Sunlit Days

Did you ever find the Happiness Flower?
It isn't so hard to find;

It opens wide at the morning hour,

In the meadows of cheerful mind.

But it sometimes grows in the sandy dust
That fills the desert of care,

And down in the fields of perfect trust
You always can find it there.

It's sweet as honey, the Happiness Flower,
Winter and summer the same

On the difficult hills by troublous tower,
It shines like a rosy flame.

If ever you find the Happiness Flower,
And it isn't so hard to find

By the rainbow's end in an April shower,
Where the tears and the smiles are twined,

May it flourish fair in your garden ground,
A'glisten with joy's bright dew;

May the sunshine of love the whole year round

Lie warm on your flower and you. A. N. K.

Our Heavenly Father, we come to Thee in our search for the happiness flower. Though in the years that are gone our search may have been in vain, let us not give over the quest. But with renewed hope may we set out upon the new year confidently expecting to find it in any turn of the road, in any field, in any human experience. And may we not search afar, for by the divine alchemy of Thy love Thou causest the flames of happiness to blossom out of commonest soil. Yet may we ever remember that they blossom most freely in the fields of perfect trust. Amen.

GEORGE L. PERIN.

To be alive in such an age!

With every year a lightening page
Turned in the world's great wonder book,
Whereon the leaning nations look.
When men speak strong for brotherhood,
For peace and universal good,
When miracles are everywhere
And every inch of common air
Throbs a tremendous prophecy
Of greater marvels yet to be.

To be alive in such an age
To live to it,

To give to it!

What if thy lips have drunk the lees?
Fling forth thy sorrow to the wind
And link thy hope with human kind.

The passion of a larger claim

Will put thy puny grief to shame.

Breathe the world thought, do the world deed,

Think hugely of thy brother's need.

And what thy woe, and what thy weal?

Look to the work the times reveal!

Give thanks with all thy flaming heart
Crave but to have in it a part.

Give thanks and clasp thy heritage —
To be alive in such an age.

ANGELA MORGAN.

Give us this day our daily bread, we pray,
And give us likewise, Lord, our daily thought,
That our poor souls may strengthen as they ought
And starve not on the husks of yesterday.

PHILLIPS BROOKS.

When nights are calm, and days are dear,
What can one do but sing?
When happiness is everywhere,
What can one do but sing?
The mountains melt along the sky,
The snowy pigeons circling fly,
A thousand visions kiss the eye,
What can one do but sing?

When hope is throned in the heart,
What can one do but sing?
When pity pleads, and sweet tears start,
What can one do but sing?
A thousand lights are in the sky,
A thousand thoughts about me fly,
A thousand visions kiss mine eye,
What can I do but sing?

ROBERT LOVEMAN.

Our Father who art in heaven, we thank Thee this morning that Thou dost give us songs even in the night. We thank Thee also that after the night comes the morning, that after the darkness comes the light and that after our doubts and fears come the clear skies and shining sun. Forgive us that we have ever doubted Thy goodness. Forgive us that we have complained and murmured when we should have been thankful and happy. Help us to begin this day with songs of praise, and to make it a joyous day for all who come within the circle of our influence. Thus may our smiles and sunshine and our singing make others glad. Amen.

WILLIAM BURT.