Not yesterday, to-morrow, but to-day
Holds all of good for all. Th' impartial sun
Shines not alone for the more beauteous flower,
But reaches where the humblest blade of grass
Works its way up through leaves last autumn shed,
And strengthens it with warm life-giving glow.
And so does Love lend its unwearied power
That, with uplifted eyes, the least may pass
Unhurt, unsullied, through earth's fiercest fray;
Guided in darkness and in hunger fed,

Seeing, through faith, God's perfect work as done.
Man's part is to rejoice, and gladly know
That here and now, for you, for me, for all,
Unnumbered blessings from Love's bounty fall.

EDITH C. CARTER.

O God, we thank Thee for the gift of this day, and for all that makes our waking thoughts bright with Thy praise. Thou hast taught us by experience that as our days so our strength shall be; and we trust Thee to give us this day our daily bread. We cannot carry the burden of the past, we dare not assume the uncertainties of the future, we would therefore in Thy strength lay hold of the present. Help us to hold it sacred. Help us to feel Thy presence, to rejoice in Thy greatness and goodness, and to be of service to some of Thy children to-day. Amen.

JOHN A. MACINTOSH.

It's

easy to laugh when the storm is o'er And your ship is safe in port;

Yes, easy to laugh when you're on the shore
Secure from the tempest's sport;

But when wild waves wash o'er the stormswept deck
And your gallant ship is a battered wreck,

Ah, that is the time when it's well worth while
To look in the face of defeat with a smile.

EMIL CARL AURIN.

Almighty and All Gracious God, in whose hand are the forces of the vast world in which we live, so that not even a sparrow falleth to the ground without Thee, Thou who dost make the stormy wind fulfil Thy will, strengthen Thou us with might by Thy spirit working within us, that we may not become weak in the storm and stress of life. Blessed Master, Thou who didst bid Thy disciples to have peace and be of good courage when the waves dashed high, O give, we pray Thee, Thy blessed calm to us when storms threaten to overwhelm. Heavenly Father, make us strong and finally give unto us supreme victory over every force which stands between us and the eternal life. Amen.

ALLEN MACY DULLES.

O friend, a soul is like a harbored ship
It runs ashore on every side but one;
There the deep channel broadens to the sea
And opportunity wide as the world.

Our speech is tongue-tied; the tense wing of song
Flags on the ethered height; the lightest leg
Limps to the goal; art fumbles; lore forgets;
Our fraud is baffled, our ambition balked;
Even our service often is refused;

But in God's essence we are infinite;
He never set a limit to our love.

WENDELL PHILLIPS STAFFORD.

In our lonely moments we seem to be drifting upon a nameless, soundless sea, without purpose and without hope. Yet, our Heavenly Father, we thank Thee that it is only in our lonely moments. When our mood of faith prevails, we may admit that we see through a glass darkly, but we do see. We may move forward very slowly, but we do move. Lord, let us cherish the dream of everlasting progress. Keep alive, we pray Thee, the flame of hope. As we enter upon this new day, may it be with that courage that looks upon life as the way of an inclined plane, and may we go forth with faith that the evening shall find us further on the way. Amen.

ALMON GUNNISON.

My heart's so bright with bloom
For love and spring are here!
I trow there's hardly room
My heart's so bright with bloom!
For one more lilac-plume
Or bluebird's silver prayer.

My heart's so bright with bloom

For love and spring are here!

MARY J. ELMENDORF.

our

Dear Lord of Life, Who givest to the wakening earth the beauty of the springtime, give to our hearts this day the joy of life and the beauty of loving service. Let us live gladsomely, happily, trustingly. Renew our aspirations, restore enthusiasms, quicken our purposes, strengthen our loyalties. Enable us to rise above doubt and fear, selfishness and littleness, unworthiness in thought or unkindness in deed. Grant to us power to grow, and guide that growing that it may fulfil Thy purposes. Grant to us patience and strength for the day's burdens, good success in the day's undertakings, and over all the glory of the eternal hope. Amen.

J. PERCIVAL HUGET.

When I consider how my light is spent

Ere half my days, in this dark world and wide, And that one talent, which is death to hide, Lodged with me useless, though my soul more bent To serve therewith my Maker, and present My true account, lest He returning chide: Doth God exact day-labour, light denied? I fondly ask: But Patience, to prevent That murmur, soon replies, God doth not need Either man's work or His own gifts; who best Bear His mild yoke, they serve Him best: His state Is kingly; thousands at His bidding speed, And post o'er land and ocean without rest; They also serve who only stand and wait.

MILTON.

Our Father, show us how we may better serve with what we have, and help us to further serve Thee by patience amid our disabilities. As in our poverty we bravely meet our days, may the image of Thy dear Christ grow in us, and may our strong contentment make others strong and speak to them of Thee. We ask that such things as we have not may perfect in us the spirit of childlikeness and lead us to Thyself, the Great Possession. Let us believe that the place of the poor and weak cannot be filled by the rich and strong, and that, while we do but little, bearing much may be the golden summit of all loyalty. Amen.

WALTER M. PATTON.