Leaves of Life Part 103

Matthew Arnold born 1822.

John Morley born 1838.

William Makepeace Thackeray died 1863.

Ah, friend, let us be true To one another! For the world, which seems To lie before us like a land of dreams, So various, so beautiful, so new, Hath really neither joy, nor love, nor light, Nor cert.i.tude, nor peace, nor help for pain, And we are here as on a darkling plain Swept with confused alarms of struggle and flight, Where ignorant armies clash by night.

--Matthew Arnold.

We take care of our health, we lay up money, we make our roof tight and our clothing sufficient, but who provides wisely that we shall not be wanting in the best property of all--friends?

--Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Faithful are the wounds of a friend.

--Proverbs 27. 6.

Gracious Lord, fill my life with the spirit of love and sacrifice. I bless thee for the deep fellows.h.i.+ps and tender intimacies; and on the eve of this Christmas ask thy blessing for all, as my heart rings with joy for those whom I love. Amen.

DECEMBER TWENTY-FIFTH

Christmas Day.

Sir Isaac Newton born 1642.

William Collins born 1721.

Father Taylor born 1794.

This is the month, and this is the happy morn, Wherein the Son of heaven's eternal King, Of wedded maid, and virgin mother born, Our great redemption from above did bring.

--John Milton.

Christmas is here; Winds whistle shrill, Icy and chill, Little care we; Little we fear Weather without, Shelter'd about The Mahogany tree.

--William M. Thackeray.

And the angel said unto them, Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all the people: for there is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord.

--Luke 2. 10, 11.

Almighty G.o.d, I give honor and praise to express my joy for thy great love in the gift of thy Son, Jesus Christ. With a glad heart I wish all mankind "A merry Christmas," and may I ever remember, where the angels sang, "Peace on earth, good will toward men." Amen.

DECEMBER TWENTY-SIXTH

Thomas Gray born 1716.

Mrs. Southworth born 1818.

Stephen Girard died 1831.

Let not ambition mock their useful toil, Their homely joys, and destiny obscure; Nor grandeur hear with a disdainful smile The short and simple annals of the poor.

Nor you, ye proud, impute to those the fault, If memory o'er their tomb no trophies raise, Where, through the long-drawn aisle and fretted vault, The pealing anthem swells the note of praise.

Full many a gem of purest ray serene The dark, unfathomed caves of ocean bear; Full many a flower is born to blush unseen, And waste its sweetness on the desert air.

--Thomas Gray.

Jehovah, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty; Neither do I exercise myself in great matters, Or in things too wonderful for me.

--Psalm 131. 1.

Gracious Father, give me the courage to live my life, and the endurance to overcome the disappointments that may come to me. May I not be neglectful of the great opportunities of which I am privileged to take advantage. May I not be pretentious of what I have not done, or boastful of what I am, but with my best ability live in truth.

Amen.

DECEMBER TWENTY-SEVENTH

Jacques Bernoulli born 1654.

Johann Kepler born 1571.

Charles Lamb died 1834.

There is a time in every man's education when he arrives at the conviction that envy is ignorance; that imitation is suicide; that he must take himself for better or worse, as his portion; that, though the wide universe is full of good, no kernel of nouris.h.i.+ng corn can come to him but through his toil bestowed on that plot of ground which is given him to till.

--Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Knowing ourselves, our world, our task so great, Our time so brief, 'tis clear if we refuse The means so limited, the tools so rude To execute our purpose, life will fleet, And we shall fade, and leave our task undone.

--Robert Browning.

Study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your hands.

--1 Thessalonians 4. 11.

Lord G.o.d of life, give me the desire to learn, and the wisdom to live in my best. May I not fail to culture my mind and heart and make life productive and worthy. Help me to see the mistakes that I have made in the past, and in the year that is approaching not only try to avoid them, but try to make amends for them. Amen.