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27. Every evening it was a fresh excitement to watch the lighting of the lamps, and think how far the lighthouse sent its rays, and how many hearts it gladdened with assurance of safety. As I grew older, I was allowed to kindle the lamps sometimes myself. That was indeed a pleasure. So little a creature as I might do that much for the great world! We waited for the spring with an eager longing; the advent of the growing grass, the birds and flowers and insect life, the soft skies and softer winds the everlasting beauty of the thousand tender tints that clothed the world,— these things brought us unspeakable bliss. To the heart of Nature one must needs be drawn in such a life; and very soon I learned how richly she repays in deep refreshment the reverent love of her worshipper. CELIA THAXTER.

28. You should be careful not to intrust another unnecessarily with a secret which it may be a hard matter for him to keep, and which may expose him to somebody's displeasure, when it is hereafter discovered that he was the object of your confidence. Your desire for aid, or for sympathy, is not to be indulged by dragging other people into your misfortunes.

There is as much responsibility in imparting your own secrets, as in keeping those of your neighbor.

ARTHUR HELPS.

Avoid having many confidants. Avoid absorbing and exclusive friendships. They are not wise; they are selfish, and not of the nature of true friendship. They commonly breed trouble, and end in quarrel and heart break.

THEODORE T. MUNGER.

29. The foul toad hath a fair stone in his head; the fine gold is found in the filthy earth; the sweet kernel lyeth in the hard shell; virtue is harbored in the heart of him that most men esteem misshapen. If we respect more the outward shape than the inward habit, into how many mischiefs do we fall, into what blindness are we led! Do we not commonly see that in painted pots is hidden the deadliest poison, that in the greenest grass is the greatest serpent? How frantic are those lovers who are carried away with the gay glistening of the fine face, the beauty whereof is parched with the summer's blaze, and chipped with the winter's blast, which is of so short continuance that it fadeth before one perceives it flourisheth.

LYLY'S "EUPHUES."

30. Patience, accomplish thy labor; accomplish thy work of affection!

Sorrow and silence are strong, and patient endurance is godlike.

Therefore accomplish thy labor of love, till the heart is made godlike,

Purified, strengthened, perfected, and rendered more

worthy of heaven.

LONGFELLOW.

MAY.

1. The clear pure light of the morning made me long for the truth in my heart, which alone could make me pure and clear as the morning, tune me up to the concert-pitch of the nature around me. And the wind that blew from the sunrise made me hope in the God who had first breathed into my nostrils the breath of life; that He would at length so fill me with His breath, His mind, His spirit, that I should think only His thoughts, and live His life, finding therein my own life, only glorified infinitely.

GEORGE MACDONALD.

The face of Nature is the face of God, and must bear expressions that can influence, though unconsciously to them, the most ignorant and hopeless of His children. GEORGE MACDONALD.

2.

Maiden, that read'st this simple rhyme,

Enjoy thy youth, it will not stay;
Enjoy the fragrance of thy prime,
For oh, it is not always May!

Enjoy the Spring of Love and Youth,

To some good angel leave the rest;
For Time will teach thee soon the truth,
There are no birds in last year's nest!

LONGFELLOW.

God's hand is on thee, O my child; God's grace

Go with thee

ELIZABETH STUART PHELPS.

3. I stand in the sunny noon of life. Objects no longer glitter in the dews of morning, neither are yet softened by the shadows of evening. Every spot is seen, every chasm revealed. Climbing the dusty hill, some fair effigies that once stood for human destiny have been broken. Yet enough is left to point distinctly to the glories of that destiny. Always the soul says to us all, "Cherish your best hopes as a faith, and abide by them in action. . . Such shall be the effectual, fervent means to their fulfilment." MARGARET FULLER.

4. A woman has a personal work and duty, relating to her own home, and a public work and duty, which is also the expansion of that. The woman's work for her own home is to secure its order, comfort, and loveliness. The woman's duty, as a member of the commonwealth, is to assist in the ordering, in the comforting, and in the beautiful adornment of the state. What the woman is to be within her gates, as the centre of order, the balm of distress, and the mirror of beauty; that she is also to be without her gates, where order is more difficult, distress more imminent, and loveliness more rare. RUSKIN.

O birds through the heaven that soar
With such tumult of jubilant song!

The shadows are flying before

For the rapture of life is strong.

And my spirit leaps to the light

On the wings of its hope new born,

And I follow your radiant flight
Through the golden halls of morn!

CELIA THAXTER.

5. Yon bells in the steeples, ring, ring out your

changes,

However so many they be,

And let the brown meadow-lark's note as he ranges
Come over, come over to me.

I wish, and I wish that the spring would go faster,
Nor long summer bide so late;

And I could grow on like the foxglove and aster,
For some things are ill to wait.

I wait for the day when dear hearts shall discover,
While dear hands are laid on my head;

"The child is a woman, the book may close over,
For all the lessons are said."

I wait for my story—the birds cannot sing it,
Not one, as he sits on the tree;

The bells cannot ring it, but long years, O bring it!
Such as I wish it to be.

JEAN INGELOW.

6. This, then, is the sum of all. Circumstances are not in our power; virtues are. It is not in our power to avert the bitter failure which the earth may inflict; it is in our power to win the high success which God bestows. The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger; but they that seek the Lord shall want no manner of thing; certainly, which is eternally, infinitely good. No man is a failure who is faithful and upright; no cause is a failure which is just and true.

There is but one failure; and that is, not to be true to the best one knows. To us and to our race, there is but one failure, and that is sin. CANON FARRAR.

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