Day By Day Living

These words found in the Church
Advocate are by Adelaide A. Proctor:

Day By Day Living
Do not look at life's long sorrow;
See how small each moment's pain;
God will help thee for to-morrow.
So each day begin again.
Every hour that fleets so slowly
Has its task to do or bear;
Luminous the crown and holy.
When each gem is set with care.
Do not linger with regretting.
Or for passing hours despond;
Nor, thy daily toil forgetting.
Look too eagerly beyond.
Hours are golden links, God's token,
Reaching heaven; but, one by one,
Take them, lest the chain be broken
Ere the pilgrimage be done.

Comfort By The Way

Comfort By The Way

I JOURNEY through a desert drear and wild:

Yet is my heart by such sweet thoughts beguiled.

Of Him on whom I lean, my strength and stay,

I can forget the sorrows of the way.

Thoughts of His love! the root of every grace

Which finds in this poor heart a dwelling-place;

The sunshine of my soul, than day more bright,

And my calm pillow of repose by night.

Thoughts of His sojourn in this vale of tears!

The tale of love unfolded in those years

Of sinless suffering and patient grace,

I love again and yet again to trace.

Thoughts of His glory! on the cross I gaze,

And there behold its sad yet healing rays;

Beacon of hope! which, lifted up on high,

Illumes with heavenly light the tear-dimmed eye.

Thoughts of His coming! for that joyful day

In joyful hope I watch, and wait, and pray;

The dawn draws nigh, the midnight shadows flee.

And what a sunrise will that advent be!

Thus, while I journey on, my Lord to meet,

My thoughts and meditations are so sweet

Of Him on whom I lean, my strength, my stay,

I can forget the sorrows of the way.

Folded Hands

Folded Hands

I stood by the Master's vineyard,
In the light of the morning sun;
I thought over the day's sweet labor,
And I he great rewards to be won;

For I longed to be up and doing
In the harvest-field so rare,
That my hands should be busy toiling, 

Plucking the clusters fair.

As I turned to enter the vineyard,
The sound of coming feet
Caused me to pause and listen,
That the comer I might greet.

And my Master stood before me,
In the golden morning light;
His smile cast a heavenly radiance
That blinded my mortal sight.

But it entered my heart, and filled it
With a love and a rapture sweet;
And I bowed in glad adoration
Before my Master's feet.

And his words, like silvery music
From the distant starry sky,
Came into my listening spirit,
An echo from strains on high.

And thus spake the Master, "Daughter,
I know thy longing heart
In the toil of my rich-laden vineyard
Is eager to bear a part.

"But from thee no active labor
The Master's cause demands;
Within thy low cottage doorway
Only sit with folded hands,

And the patient endurance of sorrow,
And a burden sore of pain,
Till I come with a welcome summons.
To bring thee eternal gain."

So he led me to my cottage,
And left me within the door;
But the brightness of his presence
Stays with me for evermore.

I see on the fair sweet uplands 

The pleasant vineyard ground;
And the echo of happy voices
Comes to me, a cheering sound.

I wait for his welcome footsteps;
Perchance they are coming to me:
I watch for his radiant smiling,
That his dear face I may see.

And this, like a sweet bird, nestless
In my heart, else desolate:
They serve me who at my word
But fold their hands-and wait." 

by Sophie Bronson Titterington

Importance Of A Minute

 Importance of A Minute
by Benjamin Reynolds Bulkeley

'Twas only a minute that would not stay,

But how many noticed its flight?

And yet for one it parted the way,

Betwixt life's bloom and its blight.

It pointed the new-born baby's breath,

First felt on the mother's breast;

For another it sounded the summons of death

And weary one gone to his rest.

At that moment two souls were together wed

Till death should call them apart;

Another to virtue bowed his head

And consecrated his heart.

Ah! big was the moment that flitted away,

And hardly one noticed its flight;

And hundreds of minutes make up the day,

And hundreds are lost in the night.