June 26
_Today is your day and mine, the only day we have, the day in which we play our part. What our part may signify in the great whole, we may not understand, but we are here to play it, and now is our time. This we know, it is a part of action, not of whining. It is a part of love, not cynicism. It is for us to express love in terms of human helpfulness. This we know, for we have learned from sad experience that any other course of life leads toward weakness and misery._
DAVID STARR JORDAN.
Our Father, Author alike of the morning light and Guardian through the darkness and shadow of the night, grant us the right spirit as we go forth to the unknown experiences of this day. We would not look eagerly for our own comfort and happiness, but would find them as Thy free gift while we are employed in giving comfort and happiness to others.
Illuminate our lives with happy thoughts, cheerful words and blessed hopes, that we may go forth with no purpose but to do Thy will, and seeking no reward more glorious, than Thine approval whispered into loving and attentive hearts, in Thy name. Amen.
LEWIS G. WILSON.
June 27
_A Persian fable says: "One day A wanderer found a lump of clay, So redolent of sweet perfume Its odors scented all the room.
"What art thou?" was his quick demand; "Art thou some gem from Samarcand, Or spikenard in this rude disguise, Or other costly merchandise?"
"Nay, I am but a lump of clay."
"Then whence this wondrous perfume--say?"
"Friend, if the secret I disclose, I have been dwelling with the rose,"
Sweet parable! and will not those Who love to dwell with Sharon"s Rose, Distil sweet odors all around, Though low and mean themselves are found?
Dear Lord, abide with us, that we May draw our perfume fresh from thee._
ANONYMOUS.
Our Father, which art in heaven,--we thank Thee for the memory of those who lived in Thy spirit and labored in Thy love. The fragrance of their lives abides with us. We thank Thee for the prophets of great hopes,--for those who have seen the invisible, and have searched patiently for the city of their G.o.d. We bless those who by their pure hearts and unselfish lives have revealed unto us our greater selves.
Help us to learn of them the way of life. Help us to live in such thoughts and deeds as made them truly great. Keep our hearts so pure to-day, our vision of the Master life so clear, that our path, before and after us, shall be as the light of day. Amen.
FREDERICK W. BETTS.
June 28
_Tell you what I like the best; "Long about knee-deep in June, "Bout the time the strawberries melts On the vine,--some afternoon Like to jes" git out and rest, And not work at nothing else._
_Orchard"s where I"d ruther be-- Needn"t fence it in for me!
Jes" the whole sky overhead, And the whole airth underneath._
JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY.
Help us, O Thou who art the Lord of life, that we may this morning praise Thee for the beauty of the world and for the joyful privilege of wandering in the green fields and by the sparkling brooks, and of resting tired body and weary limb beneath the sweet orchard shade, gazing with gladdened eyes at the blue canopy above, all forgetful of the toil and din of the far off city. O may our hearts this day be in tune with nature and in harmony with Thyself; and as we contemplate Thy works this and every day may our hearts go out in loving and practical sympathy toward those whose lives are spent within the narrow confines of sunless courts. Hear us for the Saviour"s sake. Amen.
FRANCIS W. BRETT.
June 29
_Give us, O give us the man who sings at his work. Be his occupation what it may, he is equal to any of those who follow the same pursuit in silent sullenness. He will do more in the same time--he will do it better--he will persevere longer. One is scarcely sensible of fatigue while he marches to music. The very stars are said to make harmony as they revolve in their spheres.
Wondrous is the strength of cheerfulness, although past calculation its power of endurance. Efforts to be permanently useful, must be uniformly joyous--a spirit all sunshine, graceful from very gladness, beautiful because bright._
THOMAS CARLYLE.
Almighty G.o.d, we turn to Thee in adoration and praise as we pause upon the threshold of this new day. Grant, we pray Thee, that a song be in our hearts as we go about the duties of the pa.s.sing hours. Whatever our experiences, whether of joy or sorrow, may we truly value the truthful spirit. If Thou callest us to bear burdens or to stand upon the mountain top of exultant achievement may we not forget to sing of Thee. Yea, O G.o.d, we would be ever of the company of trusting souls, for such are near to Thee. And when earthly days are past and the life of the freed spirit is over, grant that our lives may blend in full accord with the music of love, in sunshine of joy, in the beauty of holiness. We praise Thee now and ever. Amen.
STEPHEN H. ROBLIN.
June 30
_Full-leafed in pride of deepest green, The earth in the sunshine basks serene, Where linden blossoms crowded cling, A thousand bees are murmuring.
As showers drift from the freshened land With a seven-barred bow is the rain-cloud spanned.
The wild rose yields her subtlest scents Where hay c.o.c.ks pitch their fragrant tents.
The longest day"s too brief for June, The night too short for such a moon!_
SARA ANDREW SHAFER.
We thank Thee, our Father, for the wonderful world in which we live; for the glory of the heavens; for the beauty of the earth; for the bright morning following the star-crowned night; for the song of birds, the hum of bees, the fragrance of flowers, and the laughter of children, for the industry of men and women, for all Thy gifts of love. As again the lengthening shadows creep across our pathway, may we redouble our energies that no labor of love may be left undone. So fill us with Thy presence, so lead us by Thy Spirit this day, that in our homes we may be patient, in our occupations sweet, in our social relations brotherly, in all things Christlike, for Jesus" sake. Amen.
ARTHUR WRIGHT.
July 1
_Let me go where"er I will I hear a sky-born music still: It sounds from all things old, It sounds from all things young, From all that"s fair, from all that"s foul, Peals out a cheerful song._
_It is not only in the rose, It is not only in the bird, Not only where the rainbow glows, Nor in the song of woman heard, But in the darkest, meanest things There alway, alway something sings._
_"Tis not in the high stars alone, Nor in the cups of budding flowers, Nor in the redbreast"s mellow tone, Nor in the bow that smiles in showers, But in the mud and sc.u.m of things There alway, alway something sings._
RALPH WALDO EMERSON.
Dear Father in heaven, we thank Thee for all the sweet voices of the world, not only for the harmonies of the great masters of song but for the sweet voice of the mother as she sings her song of love, for the bird in the spring time. We thank Thee for the music in the prattle of children, and the kindly word spoken everywhere. The world is full of music if only we have music in our own hearts. We pray, as we set forth again this morning, for spirits in tune with all that is sweet and good.
Wherever we go this day, let the world sing to us and make us glad.
Amen.
GEORGE L. PERIN.
July 2
_A little bird with plumage brown, Beside my window flutters down, A moment chirps its little strain, Then taps upon my window-pane.
And chirps again, and hops along, To call my notice to its song; But I work on, nor heed its lay, Till, in neglect, it flies away._
_So birds of peace and hope and love Come fluttering earthward from above, To settle on life"s window-sills, And ease our load of earthly ills; But we, in traffic"s rush and din Too deep engaged to let them in, With deadened heart and sense plod on, Nor know our loss till they are gone._
PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR.
My voice shalt Thou hear in the morning, O Lord, in the morning will I direct my prayer unto Thee, and will look up; and looking up, may we not fail to realize that, amid the turmoil of this outward life, Thou art ever present to give peace and rest in the inner life. Should we fail to recognize that presence we shall lose the comfort which Thou art ever ready to bestow, and must ourselves bear burdens which Thou wouldst gladly bear for us or take from us. Thou knowest our frame and rememberest that we are dust. Open our spiritual vision to behold that Divine resources are subject to our daily prayer. In the name of Jesus, the Christ. Amen.
O. W. SCOTT.