Over a winding, wayside wall,

Ragged, and rough, and gray,

There crept a tender and clinging vine,
Tireless day by day.

At last its mantle of softest tint
Covered each jagged seam;

The straggling wall, half broken down,
Became, with that leafy, tinted crown,
Fair as an artist's dream.

Oh for the kindness that clings and twines
Over life's broken wall,

That blossoms above the scars of pain,
Striving to hide them all!

Oh for the helpful, ministering hands,
Beneficent, willing feet,

That spread rich mantles of tender thought
O'er life's hard places, till Time has wrought
Its healing- divine, complete.

LANTA WILSON SMITH.

Heavenly Father, along our path of life there thrusts itself this rough, ragged, and gray stone wall -symbol of disappointed hopes, unrealized ideals, thwarted ambitions. We cannot evade it. We dare not ignore it. Help us that, like the "tender and clinging vine," we may thrust our roots deep in Thee, and drawing nourishment from thence may we grow on and over the jagged seams of this winding wayside wall making of it a veritable ladder whereon to climb heavenward. Thus shall we be more than conquerors through Him who strengtheneth us. Amen.

HENRY BLATZ, JR.

A crowd of troubles passed him by,
As he with courage waited,
He said: "Where do you troubles fly
When you are thus belated?"

"We go," they said, "to those who mope,
Who look on life dejected,

Who meekly say good-bye to hope;
We go where we're expected."
HELEN E. STARRETT.

Our dear Father, as we pick up our loads this new day, having rested safely and peacefully in Thy precious arms, wilt Thou give us the strength and courage to meet and pass by all trouble that comes our way. May we not hesitate on the road to mope, or to give up, but make us hopeful and cheerful, making life the easier, and when our journey is finished, may we see Thee face to face. Amen.

ELSIE M. LINN.

In other days of other years afar,

To all life's vaunting joys I gladly turned,
Mine own self-will, my happiness, the quest
And yet in vain! For this I had not learned:
Thou knowest best.

Through tears and trials still 'tis ours to prove
Or soon or late, for so to choose we may, -
There is no gladness, harmony, nor rest
Until we do Thy will, content to pray:
Thou knowest best.

Beyond the dim horizon's distant hills

I cannot see the path, nor trace the way

My feet shall walk. Nor do I ask, What test?
What gain? Enough for me it is to say:
Thou knowest best.

EUGENIA BEATRICE MABURY.

Yes, dear Father, Thou knowest best! Surely the great joy of life is worthy achievement. Give us that joy day by day! Help us to make the most of our opportunities, saying not only "Thy will be done," but making the doing of Thy will, whatever our lot and task, life's great aim and purpose. So may we live worthily, finding day by day that we are doing at least something, and achieving something, for the good of men and the glory of God. Amen.

HENRY S. BURRAGE.

We must mind the saying of the grand old martyr I love so to cite "God is our helper, but he loves to be helped." And so as we say in our folk-speech, we must be on hand and get a good ready; must beware how we say, "It is no use trying," when the droughts of life are at their worst. We must trust in the great Helper to curb all our striving, and listen to the Psalmist's cheerful song, "Wait on the Lord, be of good courage, and he shall give thee thy heart's desire."

ROBERT COLLYER.

O Thou who art ever near us, waiting only our readiness to let Thee come in and be our helper, each new morning we would open the doors and windows of our souls to Thee. We would walk with Thee this day with patient trust that in Thine own good time Thou wilt give us our hearts' desires; and we would be co-laborers with Thee in the furthering of Thy beneficent purposes; - helping to make this world of ours a better and a happier dwelling place for Thy children. May the sunlight of Thy goodness and the inspiration to noble thought and deed be reflected from our lives into the lives of all with whom we come into contact. Amen.

R. PERRY BUSH.

It may not be on the mountain's height,
Or over the stormy sea;

It may not be at the battle's front
My Lord will have need of me;

But if by a still, small voice he calls
To paths that I do not know,

I'll answer, dear Lord, with my hand in Thine,
"I'll go where you want me to go.

I'll go where you want me to go, dear Lord,
Over mountain, or plain, or sea;

I'll say what you want me to say, dear Lord,
I'll be what you want me to be."

MARY BROWN.

Dear Master, help us to live this day as in Thy School, with Thee, as our Teacher. We are timid, for we know not what the day may bring to us. Make us brave in heart and stout of faith to enter these new hours. And because of our ignorance and our fearfulness, strew, Thou, this day, with the sunlight of Thy presence. Where Thou goest, we will go. Where Thou leadest, we will follow. Then from Thy words, which are life to us, and from Thyself, best Gift divine, we shall be learning how to grow in knowledge, in grace, in love, even amid the trivial round and common tasks. And when the bell rings, and our day is done, we shall run through the darksome valley, out into the glorious endless sunshine of eternal Home. Make us Thy good pupils this day, for Thy Name's sake. Amen.

WILLIAM B. TOWER.