Jacob Riis born 1849.
The longing for ign.o.ble things; The strife for triumph more than truth; The hardening of the heart that brings Irreverence for the dreams of youth;
All these must first be trampled down Beneath our feet, if we would gain In the bright fields of fair renown The right of eminent domain.
--John Keble.
One lesson, and only one, history may be said to repeat with distinctness; that the world is built somehow on moral foundations; that in the long run, it is well with the good; in the long run it is ill with the wicked.
--James Anthony Froude.
No soldier on service entangleth himself in the affairs of this life; that he may please him who enrolled him as a soldier. And if also a man contend in the games, he is not crowned, except he have contended lawfully.
--2 Timothy 2. 4, 5.
Gracious Father, may my heart be mindful of thee, that I may discover the truth and possess it. Steady me in my affections and save me from wandering impulses; and may I help to put wrong down and uplift humanity. Amen.
MAY FOURTH
Frederick Edwin Church born 1826.
Isaac Barrow died 1677.
John James Audubon born 1780.
Horace Mann born 1796.
Thomas Henry Huxley born 1825.
The chess board is the world, the pieces are the phenomena of the universe, the rules of the game we call the laws of nature. My metaphor will remind some of you of the famous picture in which Retzsch has depicted Satan playing chess with man for his soul.
Subst.i.tute for the mocking fiend in that picture a calm, strong angel, who is playing "for love," as we say, and would rather lose than win, and I should accept it as an image of human life.
--Thomas Henry Huxley.
Riches and n.o.bility fade together. O, my G.o.d! be thou praised for having made love for all time, and immortal as thyself.
--George Sand.
He hath given food unto them that fear him: He will ever be mindful of his covenant.
The works of his hands are truth and justice; All his precepts are sure.
--Psalm 111. 5, 7.
Father of life, I know I cannot hold youth. I may have prosperity or poverty. I thank thee that thou hast taught me that love may be kept changeless through all. Amen.
MAY FIFTH
Napoleon Bonaparte died 1821.
Empress Eugenie born 1826.
Bret Harte died 1902.
As I stand by the cross, on the lone mountain"s crest, Looking over the ultimate sea, In the gloom of the mountain a ship lies at rest, And one sails away from the lea; One spreads its white wings on the far-reaching track, With pennant and sheet flowing free; One hides in the shadow with sails laid aback-- The ship that is waiting for me.
But lo! in the distance the clouds break away, The gate"s glowing portals I see, And I hear from the outgoing ship in the bay The song of the sailors in glee.
So I think of the luminous footprints that bore The comfort o"er dark Galilee, And wait for the signal to go to the sh.o.r.e To the ship that is waiting for me.
--Bret Harte.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me; Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.
--Psalm 23. 4.
Eternal G.o.d, I praise thee, that "thy love is broader than the measure of man"s mind," and that through all my years I may hide myself in thee, trusting thee to the end. Amen.
MAY SIXTH
Plato born B.C. 427.
Robespierre born 1758.
General Andrea Messena born 1758.
Hard ye may be in the tumult, Red to your battle hilts; Blow give blow in the foray, Cunningly ride in the tilts.
But tenderly, unbeguiled-- Turn to a woman a woman"s Heart, and a child"s to a child.
Test of the man if his worth be In accord with the ultimate plan That he be not, to his marring, Always and utterly man.
That he may bring out of the tumult, Fetter and undefiled, To woman the heart of a woman-- To children the heart of a child.[1]
--O. Henry.
A man"s concern is only whether in doing anything he is doing right or wrong--acting the part of a good man or a bad.
--Plato.
A faithful man shall abound with blessings.
--Proverbs 28. 20.