We wonder what the future holds
For thee and me;

Its shade or sun, its bloom or blast,
We may not see.

Yet, in the future stands our God,
The surest friend,

To whose benignant sovereignty
All forces bend.

And so the future for us holds

A blessing true;

Whether enwrapped in calm or storm,
In dust or dew.

In it may wait the sweetest flower

Or sharpest rod;

Yet all its weeks and days and hours
Are full of God.

JOHN GAYLORD DAVENPORT.

Our Father-God, we are Thy children. Thy spirit dwells in us. Thy life and love, truth and power are now and always coming down around us in soft showers of spiritual influence to cleanse us of evil, to strengthen us in weakness, and to protect us from harm. Therefore we are safe and strong and successful. And since we are the willing inlet and outlet of Thy renewing grace, we are not only prosperous and happy ourselves, but we are so surrounded by Thy presence that all who come within the radiant circle of our influence feel Thy hand touch them, and thereby they, too, are uplifted, strengthened, blest. Amen.

ALEXANDER T. BOWSER.

And so, as Tiny Tim observed, "God bless Us, Every One!"

CHARLES DICKENS.

66 'And how did little Tim behave?" asked Mrs. Cratchit.

66

He

As good as gold," said Bob, "and better. Somehow he gets thoughtful, sitting by himself so much, and thinks the strangest things you ever heard. told me, coming home, that he hoped people saw him in the church, because he was a cripple, and it might be pleasant to them to remember upon Christmas Day, who made lame beggars walk and blind men see.” CHARLES DICKENS.

Thou Blessed Spirit of Life, thou God of the poor and the rich, of the sad and the joyful, we thank Thee for the strange and the wonderful transforming power of love. We thank Thee for the happy providence, which associates the birth of Jesus with the spirit of peace and good will. On this day, at least, may all angry clamor and strife among men cease; may all criticism be hushed; may the roar of battle die away and the spirit of peace and kindness reign in the hearts of men. Even as Thou givest every day, may we give to-day with no thought of self. On this wonderful day may our ruling thought be to lend our help to make a better and happier world. May our prayer be that of Tiny Tim. God bless us, every one. Amen.

GEORGE L. PERIN.

Why mourn we for the golden prime

When our young souls were kingly, strong and true?

The soul is greater than all time,

It changes not, but yet is ever new.

But that the soul is noble, we

Could never know what nobleness had been; Be what ye dream, and earth shall see

A greater greatness than she e'er hath seen. . .

God bless the Present; it is all;

It has been Future, and it shall be Past; Awake and live; thy strength recall,

And in one trinity unite them fast.

JAMES RUSSELL Lowell.

O God, who wast, and art, and art to come, giver of all life, our Father! we thank Thee for this present day and hour. That here Thou hast called us to work, and to create our life side by side with Thee. Help us worthily to live to-day, soberly, yet joyfully, with mind alert and fearless heart. May all that the past has given us, in brave, inspiring example, in joy of victory or in humbling experience, be near to help us now. May we be true to all our best hopes and holiest aspirations. Above all, may Thy wise love attend us and make us true and strong in needful time. So when eventide is come, and this day is forever counted with the past, may we not be sorry or ashamed to leave it in Thy hands. Amen.

PHILIP L. SCHENK.

A little trust that when we die
We reap our sowing! And so,
Good-bye!

GEORGE DU MAURIER.

Our God and Father, teach us to live and work and hope, with faith undimmed and joy unceasing. May wisdom, strength and grace be ours, and keep our feet in duty's pathway, to lift our minds to nobler things, to stay our souls on Thee, unchangeable, divine, without complaint, without disdain. May we do Thy appointed work and meet with calmness and cheer the ordinary and the unusual experiences this, Thy day, may bring. And help us, Lord, to render service by the way, to all whom we may meet, by word, look, or act, conveying the message which Thy heart of love longs to bring to every discouraged soul and disheartened life. In the spirit of the Master, let us live and work this day. Amen.

GAYLORD W. DOUGLASS.

Why should I wait for evening star,
Why should I wait to cross the bar,
And death's dissolving hand to trace
The outlines of my Pilot's face?

Must my frail barque be driven and tossed
By winds and waves, - be wrecked and lost
Upon life's strange and storm-swept sea
Because my Pilot's far from me?

No, not alone my way I trace,

Each wave gives back my Pilot's face;
To every sin and fear and ill,
To every storm he says, "Be still."

I need no longer vex my soul
With longings for that distant goal:

My Pilot sitteth at the prow,

And heaven's within, and here, and now.

ROLLIN J. WELLS.

O Thou, who art the confidence of all the ends of the earth and of them that are afar off upon the sea, unto Thee would we direct our prayer and would look up. We have trusted in Thee and Thou hast not disappointed us. When great storms have been upon the deep and we have been far from land Thou hast come to us with comforting assurances of love and care and we have been graciously kept from harm. Why then should we ever fear? We put our hands in Thine. We rest our souls on Thee. Thou knowest where the harbor lieth and the route to take. Be thou our guide and give direction to all our thoughts and acts. Amen.

WILLIS P. ODELL.