s, while it prevents those feeling wounded who cannot perform
it equally well.

Joy, with us, is like a lever, by which we lift the weights that without
its help would crush us.

A workman once said: "If I were to leave off singing, I should be quite
unequal to my business."

Then sing always; let your heart sing as in its earliest years.

The refrain of the heart, which perhaps never passes the lips, but which
echoes in heaven, is this sentence:--

"I love and I am beloved!"

XLIV.

What regret we sometimes feel, after the death or departure of friends, at
never having shown them the respect, the gratitude, we felt towards them,
and how from the depths of our heart we are filled with tenderness and
affection for them!

It may have been that at times we could not speak, because we thought too
much of _how_ to say it.

Another time we lost the opportunity, because we were always shirking it.
Deep devotion is sometimes a little erratic; always afraid of doing too
little, doing it badly or inopportunely. Oftener still the tokens of
affection are checked, because we think we could show it in some better
way; we put off till brighter days the dreams we cherished, the sweet
yearning to open the heart to the loved ones, and let them see for once
what a large place they fill there.

Alas! the days fly past, suddenly comes death, or, sadder still,
separation without hope of return, leaving the bitter thought: "Others
will show them better than I have done, how dear, how valued, they are."
Ah! when we can be loving _to-day_, never let us say, "I will love
to-morrow;" when we have the opportunity of being grateful, never put off,
for _one_ hour, the proof of our gratitude!

* * * * *

CONCLUSION

Lacordaire, in preparing for a retreat in the country, said he only
required for his realization of a dream of happiness and solitude, three
things,--(1) GOD; (2) a friend; (3) books.

_God!_--We never fail to find Him when we are pure, holy, and fulfilling
hourly our duty.

_A Friend!_--Responds always to the heart's call, if only that heart be
loving and devoted.

_Books!_--Oh! if only this little book of _Gold Dust_ might be allowed to
form one of the numbers of those that are carried away, far from the
world's turmoil, and read in order to gain a little help and peace!

It will take up _so_ little room!

GOLD DUST

_SECOND PART_

I.

THE FRIENDLY WHISPER

Under t