, I rejoice that thou dost know the depths of my soul, and that I may call upon thee to supply its needs. Make me worthy that I may not be kept from the springs of joy where my soul may be refreshed, and where I may gather hope and encouragement for the greater loves of life. Amen.