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Father, sometimes the path we have to take seems to be surrounded with shadows and to lead nowhere. Guide us, dear God, make very plain the way we ought to go and give us the sense of Thy protection. When we feel we are alone, wilt Thou take our hand and firmly lead us onward. May we always know that Thou, in Thy fatherly love, wilt never leave us, even for a brief time. So keep us near to Thee until at last we do indeed see Thee face to face. Amen. GERTRUDE STEVENS LEAVITT.

Hast ever thought, O thou of cynic tongue,
Who aimest shafts with such envenomed point,
Inveighing at a world so out of joint,

That all of Life from the same Hand had sprung
And that a Master Hand? Canst thou believe
That He who filled our lives with joy and light
Has not within His grasp a power and might
In perfect harmony His plans to weave?
O ye of little faith? Can ye not trust,
Reasoning from what ye know, to the unknown?
Wait ye in patient hope because ye must,

Nor think that God will not protect his own.
Sublime conceit, that rears its puny thought
Where wisest minds have but too feebly taught !
HENRY W. COLBY.

O God, the life giver, by Thy Holy Spirit inspire new faith, that we may build at the dawn of another day, on the wreckage of the doubts of yesterday; speak courage to our perplexed souls, that looking into Thy face, O Blessed Jesus, we may cry "Lord, I believe, help Thou my unbelief!" Teach us, O Lord, to trust Thy protecting love, make us conscious of Thy presence, then shall the richest joy of divine companionship be ours; grant that over our lives may break the vision of that golden tomorrow, of social welfare and spiritual benediction for all our fellow beings, which shall come if we, in the morning of our days, fulfill the task Thou hast given us to do. Amen.

HENRY FORSYTHE MILLIGAN.

Build thee more stately mansions, O my soul,

As the swift seasons roll!

Leave thy low-vaulted past!

Let each new temple, nobler than the last,
Shut thee from heaven with a dome more vast,

Till thou at length art free,

Leaving thine outgrown shell by life's unresting sea! OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES.

Almighty God, our Father, cleanse us from every thought displeasing to Thy Goodness. Arm us with the armor of righteousness, garrison us with Thy Truth, guard us with Thy Power. Give us a memory that quickly forgets all injuries, and a recollection that clings with all the tenacity of love to every deed of kindness and every speech of gratitude. Fill us with Thy love that forgives and summons, and empowers; and, under this, Thy challenging call, send us out into the world to-day with renewed purity of soul, elevation of purpose, and breadth of charity, bringing the highest spiritual motive to every task. Amen.

WILLIAM ARNOLD SHANKLIN.

Here are two women going down to work among the sick and the poor. One goes because there is a fashion of it, because she would fain have the credit which belongs to the lady bountiful. She moves among them like an iceberg, and they hate her. She brings a chill with her which all her coals and blankets can never warm away. The other goes because she believes in it, believes that God wants her to do it, believes that the sorrowful and the distressed are Christ's brethren, and that she is bound to them, and that they have immortal souls which she may win for Him. She moves among them like a sister of Jesus and a friend of God; and of her the Master says, "Inasmuch as she hath done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, she hath done it unto me."

HENRY VAN DYKE.

not tears

Great Father, link us more closely to our brothers and sisters. Some are in poverty, some are sick, some have woe, some are outcast, some are in prison, and all need contact, tender, brave, healing. As we pass by their homes and lives may we bring smiles, courage, not despair — help, not hurt balm, not bane heaven, not hell! Give us glowing heart, a kindly hand, and lighten us with the cheer and romance of unselfish doing. Grant, O Father, we may be more like Him who became a servant to show us how to serve, and from Him, at last, may we hear "Well done!" Amen.

JOHN A. WADE.

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There is no noble height thou canst not climb;
All triumphs may be thine in Time's futurity
If, whatso'er thy fault, thou dost not faint or halt,
But lean upon the staff of God's security.

Earth has no claim the soul cannot contest;
Know thyself part of that Eternal Source,
And naught can stand before thy spirit's force -
The soul's divine inheritance is best.

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ELLA WHEELER WILCOX.

Almighty and Gracious God, we thank Thee that with all Thy giving to the sons of men Thou hast given that best of gifts, the spirit of conquest in which is victory. We bless Thee that there is within our souls the stirring of a divine discontent; and that the unsatisfied longings of this present life are the sure earnest of the triumph that shall be hereafter. We trust Thee as the secret of our strength, the surety of our ultimate success. We look to Thee for daily grace and lean upon the arm of Thy divine paternity. We seek the peace that lies in trust and the confidence that rests on faith. Give us the comfort of Thy presence this day and every day. Amen. JOHN B. KELLY.

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