hich ought to be a thing complete in itself, and ought to be
spent partly in gathering materials, and partly in drawing
inferences, is apt to be a hurried accumulation lasting to the edge
of the tomb. We are put into the world, I cannot help feeling, to be
rather than do.

--Arthur C. Benson.

Jehovah is the strength of my life.

--Psalm 27. 1.

Heavenly Father, I pray that thou wilt reverse my standards of life if
I may be striving only for selfish gain. May I care for all that I
could be, and may I care for where I should be found, but, most of
all, may I care for what I really am. Help me to keep my mind on thee
that I may find delight in doing thy will. Amen.

DECEMBER TWENTY-FOURTH

George Crabbe born 1754.

Kit Carson born 1809.

Matthew Arnold born 1822.

John Morley born 1838.

William Makepeace Thackeray died 1863.

Ah, friend, let us be true
To one another! For the world, which seems
To lie before us like a land of dreams,
So various, so beautiful, so new,
Hath really neither joy, nor love, nor light,
Nor certitude, nor peace, nor help for pain,
And we are here as on a darkling plain
Swept with confused alarms of struggle and flight,
Where ignorant armies clash by night.

--Matthew Arnold.

We take care of our health, we lay up money, we make our roof tight
and our clothing sufficient, but who provides wisely that we shall
not be wanting in the best property of all--friends?

--Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Faithful are the wounds of a friend.

--Proverbs 27. 6.

Gracious Lord, fill my life with the spirit of love and sacrifice. I
bless thee for the deep fellowships and tender intimacies; and on the
eve of this Christmas ask thy blessing for all, as my heart rings with
joy for those whom I love. Amen.

DECEMBER TWENTY-FIFTH

Christmas Day.

Sir Isaac Newton born 1642.

William Collins born 1721.

Father Taylor born 1794.

This is the month, and this is the happy morn,
Wherein the Son of heaven's eternal King,
Of wedded maid, and virgin mother born,
Our great redemption from above did bring.

--John Milton.

Christmas is here;
Winds whistle shrill,
Icy and chill,
Little care we;
Little we fear
Weather without,
Shelter'd about
The Mahogany tree.

--William M. Thackeray.

And the angel said unto them,