I wish that there were some wonderful place

Called the Land of Beginning Again,

Where all our mistakes and all our heart aches
And all of our poor selfish grief

Could be dropped, like a shabby old coat, at the door,
And never put on again.

We would find all the things we intended to do
But forgot, and remembered· - too late,
Like praises, unspoken, little promises broken,
And all of the thousand and one

Little duties neglected that might have perfected
The day for one less fortunate.

L. F. TARKINGTON.

66

O Thou forgiving Heavenly Father, hold out Thy loving hand to us and draw us to the place where we may start again. Take away the grief that weakens us and give new hope to strengthen us. Thou hast said, Behold I make all things new." Make this day a fresh beginning and this morn the world renew. Send some angel of the morning to freshen our jaded spirits and give us the power to awaken new hopes in other hearts. Amen.

E. VICTOR BIGELOW.

Hills be to climb,

And sturdy winds to breast,
Paths may be rough

By which we reach the crest.
sweet my heart

Yet sing

Press upward as the years grow old

Our heritage the coming year shall hold.

ALDIS DUNBAR.

Let every dawn of morning be to you as the beginning of life, and every setting sun be to you as its close; then let every one of these short lives leave its pure record of some kindly thing done for others goodly strength or knowledge gained for yourselves. RUSKIN.

some

Our Father in Heaven, we thank Thee for the visions that shine before us. We thank Thee for the hopes which never grow dim. We thank Thee for the promises which Thou hast given that our visions shall be fulfilled and our hopes realized in the perfect days which are to come. But we thank Thee most of all that Thou hast taught us that in the common services of our daily lives we build the fulfillment of our hopes and the realization of our visions. We thank Thee that each common service hastens the coming of the perfect day. Grant us the grace to go forward step by step and the grace to do in kindness and faithfulness the thing that is just before us, knowing that thus we work with God in the building of the Eternal City. May each small thing seem worth the doing, because we see it as a part of the fulfillment of Thine own perfect purpose. Amen.

ROBERT C. DENISON.

Strength for to-day is all that we need,
As there never will be a to-morrow;
For to-morrow will prove but another to-day,
With its measure of joy and sorrow.

Then why forecast the trials of life,

With much sad and grave persistence,
And wait and watch for a crowd of ills
That as yet have no existence?

Strength for to-day, in house and home,
To practice forbearance sweetly;
To scatter kind words and loving deeds,
Still trusting in God completely.

ANONYMOUS.

Father of Lights, whose unvarying love has so often shamed our fears, lift up the light of Thy countenance upon us and make morning in our hearts. Give us, as Thy sons, courage for the day's work, and minds quick to find our Father's hand in the day's experience and our Father's likeness in the men about us. May we make no one sorrowful to-day, but brighten the world in our measure with the helpfulness of Him who came not to judge, but to save it. So may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ go with us to the day's close. Amen. EDGAR J. GOODSPEED.

Change the dream of me and mine
For the truth of Thee and Thine,
And, through chaos, doubt, and strife,
Interfuse Thy calm of life.

*

*

*

Clothe with life the weak intent,
Let me be the thing I meant;
Let me find in Thy employ
Peace that dearer is than joy;
Out of self to love be led
And to heaven acclimated,

Until all things sweet and good
Seem my natural habitude.

JOHN G. WHITTIER.

Heavenly Father, we rejoice in Thy love, and in Thy manifold blessings. Greater than we can number have been Thy mercies all the days of our lives. Many times we have been selfish and ungrateful. We have forgotten Thee, and in our hearts there has been no thankfulness. Forgive us, we pray Thee, and grant that this day may be filled with joy and inspiration. Broaden our vision, deepen our consecration, and help us to worship Thee in spirit and in truth. In the Master's name, we ask it. Amen.

JAMES F. HALLIDAY.

I prayed for wealth:

Then what I had, all that I lost.

I prayed for fame:

It came to others, but me it mocked.

I prayed for health:

But strength grew less, and with it heart and hope. I prayed for courage:

But cruel, heartless fate gave only fear for what I asked,

I prayed to die:

But awful answer this

a living death. I prayed at last, Thy will alone be done:

Then heaven heard and gave me all the good

I asked before, a thousandfold;

And with it love to God and all mankind

And deathless life.

FRANK N. RIALE.

Heavenly Father, grant to us the spirit of sincere, unfeigned humility, and by the gracious influences of Thy Spirit cherish, and deepen, and perfect it, that we may build for Thee of lowly thoughts and lowly aims an abiding place within our souls. Forgive whatever has grieved Thy love in our thoughts or words or deeds, and if, consciously or unconsciously, we have become estranged from Thee, have mercy upon us according to Thy loving kindness. May we not strive to master others, but may we aim in love to serve them. We ask this, in the spirit of Him who came not to be ministered unto, but to minister. Amen.

GEORGE L. PAYSON.