THE BELL OF THE ANGELS. It is said, somewhere at twilight, If he put from his heart's inner chamber That throb in the pulses of life; If he thrust from his soul all hatred, Let us look in our hearts, and question : To a soul, if it be already The dwelling of thoughts of sin? So, then, let us ponder a little,- June 28. By them (the springs) shall the fowls of the heaven have their habitation, which sing among the branches. -PSA. civ. 12. STOP and think how bleak a world this would be if it were quite empty of all our little brothers and sisters, the dumb animals. Just imagine a broad field of green grass without a living thing in sight. Picture a forest, with boughs, and branches, and leaves all a-dance in the sunshine and the wind, but with never a linnet, nor robin, nor small brown bird; think of the hillsides without a squirrel or a rabbit to run and frisk, and peek. Poor little things! with curiosity in their bright eyes, and fright and interest in their quickthumping little hearts! Let us love them, and uproot from our hearts all inclination to catch them and hold them and tease them. THE BIRD'S NEST. I have found a nest full of pretty eggs, Five pretty eggs, that, by and by With beaks, and feathers, and wings to fly, And, by and by, I will come, some day, I have heard it said, that once on a time, A little boy found a nest of eggs, And that poor little boy, so little he knew, I am sure if he only had known, like me, That if he only would let them be He would never have taken the pretty nest, And perhaps that five little birdies more But away off there in the blue, I see And, lest she should think I mean to keep So, little brown birdie, do not fear, H. J. WESCOTT. June 29. Praise the Lord from the earth, creeping things and birds of wing.-Psa. cxlviii. 7, 10. WOULD you like to attend a musical entertainment of high class, where all the participants are skilled musicians? You may do it free of charge. Rise with the sun, on a bright summer morning, and take a stroll on the lawn or in the garden, or, better, in the woods or the fields. As you have come out for the express purpose of hearing choice music, listen so attentively that none of the precious strains shall escape. Listen! Isn't that grand music? How sweet! how perfect! how delightful! Surely God is good for sending us such sweetvoiced winged messengers of love. Listen! They are singing praises to their Maker. Our Dumb Animals. MORNING SONGS. At one in the morning, All's silent in Birdland, all bright eyes are At two in the morning, Some dreaming young thing a snatch of its At three in the morning, At four in the morning, All, merry and mad, pour a medley of song on the quivering air. EDITH M. THOMAS. June 30. The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.-PSA. xxxiii. 5. REST your soul by remembering that One who feeds the birds and clothes the lilies is around you, close as the air, warm as the sunlight, with His careful cherishing ministries. Learn from the birds and the lilies to rest on the loving care which enfolds you. JAMES BALDWIN BROWN. GOD'S FATHER-CARE. There is no birdling in the nest the breeze rocks in the tree, warm, And shelter it most lovingly from sunshine and from storm. To every flitting butterfly, the flower-cups open wide ; Beneath the green leaf's canopy, the meanest worm may hide; Each tiny insect finds or builds some little house or cell, Now, who has thought of all these things? Who planned and made them all? The One who counts the shining stars, and suffers none to fall; His tender Father-love is stretched o'er everything we see, And faileth never, night or day, to care for you and me. After the German of Hey.-C. M. HARRIS. July 1. Go, work to-day in My vineyard.—MATT. xxi. 28. Do you desire that your work should never weary you? Think that you are giving pleasure to another, and are pleasing God. MY QUESTION. I asked a bee that was flitting by To tell me its story, and say to me why It seemed as happy at work as at play; For it hummed its song the livelong day, Yet it worked, and worked, and worked, for aye; Always do your work first, and then, afterwards, play." July 2. Owe no man anything but to love one another.-ROM. xiii. 8. SHALL we not choose Love, the beautiful guest, to come and live with us, and say to Envy, and Anger, and Evil-Speaking, and Impatience, that we have no room for them? For Love will not live with bad companions, and if we think unkind thoughts, and say unkind words of others, she will not stay with us. And we must be ready |