Varieties and realities of your existence;

The bliss of growth,

The glory of action,

The splendor of beauty:

For yesterday is but a dream,
And to-morrow is only a vision,
But to-day well-lived makes

Every yesterday a dream of happiness,
And every to-morrow a vision of hope.
Look well, therefore, to this day!
Such is the salutation of the dawn.

JOYFULNESS

From the Sanskrit.

IT It may be truly said that no man does any work perfectly who does not enjoy his work. Joy in one's work is the consummate tool without which the work may be done indeed, but without its finest perfectness. Men who do their work without enjoying it are like men carving statues with hatchets. A man who does his work with thorough enjoyment of it is like an artist who holds an exquisite tool which is almost as obedient to him as his own hand, and almost works intelligently with him.

PHILLIPS BROOKS.

SONNET ON HIS BLINDNESS

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, Lodg'd 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-labor, 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."

JOHN MILTON.

THE SINGER

GIVE us, O give us the man who sings at his work. Be his occupation what it may, he is equal to any of those who follow the same pursuit in silent sullenness. He will do more in the same time-he will do it better he will persevere longer. One is scarcely sensible of fatigue while he marches to music. The very stars are said to make harmony as they revolve in their spheres. Wondrous is the strength of cheerfulness, although past calculation its power of endurance. Efforts, to be permanently useful, must be uniformly joyous - a spirit all sunshine, graceful from very gladness, beautiful because bright.

THOMAS CARLYLE.

ODE TO DUTY

STERN Daughter of the Voice of God!
O Duty! if that name thou love
Who art a light to guide, a rod
To check the erring, and reprove;
Thou, who art victory and law

When empty terrors overawe;

From vain temptations dost set free;
And calm'st the weary strife of frail
humanity!

There are who ask not if thine eye
Be on them; who, in love and truth,
Where no misgiving is, rely

Upon the genial sense of youth:

Glad Hearts! without reproach or blot;
Who do thy work, and know it not:
Oh! if through confidence misplaced
They fail, thy saving arms, dread Power!
around them cast.

Serene will be our days and bright,
And happy will our nature be,

When love is an unerring light,
And joy its own security.

And they a blissful course may hold
Even now, who, not unwisely bold,

Live in the spirit of this creed;

Yet seek thy firm support, according to their need.

I, loving freedom, and untried;
No sport of every random gust,