verty. Her hand is stretched out appealingly.
She craves charity. Looking closely at the picture we see that the
young man holds money in his hand. But he is clasping it tightly, and
the poor widow's pleading is in vain. Still another figure passes,
endeavoring to lure and woo him from his idle ease. It is the form of
a beautiful woman, who seeks by love to awaken in him noble purposes,
worthy of his powers, and to inspire him for ambitious efforts. One by
one these opportunities have passed, with their calls and invitations,
only to be unheeded. At last he is arousing to seize them, but it is
too late; they are vanishing from sight and the door is closing.

This is a true picture of what is going on all the time in this world.
Opportunities come to every young person, offering beautiful things,
rich blessings, brilliant hopes. Too often, however, these offers and
solicitations are rejected and one by one pass by, to return no more.
Door after door is shut, and at last men stand at the end of their
days, with beggared lives, having missed all that they might have
gotten of enrichment and good from the passing days.

Take home. A true Christian home, with its love and prayer and all its
gentle influences, is almost heaven to a child. The fragrance of the
love of Christ fills all the household life. Holiness is in the very
atmosphere. The benedictions of affection make every day tender with
its impressiveness. In all life there come no other such opportunities
for receiving lovely things into the life, and learning beautiful
lessons, as in the days of childhood and youth that are spent in a home
of Christian love. Yet how often are all these influences resisted and
rejected. Then by and by the door is shut. The heart that made the
home is still in death. The gentle hand that wrought such blessing is
cold. Many a man in mid-life would give all he has to creep back for
one hour to the old sacred place, to hear again his mother's voice in
counsel or in prayer, to feel once more the gentle touch of her hand
and to have her sweet comfort. But it is too late. The door is shut.

Take education. Many young people fail to realize what golden
opportunities come to them in their school-days. Too often they make
little of the privileges they then enjoy. They sometimes waste in
idleness the hours they ought to spend in diligent study and helpful
reading. They might, if they would, fit themselves for high and