Leaves of Life Part 75

SEPTEMBER SEVENTEENTH

Samuel Prout born 1783.

Dr. John Kidd died 1851.

Walter Savage Landor died 1864.

In the hour of distress and misery the eye of every mortal turns to friends.h.i.+p; in the hour of gladness and conviviality, what is your want? It is friends.h.i.+p. When the heart overflows with grat.i.tude or with other sweet and sacred sentiment, what is the word to which it would give utterance? A friend.

--Walter Savage Landor.

The hurried quest of some people to get hold of new friends is so perpetual that they never have time to get acquainted with anyone.

--M.B.S.

Thine own friend, and thy father's friend, forsake not; And go not to thy brother's house in the day of thy calamity: Better is a neighbor that is near than a brother far off.

--Proverbs 27. 10.

My Lord and my Friend, I pray that my sympathy may be sincere and comforting, and with a glad heart I may bring rejoicing to my friends.

May I learn from thee how I may be a permanent friend. Amen.

SEPTEMBER EIGHTEENTH

Trajan, Roman emperor, born 1584.

James s.h.i.+rley born 1596.

Samuel Johnson born 1709.

Joseph Story born 1779.

There is no greater happiness than to be able to look on a life usefully and virtuously employed: to trace our own purposes in existence by such tokens that excite neither shame nor sorrow.

--Dr. Johnson.

The perfect poise that comes-from self-control, The poetry of action, rhythmic, sweet-- The unvexed music of the body and soul That the Greeks dreamed of, made at last complete.

Our stumbling lives attain not such a bliss; Too often, while the air we vainly beat, Love's perfect law of liberty we miss.

--Annie Matheson.

Brethren, I have lived before G.o.d in all good conscience until this day.

--Acts 23. 1.

Heavenly Father, may I not confuse my life with rebellion, but through thy guidance find peace. Help me through the perplexities that may keep me from the quietness of to-day. Keep me in sight of the great plan of life, that I may grow steadfastly toward thee. Amen.

SEPTEMBER NINETEENTH

Battle of Poitiers 1356.

Hartley Coleridge born 1796.

President Garfield died 1881.

Be not afraid to pray--to pray is right.

Pray if thou canst, with hope; but ever pray Though hope be weak, or sick with long delay; Pray in the darkness, if there be no light.

Far is the time, remote from human sight, When war and discord on earth shall cease: Yet every prayer for universal peace Avails the time to expedite.

--Hartley Coleridge.

More things are wrought by prayer Than the world dreams of. Wherefore let thy voice Rise like a fountain for me night and day.

For what are men better than sheep or goats That nourish a blind life within the brain, If, knowing G.o.d, they lift not hands of prayer Both for themselves and those who call them friend?

For so the whole world is every way Bound by gold chains about the feet of G.o.d.

--Alfred Tennyson.

Continue stedfastly in prayer, watching therein with thanksgiving.

--Colossians 4. 2.

O Lord, give me the desire to pray, and teach me to pray as thou wouldst have my needs. Sustain me, that I may overcome my weaknesses, and strengthen me, that I may have thine approval. May I be reverent and unselfish as I come to thee in prayer. Amen.

SEPTEMBER TWENTIETH

Battle of Salamis B. C. 480.

Alexander the Great born B. C. 356.

Robert Emmet died 1803.

David Ross Locke (Petroleum V. Nasby) born 1833.

'Tis weary watching wave by wave, And yet the tide heaves onward; We climb, like corals, grave by grave, That pave a pathway sunward.

We're driven back, for our next fray A newer strength to borrow; And where the vanguard camps to-day, The rear shall rest to-morrow.