place,
And with His blest hands for a moment's space,
He touched the distaff, rocked the little one.
Rose, signed to Peter, and they gat them gone.
When she to whom the Lord had given this proof
Of good-will came back to her humble roof,
She found, nor knew what Friend the deed had done,
The baby sleeping and the flax all spun!
—Francois Coppee.
———
THE BEST THAT I CAN
"I cannot do much," said a little star,
"To make the dark world bright;
My silver beams cannot struggle far
Through the folding gloom of night:
But I am a part of God's great plan,
And I'll cheerfully do the best that I can."
"What is the use," said a fleecy cloud,
"Of these dew-drops that I hold?
They will hardly bend the lily proud,
Though caught in her cup of gold;
Yet I am a part of God's great plan,
My treasures I'll give as well as I can."
A child went merrily forth to play,
But a thought, like a silver thread,
Kept winding in and out all day
Through the happy, busy head,
"Mother said, 'Darling, do all you can,
For you are a part of God's great plan.'"
So she helped a younger child along,
When the road was rough to the feet;
And she sang from her heart a little song,
A song that was passing sweet;
And her father, a weary, toil-worn man,
Said, "I too will do the best that I can."
———
WORK LOYALLY
Just where you stand in the conflict,
There is your place!
Just where you think you are useless
Hide not your face!
God placed you there for a purpose,
Whate'er it be;
Think He has chosen you for it—
Work loyally.
Gird on your armor! Be faithful
At toil or rest,
Whiche'er it be, never doubting
God's way is best.
Out in the fight, or on picket,
Stand firm and true;
This is the work which your Master
Gives you to do.
———
Who does the best his circumstance allows,
Does well, acts nobly; angels could no more.
—Edward Young.
———
LOYALTY
When courage fails and faith burns low,
And men are timid grown,
Hold fast thy loyalty and know
That Truth still moveth on.
For unseen messengers she hath,
To work her will and ways,
And even human scorn and wrath
God turneth to her praise.
She can both meek and lordly be,
In heavenly might secure;
With her is pledge of victory,
And patience to endure.
The race is not unto the swift,
The battle to the strong,
When dawn her judgment-days that sift
The claims of right and wrong.
And more than thou canst do for Truth
Can she on thee confer,
If thou, O heart, but give thy youth
And manhood unto her.
For she can make thee inly bright,
Thy self-love purge away,
And lead thee in the path whose light
Shines to the perfect day.
Who follow her, though men deride,
In her strength shall be strong;
Shall see their shame become their pride,
And share her triumph song!
—Frederick Lucian Hosmer.
———
LIBERTY
I am Liberty—God's daughter!
My symbols—a law and a torch;
Not a sword to threaten slaughter,
Nor a flame to dazzle or scorch;
But a light that the world may see,
And a truth that shall make men free.
I am the sister of Duty,
And I am the sister of Faith;
To-day adored for my beauty,
To-morrow led forth for death.
I am she whom ages prayed for;
Heroes suffered undismayed for;
Whom the martyrs were betrayed for.
—John Boyle O'Reilly.
———
THE NEAREST DUTY
My soul was stirred; I prayed, "Let me
Do some great work, so purely,
To right life's wrongs, that I shall know
That I have loved Thee surely."
My lips sent forth their eager cry,
The while my heart beat faster,
"For some great deed to prove my love
Send me; send me, my Master!"
From out the silence came a voice,
Saying: "If God thou fearest,
Rise up and do, thy whole life through,
The duty that lies nearest.
The friendly word, the kindly deed,
Though small the act in seeming,
Shall