March 23.

Be content with such things as ye have.-HEB. xiii. 5.

THE best things are nearest: breath in your nostrils, light in your eyes, flowers at your feet, duties at your hand, the path of God just before you.

Then do not grasp at the stars, but do life's plain, common work as it comes, certain that daily duties and daily bread are the sweet things of life.

COMPLAINING MARCH.

March, if you'll hush a moment
Your shrill, wild voice, you'll hear
A silvery bluebird piping

Within your very ear;

And streams that know about the spring
In spite of all the clouds you bring.

You cry for pleasant weather,
For warmth and sunny light;

You wail because of Winter,
But he has taken flight;

With driving sleet you pelt the hours;
Be still, and you shall know of flowers!

You'll feel the buds' quick heart-beats,
Which still in prison you hold,-

They sorely long for freedom,

But fear your blighting cold,

And, with a glad thrill 'gainst your breast,
The home-bound swallow's airy crest.

Pray brush away the wind-clouds
That dim your sight, and look
Where crowds of happy cowslips,
Are stirring by the brook,
And alder tassels show their gold,
And reeds, like soldiers tall and bold,

Equipped to march for summer,
Have their green flags unfurled ;
And by the brown hedge hiding,
Eyes, bluest in the world,
Are ready, any morn, to ope,

If you should smile, and give them hope.

Oh, souls like yours, full many
On this old earth there be,
Who will not cease complaining
Even long enough to see

The very gifts for which they cry,

Close, close within their pathway lie.

SUSAN HARTLEY SWETT.

March 24.

Freely ye have received, freely give.-MATT. x. 8.

A GENEROUS mind never enjoys its possessions so much as when others are made partakers of them.

VIOLETS.

SIR WILLIAM Jones.

Violets, violets, sweet March violets,

Sure as March comes, they'll come too;
First the white, and then the blue,-

Pretty violets!

White, with just a pinky dye,

Blue, as little baby's eye

So like violets.

Though the rough wind shakes the house,
Knocks about the budding boughs,—

There are violets.

Though the passing snow-storms come,
Frightening all the birdies dumb,-
Up spring violets.

One by one, among the grass,
Saying, "Pluck me!" as we pass,—
Scented violets.

By and by there'll be so many
We'll pluck dozens, nor miss any ;
Sweet, sweet violets!

Children, when you go to play,
Look beneath the hedge to-day;
Mamma likes violets.

DINAH MARIA CRAIK.

March 25.

He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.— PROV. xvi. 32.

WHAT is it to be a gentleman? It is to be honest, to be gentle, to be generous, to be brave, to be wise, and, possessing all these qualities, to exercise them in the most graceful outward manner.

WILLIAM MAKEPEACE THACKERAY.

A BETTER WAY.

He lost the game; no matter for that,—
He kept his temper, and swung his hat
To cheer the winners. A better way
Than to lose his temper, and win the day.

March 26.

Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.-PSA. xcvii. II.

A GOOD deed in the morning strews the day's path with roses.

A word of kindness is seldom spoken in vain; it is a seed, which, dropped by chance, springs up a flower.

IN THE MORNING.

A little thing, a sunny smile,
A loving word, at morn,

And all day long the sun shone bright,
The cares of life were made more light,
And sweetest hopes were born.

A little thing, a hasty word

A cruel frown, at morn,

And aching hearts went on their way
And toiled throughout a dreary day,
Disheartened, sad, and lorn.

C. L. HILL.

March 27.

Redeeming the time.-EPH. v. 16.

LOST, yesterday, somewhere between sunrise and sunset, two golden hours, each set with sixty diamond minutes!

No reward is offered, for they are gone forever.

HORACE Mann.

Thou shalt always have joy in the evening, if thou hast spent the day well.

THOMAS Á KEMPIS.

A LOST DAY.

Who's seen my day?
'Tis gone away,
Nor left a trace
In any place.

If I could only find

Its footfall in some mind,

Some spirit-waters stirred

By wand of deed or word,—

I should not stand at shadowy eve,
And for my day so grieve and grieve.

March 28.

A man's wisdom maketh his face to shine.-ECCL. viii. 1.

CONTINUAL thought upon beautiful things, silently brings forth a beautiful spirit.

They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; these see the works of the Lord, and His wonders in the deep. For He commandeth, and