Leaves of Life Part 13

Saint Valentine's Day.

Captain James Cook killed 1779.

Jean Ernest Reynaud born 1808.

Oh! little loveliest lady mine, What shall I send for your valentine?

Summer and flowers are far away; Gloomy old Winter is king to-day; Buds will not blow, and sun will not s.h.i.+ne: What shall I do for a valentine?

I've searched the gardens all through and through For a bud to tell of my love so true; But buds are asleep and blossoms are dead, And the snow beats down on my poor little head: So, little loveliest lady mine, Here is my heart for your valentine.

--Laura E. Richards.

Oh rank is gold, and gold is fair, And high and low mate ill; But love has never known a law Beyond its own sweet will!

--John G. Whittier.

Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of G.o.d.

--1 John 4. 7.

Loving Father, may I not fall to nodding in the balmy air of luxury and miss the messages of love. Arouse me, that I may give and take in the treasures of love as they come my way, and that they may not pa.s.s unnoticed. Amen.

FEBRUARY FIFTEENTH

Galileo Galilei born 1564.

Louis XV born 1710.

S. Weir Mitch.e.l.l born 1829.

Sir Frederick Treves born 1853.

The night I know is nigh at hand, The mists lie low on hill and bay, The autumn sheaves are brown and dry, But I have had the day.

Yes, I have had, dear Lord, the day.

When at thy call I have the night Brief be the twilight as I pa.s.s From light to dark, from dark to light.

--S. Weir Mitch.e.l.l.

If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small--too small to be worth talking about, for the day of adversity is its first real opportunity.

--Maltbie Babc.o.c.k.

Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

--Romans 8. 37.

My Father, may my daily work not be the means of separating me from thee, but may I have thee for my companion through my work. Forbid that I should ever submit to despair from weakness of body, but that I may be blest and grow strong as my spirit lives in thee. Amen.

FEBRUARY SIXTEENTH

Philip Melanchthon born 1497.

Gasper de Coligny born 1517.

Thomas Robert Malthus born 1766.

Ernst Heinrich Haeckel born 1834.

Thy love shall chant its own beat.i.tudes After its own life working. A child's kiss Set on thy sighing lips shall make thee glad.

A poor man served by thee shall make thee rich; A sick man helped by thee shall make thee strong; Thou shalt be served thyself by every sense Of service which thou renderest.

--Elizabeth B. Browning.

Ask nothing more of me, sweet; All I can give you I give.

Heart of my heart, were it more, More would be laid at your feet: Love that should help you to live, Song that should help you to soar.

--Algernon Charles Swinburne.

All things therefore whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, even so do ye also unto them.

--Matthew 7. 12.

Lord G.o.d, I pray that I may not neglect the help and happiness that I may give with compa.s.sion and love. Make me strong in all the senses that answer to the call of humanity. Help me to guide and protect little children, and to care for the comforts of the old. Amen.

FEBRUARY SEVENTEENTH

Kate Greenaway born 1846.

Michael Angelo Buonarroti died 1563.

Giordano Bruno burned at Rome 1600.

Moliere died 1673.

Rose Terry Cooke born 1827.

Frances E. Willard died 1898.