Month of fruits and falling leaves,Under thy opalescent skiesThe vagrant summer idly lies,While coming Autumn deftly weavesRare tints for tall ungarnered sheavesOf goldenrod, kissing the eyesOf purple asters as she dyesThe vine that swings beneath the eaves.And all the bending hedgerows seemA Joseph's coat of colors. HuesThat shame the rainbow's royal archSet all the harvest fields a-gleamWith beauty, fresh with fragrant dewsTo crown the season's onward march.George W. Shipman.
Month of fruits and falling leaves,Under thy opalescent skiesThe vagrant summer idly lies,While coming Autumn deftly weavesRare tints for tall ungarnered sheavesOf goldenrod, kissing the eyesOf purple asters as she dyesThe vine that swings beneath the eaves.And all the bending hedgerows seemA Joseph's coat of colors. HuesThat shame the rainbow's royal archSet all the harvest fields a-gleamWith beauty, fresh with fragrant dewsTo crown the season's onward march.
George W. Shipman.
Author and Giver of every good and perfect gift whose infinite presence and power underlie all growth and life and activity, Who revealest Thyself in the varied forms of beauty which come so rapidly in the revolving year, in the green grass and blossoming roses and lilies and refreshing, fast-succeeding fruits, we thank Thee that Thou art now crowning the year with Thy goodness and inviting us to gather in from tree, garden, field, forest, mine, what will feed, clothe, protect us during the wintry season given us, free from arduous labors, to find enjoyment in books, music and social intercourse. These blessings remind us to present to Thee the fruits of the spirit, love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, temperance. Amen.
Calvin S. Locke.
October 2
One answered, on the day when Christ went by,"Lord, I am rich; pause not for such as I.My work, my home, my strength, my frugal store,The sun and rain—what need have I of more?Go to the sinful who have need of Thee,Go to the poor, but tarry not for me.What is there Thou should'st do for such as I?"And He went by.Long years thereafter, by a palace door,The footstep of the Master paused once moreFrom whence the old voice answered piteously,—"Lord, I am poor, my house unfit for Thee;Nor peace nor pleasures bless my princely board,Nor love nor health; what could I give Thee, Lord?Lord, I am poor, unworthy, stained with sin,—"Yet He went in.Mabel Earle.
One answered, on the day when Christ went by,"Lord, I am rich; pause not for such as I.My work, my home, my strength, my frugal store,The sun and rain—what need have I of more?Go to the sinful who have need of Thee,Go to the poor, but tarry not for me.What is there Thou should'st do for such as I?"And He went by.Long years thereafter, by a palace door,The footstep of the Master paused once moreFrom whence the old voice answered piteously,—"Lord, I am poor, my house unfit for Thee;Nor peace nor pleasures bless my princely board,Nor love nor health; what could I give Thee, Lord?Lord, I am poor, unworthy, stained with sin,—"Yet He went in.
Mabel Earle.
We who are poor in spirit, turn to Thee who art the giver of every good and perfect gift, to hold out our empty hands and pray that Thou wilt make us rich. During the past days and years we have been out in Thy world striving for more things and then more things and yet more things, forgetful of the fact that a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. Now, realizing the poverty of our real lives, we ask Thee to bestow upon us those eternal riches which pertain to the human soul and possessing which we shall have treasure in that heaven within where moth and rust do not corrupt nor thieves break through and steal. So shall we be rich indeed. Amen.
Frank Oliver Hall.
October 3
Be strong!We are not here to play, to dream, to drift.We have hard work to do, and loads to lift.Shun not the struggle; face it. 'Tis God's gift.Be strong!Say not the days are evil,—who's to blame?And fold the hands and acquiesce—O shame!Stand up, speak out, and bravely, in God's name.Be strong!It matters not how deep intrenched the wrong,How hard the battle goes, the day how long,Faint not, fight on! Tomorrow comes the song.Maltbie Davenport Babcock.
Be strong!We are not here to play, to dream, to drift.We have hard work to do, and loads to lift.Shun not the struggle; face it. 'Tis God's gift.Be strong!Say not the days are evil,—who's to blame?And fold the hands and acquiesce—O shame!Stand up, speak out, and bravely, in God's name.Be strong!It matters not how deep intrenched the wrong,How hard the battle goes, the day how long,Faint not, fight on! Tomorrow comes the song.
Maltbie Davenport Babcock.
O our Father, we thank Thee for this new morning. Truly the light is sweet and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the same. Lift Thou upon us the light of Thy countenance and bid us go in peace. So shall we begin the day aright. With gentle skill Thou dost deal with us. Thou art not careless with us or hasty or impatient. Help us to be strong in Thee. May we be able to cast out of our lives everything that would grieve Thee and harm us. With a loving spirit may we serve Thee this day. May we be rooted and grounded in love. However hard the battle may go give us courage and confidence to believe that through Christ, strengthening us, we can do all things required of us. Lord, increase our faith. Amen.
J. E. Hawkins.
October 4
Nobody proves God's being. But, suddenly, one sees God is here. One speaks and God answers. Thereafter all is sure.
Nobody proves God's being. But, suddenly, one sees God is here. One speaks and God answers. Thereafter all is sure.
Edward Everett Hale.
There is nothing that so persuades us of the great realities of moral and spiritual being as the man in whom God is manifest, the type of our human nature at its best, and the indorsement of the sublime faith that God in humanity is the supreme revelation of Himself!
There is nothing that so persuades us of the great realities of moral and spiritual being as the man in whom God is manifest, the type of our human nature at its best, and the indorsement of the sublime faith that God in humanity is the supreme revelation of Himself!
Horatio Stebbins.
Blessed Father, as the morning light has triumphed in its struggle to overcome darkness, so Thou dost gently but irresistibly call us from slumber to the glories and duties of the new day. May we be strong in the sweet assurance that the unfolding hours are full of blessing because Thou art caring for us. Help us to do Thy will by enabling us to minister to those around us. May the words of our mouth and the industry of our hands reveal Thy guiding love. Enable us to order our ways by the habit of trust that we have learned through Thy constancy. Wilt Thou disappoint our fears, steady our hearts, and show us the way of obedience, peace and service that we may realize the good through the day and rejoice in it, as disciples of Christ. Amen.
James D. Corby.
October 5
Thou knowest not what argumentThy life to thy neighbor's creed hath lent;All are needed by each one;Nothing is good or fair alone.Ralph Waldo Emerson.
Thou knowest not what argumentThy life to thy neighbor's creed hath lent;All are needed by each one;Nothing is good or fair alone.
Ralph Waldo Emerson.
Men will not be content to live every man for himself, nor to die every man for himself. In work, in art, in study, in trade—in all life, indeed, the children of God, called by a Saviour's voice, will wish to live in the common cause. They will live for the common wealth,—this is the modern phrase. They will bear each other's burdens,—this is the phrase of Paul. They will live in the life of love. And it will prove true as it was promised, that all things are added to the community which thus seeks the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness.
Men will not be content to live every man for himself, nor to die every man for himself. In work, in art, in study, in trade—in all life, indeed, the children of God, called by a Saviour's voice, will wish to live in the common cause. They will live for the common wealth,—this is the modern phrase. They will bear each other's burdens,—this is the phrase of Paul. They will live in the life of love. And it will prove true as it was promised, that all things are added to the community which thus seeks the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness.
Edward Everett Hale.
Eternal God, who dost still create the light, and make the morning and the evening of our days, by Thy light we look to Thee. In Thy light we worship Thee. Gird us with strength to work with Thee to bring Thy Kingdom in. May we lose and find ourselves again in the larger whole of life by ministering to others' needs; by bearing others' burdens; by sharing their joys and tears and the common fruits of toil, thus making our life and faith in Thee become their own. Let Thy work appear unto Thy servants, and establish Thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish Thou it; and let Thy beauty and Thy glory be upon us forever and ever. Amen.
C. E. Holmes.
October 6
Master, to do great work for Thee, my handIs far too weak! Thou givest what may suit,Some little chips to cut with care minute,Or tint, or grave, or polish. Others standBefore their quarried marble, fair and grand,And make a life-work of the grand designWhich Thou hast traced; or, many-skilled, combineTo build vast temples, gloriously planned.Yet take the tiny stones which I have wroughtJust one by one, as they were given by Thee,Not knowing what came next in Thy wise thought.Let each stone by Thy master-hand of graceForm the mosaic as Thou wilt for meAnd in Thy temple-pavement give it place.Frances Ridley Havergal.
Master, to do great work for Thee, my handIs far too weak! Thou givest what may suit,Some little chips to cut with care minute,Or tint, or grave, or polish. Others standBefore their quarried marble, fair and grand,And make a life-work of the grand designWhich Thou hast traced; or, many-skilled, combineTo build vast temples, gloriously planned.Yet take the tiny stones which I have wroughtJust one by one, as they were given by Thee,Not knowing what came next in Thy wise thought.Let each stone by Thy master-hand of graceForm the mosaic as Thou wilt for meAnd in Thy temple-pavement give it place.
Frances Ridley Havergal.
Father, we are shortsighted and weak, and hence cannot do our best work without Thine aid. We rejoice in the privileges and opportunities of this day. Thou hast counted us worthy to work for Thee. Thou canst use our loaves and fishes, but dost require us to bring thus our little all for Thy blessing. We are inspired with hope to make our consecration to Thee. Make this a day of glorious service. Guide us in our thoughts and work. Glorify Thyself in our life. And wherever the close of this day may find us may it be with the feeling that we have done our best by Thy blessing and help. Amen.
J. W. Fulton.
October 7
"Whatever the weather may be," says he—"Whatever the weather may be,It's the songs ye sing, an' the smiles ye wear,That's a-making the sun shine everywhere;An' the world of gloom is a world of glee,Wid the bird in the bush, an' the bud in the treeAn' the fruit on the stim o' the bough," says he,"Whatever the weather may be," says he—"Whatever the weather may be!"James Whitcomb Riley.
"Whatever the weather may be," says he—"Whatever the weather may be,It's the songs ye sing, an' the smiles ye wear,That's a-making the sun shine everywhere;An' the world of gloom is a world of glee,Wid the bird in the bush, an' the bud in the treeAn' the fruit on the stim o' the bough," says he,"Whatever the weather may be," says he—"Whatever the weather may be!"
James Whitcomb Riley.
O Father of Lights, with whom can be no variation, neither shadow that is cast by turning, help us today so to trust Thee that our joy may be unclouded. Thy love is unchanging in its radiance and warmth. Therefore let it glow in me and through me light someone who may be in darkness. O strong Son of God, who art the same, yesterday, today, yea, and forever, enable us, we beseech Thee, to be brave and cheery as though Thyself wast in the darkest hours as in the brightest. Teach us that the storm and trial is just our opportunity to shine. Cleanse us of all disobedience and darkness. Be our constant Comforter. Let others see that it is Christ within us. Amen.
Thomas W. Smith.
October 8
Look up to God, and say, "Make use of me for the future as Thou wilt. I am of the same mind; I am equal with Thee. I refuse nothing which seems good to Thee. Lead me whither Thou wilt. Clothe me in whatever dress Thou wilt. Is it Thy will that I should be in a public or private condition; dwell here, or be banished; be poor or rich? Under all these circumstances I will make Thy defence to men. I will show what the nature of everything is."
Look up to God, and say, "Make use of me for the future as Thou wilt. I am of the same mind; I am equal with Thee. I refuse nothing which seems good to Thee. Lead me whither Thou wilt. Clothe me in whatever dress Thou wilt. Is it Thy will that I should be in a public or private condition; dwell here, or be banished; be poor or rich? Under all these circumstances I will make Thy defence to men. I will show what the nature of everything is."
Epictetus.
Merciful Father, we begin this day, knowing not what the end may be, with thoughts of Thee and Thy loving kindness. May this be to us a day of joy, a day upon which we can look back and say we have been blessed by Thee. We pray for that spirit that enabled others to labor in the cause of love and righteousness, and while we may not be able to accomplish all the good we have set our hearts upon, may the thought that our lives and our labors have not been in vain, inspire us and others with courage to continue the work of helping and blessing our fellowmen. Amen.
Donald Fraser.
October 9
Men deny the Divine Existence with as little feeling as the most assert it. Even in our true systems we go on collecting mere words, playmarks and medals, as the misers do coins; and not till late do we transmute the words into feelings, the coins into enjoyments. A man may for twenty years believe the immortality of the soul; in the one-and-twentieth, in some great moment, he for the first time discovers with amazement the rich meaning of this belief, and the warmth of this naphtha-well.
Men deny the Divine Existence with as little feeling as the most assert it. Even in our true systems we go on collecting mere words, playmarks and medals, as the misers do coins; and not till late do we transmute the words into feelings, the coins into enjoyments. A man may for twenty years believe the immortality of the soul; in the one-and-twentieth, in some great moment, he for the first time discovers with amazement the rich meaning of this belief, and the warmth of this naphtha-well.
Richter.
O Thou Who slumberest not, nor sleepest, in the dawn of this new day we look trustingly to Thee. While the night has been enfolding us, Thy loving care has held us in the everlasting arms. May this day be for us a fresh consecration. May we be ennobled in Thee. May we share Thy life in things small or great. However humble our lives—however emptied our experience of that which wins the plaudits of men, may we manifest Thee. By us may Thy Kingdom come and Thy will be done. Amen.
George H. Young.
October 10
Thou wilt not hold in scorn the child who daresLook up to Thee, the Father,—dares to askMore than Thy wisdom answers. From Thy handThe worlds were cast; yet every leaflet claimsFrom that same hand its little shining sphereOf star-lit dew; thine image, the great sun,Girt with his mantle of tempestuous flame,Glares in mid-heaven; but to his noontide blazeThe slender violet lifts its lidless eye,And from his splendor steals its fairest hue,Its sweetest perfume from the scorching fire.Oliver Wendell Holmes.
Thou wilt not hold in scorn the child who daresLook up to Thee, the Father,—dares to askMore than Thy wisdom answers. From Thy handThe worlds were cast; yet every leaflet claimsFrom that same hand its little shining sphereOf star-lit dew; thine image, the great sun,Girt with his mantle of tempestuous flame,Glares in mid-heaven; but to his noontide blazeThe slender violet lifts its lidless eye,And from his splendor steals its fairest hue,Its sweetest perfume from the scorching fire.
Oliver Wendell Holmes.
Thou great Spirit of life and power, we do not shrink in terror before Thee, but come to Thee in trust and love. Though we cannot fathom the mystery of Thy life nor measure the might of Thy power, yet we have learned to call Thee Father; and even as the violet lifts its face to the noonday sun to find the secret of its life, so we lift our faces to Thee, to find the secret of our lives. Thou answerest us with tenderness. Thou speakest to us in love. Fresh from sleep, we put our hands in Thine to be led forth to the duties of the day. May we go forth with that confidence and hope, which are born of trust in Thee, our Father. Amen.
George L. Perin.
October 11
Now believe me, God hides some ideal in every human soul. Some time in our life we feel a trembling, fearful longing to do some good thing. Life finds its noblest spring of excellence in this hidden impulse to do our best. There is a time when we are not content to be such merchants or doctors or lawyers as we see on the dead level or below it. The woman longs to glorify her womanhood as sister, wife or mother. Here is God,—God standing silently at the door all day long,—God whispering to the soul that to be pure and true is to succeed in life and that whatever we get short of that will burn up like stubble, though the whole world try to save it.
Now believe me, God hides some ideal in every human soul. Some time in our life we feel a trembling, fearful longing to do some good thing. Life finds its noblest spring of excellence in this hidden impulse to do our best. There is a time when we are not content to be such merchants or doctors or lawyers as we see on the dead level or below it. The woman longs to glorify her womanhood as sister, wife or mother. Here is God,—God standing silently at the door all day long,—God whispering to the soul that to be pure and true is to succeed in life and that whatever we get short of that will burn up like stubble, though the whole world try to save it.
Robert Collyer.
God of all power and might, come into our lives with Thy might and Thy power. Awaken us from that slumber of death-in-life which easily and sweetly steals through the door, and, like some new Delilah, binds the strong will within. Come, come as the fresh morning sun, to drive away the mist of our sloth and indecision. Come, enter; and bring with Thee the upstirring power and the wide radiance of the life divine. Come, enter, and abide! When Thou art absent, though life be easy, it doth not satisfy us; but when Thou art present, though life be hard, it doth also content us. O God of all power and might, come Thou into our lives with Thy might and Thy power. Amen.
Melvin Brandow.
October 12
If you really want to help your fellowmen, you must not merely have in you what would do them good if they should take it from you, but you must be such a man that they can take it from you. The snow must melt upon the mountain and come down in a spring torrent, before its richness can make the valley rich. And yet in every age there are cold, hard, unsympathetic wise men standing up aloof, like snow banks on the hill tops, conscious of the locked up fertility in them and wondering that their wisdom does not save the world.
If you really want to help your fellowmen, you must not merely have in you what would do them good if they should take it from you, but you must be such a man that they can take it from you. The snow must melt upon the mountain and come down in a spring torrent, before its richness can make the valley rich. And yet in every age there are cold, hard, unsympathetic wise men standing up aloof, like snow banks on the hill tops, conscious of the locked up fertility in them and wondering that their wisdom does not save the world.
Phillips Brooks.
O Thou, who hast kept us safely during the unconsciousness of our slumbering hours and brought us refreshed to this morning light, prepare us for the duties of this day by filling us with the assurance that we are Thine, and that Thou lovest us. Help us to be more like Thee, to love Thee more and serve Thee better. May we manifest our love to Thee by our willingness to be of service to our fellowmen. Make us warm-hearted and true, helpful and kind, reflecting Thy love and doing Thy will. We are glad to live in this beautiful world. And we pray that we may be faithful co-laborers with Jesus Christ, in bringing light, love and joy to all lives. Amen.
Eugene M. Grant.
October 13
A few more smiles of silent sympathy, a few more tender words, a little more restraint in temper, may make all the difference between happiness and half-happiness to those I live with.
A few more smiles of silent sympathy, a few more tender words, a little more restraint in temper, may make all the difference between happiness and half-happiness to those I live with.
Stopford A. Brooke.
Others shall sing the song,Others shall right the wrong,Finish what I begin,And all I fail to win,What matter, I or they,Mine or another's day,So the right word be said,And life the sweeter made?John Greenleaf Whittier.
Others shall sing the song,Others shall right the wrong,Finish what I begin,And all I fail to win,What matter, I or they,Mine or another's day,So the right word be said,And life the sweeter made?
John Greenleaf Whittier.
Father, so little of the world in which we live is Thy world, so much our world, the petty, dwarfed world of our own small vision, that we lose heart and fail to do our share. Help us to see that, as in the densest swamps the sweetest flowers grow, so, even in our darkest hours, we still may be sweet at heart, saying the word, doing the deed, giving the sympathy, that will make the world sing and blossom. If there are times when pain and darkness obscure our vision of Thee, help us to look on to the sunset of our day, when the black pall is transfigured at the touch of Thy glory,—when sorrow and failure transcended by gentleness are our beauty and salvation. Amen.
John M. Davidson.
October 14
There is not a man in the world who is not saved by hope every day of his life. Rob one of hope and you have robbed him of his power. Nothing may so quickly unnerve a man and render him helpless as to take hope out of his heart. What is poverty? What is sickness? What is disaster? What are daily burdens? What signifies the desertion of friends, what of death itself so long as a man can hope? The man who hopes will brush every difficulty out of the way. He will put aside every suggestion of failure. Take hope out of a man's heart and you have taken all. Put hope into a man's heart and you have given all.
There is not a man in the world who is not saved by hope every day of his life. Rob one of hope and you have robbed him of his power. Nothing may so quickly unnerve a man and render him helpless as to take hope out of his heart. What is poverty? What is sickness? What is disaster? What are daily burdens? What signifies the desertion of friends, what of death itself so long as a man can hope? The man who hopes will brush every difficulty out of the way. He will put aside every suggestion of failure. Take hope out of a man's heart and you have taken all. Put hope into a man's heart and you have given all.
George L. Perin.
We thank Thee, O God, for the light of another morning, for the privilege of entering upon another day. We shall meet with those who do not understand life nor the world in which we live. It is to them only a place to bear burdens, to toil, to endure. Give us, O Father, understanding minds and hearts. Teach us to know that life is a great opportunity, that Thy plans for each one are very broad, that the world is full of open doors; and inspired by this knowledge may no despondent soul cross our path without being helped and made to feel that every life through the love of God and the guidance of God may be made sublime. Amen.
Alexander Dight.
October 15
Ho! for the bending sheaves,Ho! for the crimson leavesFlaming in splendor!Season of ripened gold,Plenty in crib and fold,Skies with a depth untoldLiquid and tender.James Russell Lowell.
Ho! for the bending sheaves,Ho! for the crimson leavesFlaming in splendor!Season of ripened gold,Plenty in crib and fold,Skies with a depth untoldLiquid and tender.
James Russell Lowell.
Source Infinite and Eternal of Light and Life; Creator of being flowing on forever; Minister far and wide of unspeakable bounty; Through whose power rise the riches of Nature; From whose abundance descend all gifts to man; Soul of our souls and safeguard of the world; To whom all Intelligence looks through every dawn; And by whose support the heart of man is stayed; Let there be to our steps paths of brightness; to our lives laws of justice, kindness, and trust, that we may abound in doing good and by grace, mercy, and truth duly shown, may obtain grateful remembrance evermore. Amen.
Edward C. Towne.
October 16
There is something in the autumn that is native to my bloodTouch of manner, hint of mood;And my heart is like a rhyme,With the yellow and the purple and the crimson keeping time.The scarlet of the maples can shake me like a cryOf bugles going by.And my lonely spirit thrillsTo see the frosty asters like a smoke upon the hills.Richard Hovey.
There is something in the autumn that is native to my bloodTouch of manner, hint of mood;And my heart is like a rhyme,With the yellow and the purple and the crimson keeping time.The scarlet of the maples can shake me like a cryOf bugles going by.And my lonely spirit thrillsTo see the frosty asters like a smoke upon the hills.
Richard Hovey.
O Father, my heart is lonely till I feel Thy spirit near, and then the glory of the season brings a message to my soul. Help me now to see Thy master hand in the great beauty of the world. May my soul that feels the glad riot of color know that he who gives such beauty and bounty has for me far richer blessings in the great fields of the future. May this day, begun with Nature's rhythm be set with the music of holy purpose and noble service. And may the music sound not alone for me, but for others that we together may march forward in the spirit of Him who loved the lilies of the field and the fowls of the air. Amen.
Charles E. Varney.
October 17
Thousands of years ago a leaf fell on the soft clay, and seemed to be lost. But last summer a geologist in his ramblings broke off a piece of rock with his hammer, and there lay the image of the leaf, with every line and every vein and all the delicate tracery preserved in the stone through those centuries. So the words we speak and the things we do today may seem to be lost, but in the great final revealing the smallest of them will appear.
Thousands of years ago a leaf fell on the soft clay, and seemed to be lost. But last summer a geologist in his ramblings broke off a piece of rock with his hammer, and there lay the image of the leaf, with every line and every vein and all the delicate tracery preserved in the stone through those centuries. So the words we speak and the things we do today may seem to be lost, but in the great final revealing the smallest of them will appear.
James Russell Miller.
Our Father we thank Thee for the light of this new day. Tenderly Thou hast withdrawn the curtain of the night and shown us the beauties and glories of Nature, reminding us of Thine own blessed verdict in the dawn of creation, "Behold they are very good." Good indeed, is it to live in such a world, and we thank Thee for our being. We ask this morning, dear Lord, not for the perishing things of earth, but for continued power and disposition to enjoy Thee and Thy works, for a faith that never wavers and a hope that never grows dim, for such a portion of this world's goods as the wise may enjoy without harm and the righteous hold without wrong. Amen.
James Sallaway.
October 18
Nay, I wrong you, little flower,Reading mournful mood of mineIn your looks, that give no signOf a spirit dark and cheerless:You possess the heavenly powerThat rejoices in the hour,Glad, contented, free and fearless,—Lifts a sunny face to heavenWhen a sunny day is given;Makes a summer of its own,Blooming late and all alone.Henry Van Dyke.
Nay, I wrong you, little flower,Reading mournful mood of mineIn your looks, that give no signOf a spirit dark and cheerless:You possess the heavenly powerThat rejoices in the hour,Glad, contented, free and fearless,—Lifts a sunny face to heavenWhen a sunny day is given;Makes a summer of its own,Blooming late and all alone.
Henry Van Dyke.
We thank Thee, O Father, that, to those who obey the command of Jesus to consider them, the flowers become prophets of God and preachers of righteousness. We thank Thee for the worship which They render Thee, so pure, so brave, so glad, and so acceptable. They may not hinder Thee and Thou dost work Thy perfect will in them; O give us the wisdom and the grace to make Thee welcome to our hearts until in us also Thou shalt work Thy perfect will. So may we find our true use and felicity, and render unto Thee the praise that is Thy due. And this we ask through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Charles R. Tenney.
October 19
Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness!Close bosom friend of the maturing sun;Conspiring with Him how to load and blessWith fruit the vines that round the thatch-eaves run;To bend with apples the moss'd cottage trees,And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core;To swell the gourd, and plump the hazel-shellsWith a sweet kernel; to set to budding moreAnd still more later flowers for the bees,Until they think warm days will never cease,For summer has o'er brimmed their clammy cells.John Keats.
Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness!Close bosom friend of the maturing sun;Conspiring with Him how to load and blessWith fruit the vines that round the thatch-eaves run;To bend with apples the moss'd cottage trees,And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core;To swell the gourd, and plump the hazel-shellsWith a sweet kernel; to set to budding moreAnd still more later flowers for the bees,Until they think warm days will never cease,For summer has o'er brimmed their clammy cells.
John Keats.
Our dear Heavenly Father, Thou hast ever been wooing us by a thousand influences and voices to Thyself and our souls are ever restless till they rest in Thy love. The voices of nature everywhere speak to us of Thy goodness and Thy power and all verdure and blossom and fruitage is but the answer of the inanimate world to Thy call of life. Shall we do less than these, O God, when upon us Thou hast stamped Thine own image and made our being the house beautiful for Thine indwelling! We are Thy disciples indeed if we bear much fruit and have love one for the other. Mould us, fashion us, mature us, dear Lord, till the angels, watching at the gates and on the towers, say we look like Thee. And this we ask in Jesus' name. Amen.
George M. Smiley.
October 20
I pluck an acorn from the greensward, and hold it to my ear and this is what it says to me: "By and by the birds will come and nest in me. By and by I will furnish shade for the cattle. By and by I will provide warmth for the home in the pleasant fire. By and by I will be shelter from the storm to those who have gone under the roof. By and by I will be the strong ribs of the great vessel, and the tempest will beat against me in vain, while I carry men across the Atlantic." "O foolish little acorn, wilt thou be all this?" I ask. And the acorn answers, "Yes, God and I."
I pluck an acorn from the greensward, and hold it to my ear and this is what it says to me: "By and by the birds will come and nest in me. By and by I will furnish shade for the cattle. By and by I will provide warmth for the home in the pleasant fire. By and by I will be shelter from the storm to those who have gone under the roof. By and by I will be the strong ribs of the great vessel, and the tempest will beat against me in vain, while I carry men across the Atlantic." "O foolish little acorn, wilt thou be all this?" I ask. And the acorn answers, "Yes, God and I."
Lyman Abbott.
Almighty God, we believe that Thou art present and controlling in all the operations of Nature. Not a sparrow falls to the ground without Thy notice. All life is of Thy giving. Plants, animals, and worlds alike are governed by Thy laws. We realize in some measure Thy Omnipotence. We should fear to draw near to Thee if Thou hadst not revealed Thyself to us in Jesus Christ as a God of love. Thou, O God, art love. We believe that Thou wilt give to all Thy children eternal life. As from the acorn comes the oak, clothed in royal beauty, seemingly life from death, so from what seems death shall our immortal spirits rise to dwell forever with Thee. We adore Thee, O God. We love Thee for Thy goodness and Thy love shown to us. Be gracious unto us and bless us for our Saviour's sake. Amen.
Cyrus Northrop.
October 21
I suppose every day of earth, with its hundred thousand deaths and something more of births,—with its loves and hates, its triumphs and defeats, its pangs and blisses, has more of humanity in it than all the books that were ever written, put together. I believe the flowers growing at this moment send up more fragrance to heaven than was ever exhaled from all the essences ever distilled.
I suppose every day of earth, with its hundred thousand deaths and something more of births,—with its loves and hates, its triumphs and defeats, its pangs and blisses, has more of humanity in it than all the books that were ever written, put together. I believe the flowers growing at this moment send up more fragrance to heaven than was ever exhaled from all the essences ever distilled.
Oliver Wendell Holmes.
Our Heavenly Father, Thou art in all nature and in all human history. If we really know our world and our fellowmen and ourselves, we shall know Thee. As we enter upon the work of this new day, we pray that we may feel Thy presence with us. Thou art never far away from us; we cannot get away from our world, and we cannot fly from ourselves. Thou art with Thy world and Thou art with Thy children. We ask not so much for Thy presence, as for the consciousness of Thy presence. May we learn to know Thee in the world about us and in the secret places of our own hearts. Then shall all life be fragrant and beautiful and this day somewhat divine. Amen.
George L. Perin.
October 22
The best thing to take people out of their own worries, is to go to work and find out how other folk's worries are getting on.
The best thing to take people out of their own worries, is to go to work and find out how other folk's worries are getting on.
Mrs. A. D. T. Whitney.
Socrates thought that if all our misfortunes were laid in one common heap, whence every one must take an equal portion, most persons would be content to take their own and depart.
Socrates thought that if all our misfortunes were laid in one common heap, whence every one must take an equal portion, most persons would be content to take their own and depart.
Plutarch.
Our Father in Heaven, the light of this new day is the light of Thy countenance, therefore we rejoice. In Thy sunshine our souls find strength for the burdens Thou dost give, and even through Thy shadows we reach the peace which passeth understanding. Yet Thou art comfort to us that we may comfort the troubled and the distressed with the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted. Set Thou our feet in the paths of service. Make us, we pray Thee, glad ministers of Thy mercy, and in binding up the wounds of others may we have balm for our own. By this day, may we grow in patience and power, and in the knowledge of Thy love. Amen.
Leon O. Williams.
October 23
Life has a thousand pages—love and scorn,Hope and adventure, poverty and sin,Despair and glory, loneliness forlorn,Age, sorrow, exile, all are writ therein—;And on each page, however stern or sad,Are words which gleam upon the crabbed scroll,Revealing words, that make our spirits glad,And well are worth the study of the soul.We may not lightly shrink from any leaf,For on it may be writ the word we need.God turns the page—whatever joy or griefHe opens for us, let us wisely read.Priscilla Leonard.
Life has a thousand pages—love and scorn,Hope and adventure, poverty and sin,Despair and glory, loneliness forlorn,Age, sorrow, exile, all are writ therein—;And on each page, however stern or sad,Are words which gleam upon the crabbed scroll,Revealing words, that make our spirits glad,And well are worth the study of the soul.We may not lightly shrink from any leaf,For on it may be writ the word we need.God turns the page—whatever joy or griefHe opens for us, let us wisely read.
Priscilla Leonard.
Fill our souls with Thy light, O God, that we may ever hope. Give us the poise of endless progress. Make our souls free and joyous as the bird's wing. Give us the courage of our convictions in all places, under all conditions. Make us brave. Take away all forms of fear, whether of man, of nature, or of Thee, and make us feel that each is our mighty friend, but Thou supreme over all, faithful each moment to our being, in ten thousand sweet, true, tender, life-giving, life-sustaining ministries. Teach us to look for Thee everywhere, and to see Thy order, and Thy beauty, facing all things Heavenward. May our ideals be perfect holiness, perfect strength, perfect love, perfect service. Make our faith great in the higher estate, where our faculties, only dawning here, shall rise in a glorious morning of the soul. Amen.
A. N. Alcott.
October 24
Suppose a kindly word of mineCould lift the clouds and bring sunshine;Am I my brother's keeper?Suppose the weary worker toils,For scanty pittance delves and moils;Am I my brother's keeper?Suppose in penury and fearMy neighbor see the wolf draw near;Am I my brother's keeper?* * * * *Perhaps—who knows?—perhaps I'm not!Self-centred soul! hast thou forgotThe marvel of our common lot,The mystic tie that binds us allWho dwell on this terrestrial ball,Stupendous hope of time and song,The bourne for which the ages long?How hard our hearts must seem to Thee,Exhaustless Fount of Charity!Henry Nehemiah Dodge.
Suppose a kindly word of mineCould lift the clouds and bring sunshine;Am I my brother's keeper?Suppose the weary worker toils,For scanty pittance delves and moils;Am I my brother's keeper?Suppose in penury and fearMy neighbor see the wolf draw near;Am I my brother's keeper?* * * * *Perhaps—who knows?—perhaps I'm not!Self-centred soul! hast thou forgotThe marvel of our common lot,The mystic tie that binds us allWho dwell on this terrestrial ball,Stupendous hope of time and song,The bourne for which the ages long?How hard our hearts must seem to Thee,Exhaustless Fount of Charity!
Henry Nehemiah Dodge.
We thank Thee, our Father, for the light of a new day and for its opportunities of service for Thee and Thy great Cause. We rejoice that Thou dost not only set duty clearly before us, but also dost grant power to perform it. May we realize not only that we are "our brother's keeper," and that our lives are helpful or harmful every day, but may we be increasingly grateful that we may every day by Thy grace be fellow-helpers and workers together with God. Amen.
William Full.
October 25
It is of no use to dispute about the Indian Summer. I never found two people who could agree as to the time when it ought to be here, or upon a month and day when it should be decidedly too late to look for it. It keeps coming. For my part, I think we get it now and then, little by little, as "the Kingdom" comes. That every soft, warm, mellow, hazy, golden day, like each fair, fragrant life, is a part and out-crop of it; though weeks of gale and frost, or ages of cruel worldliness and miserable sin may lie between.
It is of no use to dispute about the Indian Summer. I never found two people who could agree as to the time when it ought to be here, or upon a month and day when it should be decidedly too late to look for it. It keeps coming. For my part, I think we get it now and then, little by little, as "the Kingdom" comes. That every soft, warm, mellow, hazy, golden day, like each fair, fragrant life, is a part and out-crop of it; though weeks of gale and frost, or ages of cruel worldliness and miserable sin may lie between.
Mrs. A. D. T. Whitney.
Vouchsafe Thy blessing, O Heavenly Father, upon this morning service of thanksgiving and prayer. We thank Thee that each year Thou sendest seed-time and harvest, to us Thy children. For the beauty and bounty of the Autumn, for all Thy material gifts, for friends and home, and for our precious Christian faith, we are deeply grateful to Thee. Give us the attentive mind, the receptive heart, that we may see Thy providence and love in every event of life. Banish fear and doubt from our minds. Guard us from all temptations. May the Spirit of Christ abide in our hearts, and enable us to glorify Thee in all our works and lives. In its power and glory may Thy Kingdom come, and remain upon the earth forever. Amen.
Elbert W. Whitney.
October 26
Pleasant smiles, gentle tones, cheery greetings, tempers sweet under a headache or a business care or the children's noise; the ready bubbling over of thoughtfulness for one another, and the habits of smiling, greeting, forbearing, thinking in these ways; it is these above all else which makes one's home "a building of God; a house not made with hands," these that we hear in the song of "Home, Sweet Home."
Pleasant smiles, gentle tones, cheery greetings, tempers sweet under a headache or a business care or the children's noise; the ready bubbling over of thoughtfulness for one another, and the habits of smiling, greeting, forbearing, thinking in these ways; it is these above all else which makes one's home "a building of God; a house not made with hands," these that we hear in the song of "Home, Sweet Home."
William C. Gannett.
Almighty Father, the light of another day breaks in upon our lives, to reveal to us unfinished tasks and unsought duties. The sorrows and joys of the coming day are hidden from our sight, enswathed in the folded hours of toil. But Thou knowest all our heedless ways and tempers that chafe from impatience; Thou seest the measure of our needs and dost consider our desires. Give unto us the consciousness of Thine everlasting arms about us. And then when the shadows lengthen and the twilight hushes the hum of toil, our spirits shall know no weariness and bear no stain. Give ear unto this our morning prayer, O Thou Light of Light. Amen.
Francis Treadway Clayton.
October 27
How can people help loving things, when they are full of life magnetism, that even a finger touch gets the thrill of?It is not the sunshine, or any other tangible why, that accounts for the pleasantness of old house corners. It is the pureness and the pleasantness that have clustered there; the very walls have drunk these in.
How can people help loving things, when they are full of life magnetism, that even a finger touch gets the thrill of?
It is not the sunshine, or any other tangible why, that accounts for the pleasantness of old house corners. It is the pureness and the pleasantness that have clustered there; the very walls have drunk these in.
Mrs. A. D. T. Whitney.
Our Heavenly Father, wilt Thou keep our home life bright and sweet? Guard our lips from harsh words, our lives from shame. If quarrels arise, help us to be the first to forgive and forget. In the hour of temptation may we say no, because of a father's splendid honor, and a mother's pure face! In the time of trial or seeming defeat may we be brave and of good cheer! Teach us that home is made dear, not by its furnishings, but by the memories and inspirations of the hours we spent under its roof with those who loved us and were always tender and true! Bind us together in the bonds of love and peace, and keep us always united and a happy family. Amen.
Henry R. Rose.
October 28
There are loyal hearts, there are spirits brave,There are souls that are pure and true;Then give to the world the best you have,And the best shall come back to you.Give love, and love to your heart will flow,A strength in your utmost need;Have faith, and a score of hearts will showTheir faith in your word and deed.For life is the mirror of king and slave,'Tis just what you are and do;Then give to the world the best you have,And the best will come back to you.Madeline S. Bridges.
There are loyal hearts, there are spirits brave,There are souls that are pure and true;Then give to the world the best you have,And the best shall come back to you.Give love, and love to your heart will flow,A strength in your utmost need;Have faith, and a score of hearts will showTheir faith in your word and deed.For life is the mirror of king and slave,'Tis just what you are and do;Then give to the world the best you have,And the best will come back to you.
Madeline S. Bridges.
Almighty Father, we come to Thee for a Father's blessing, that this day we may go about Thy work and enter into Thy business, alive in Thy spirit and strong in Thy strength. We ask this for ourselves, each of us, that we may be knit to each other as brothers with brothers, to bear each other's burdens. We ask it most of all for home, that in home-life there always may be joy and peace and love, each seeking another's good, brothers and sisters with sisters and brothers, fathers and mothers with their children, that home may be the place of Thy holy spirit and the home of joy. Today we would come and go as Thy messengers, in our own lives welcoming the Father, who is with us seeking Thy strength and asking for Thy good will. Bless us today with Thy blessing. Amen.
Edward Everett Hale.
October 29
We are never more discontented with others than when we are discontented with ourselves. The consciousness of wrongdoing makes us irritable, and our heart in its cunning quarrels with what is outside it, in order that it may deafen the clamor within.In the conduct of life, habits count for more than maxims, because habit is a living maxim, become flesh and instinct. To reform one's maxims is nothing; it is but to change the title of the book. To learn new habits is everything, for it is to reach the substance of life. Life is but a tissue of habits.
We are never more discontented with others than when we are discontented with ourselves. The consciousness of wrongdoing makes us irritable, and our heart in its cunning quarrels with what is outside it, in order that it may deafen the clamor within.
In the conduct of life, habits count for more than maxims, because habit is a living maxim, become flesh and instinct. To reform one's maxims is nothing; it is but to change the title of the book. To learn new habits is everything, for it is to reach the substance of life. Life is but a tissue of habits.
Henri-Frédéric Amiel.
Our Heavenly Father, we pray that our daily life may take on that dignity and calmness and tranquillity which are the possession of those who truly and inwardly trust and confide in the eternal Goodness, who believe that our days are ordered by a Higher Power, and that through all there runs a thread,—a chain of Infinite Love, binding us all to Thee and to one common universal good and blessedness. In this faith, keep us, O Holy Father, and, filled with love to Thee and to our neighbor, may we pursue our way and do our work, anxious only to have Thee in all our thoughts. In Thy name, Amen.
Joshua Young.
October 30
Thus pass away the generations of men!—thus perish the records of the glory of nations! Yet, when every emanation of the human mind has faded, when in the storms of time the monuments of man's creative art are scattered to the dust, an ever new life springs from the bosom of the earth. Unceasingly prolific Nature unfolds her germs, regardless though sinful man, ever at war with himself, tramples beneath his foot the ripening fruit!
Thus pass away the generations of men!—thus perish the records of the glory of nations! Yet, when every emanation of the human mind has faded, when in the storms of time the monuments of man's creative art are scattered to the dust, an ever new life springs from the bosom of the earth. Unceasingly prolific Nature unfolds her germs, regardless though sinful man, ever at war with himself, tramples beneath his foot the ripening fruit!
Alexander von Humboldt.
Infinite Spirit, Thou buildest the monuments of Thy power in the rocks of the mountains, but Thou buildest the monuments of Thy love in the hearts of men. When the bodies and the works of men have perished the rocks will abide and the trees will bear their fruit. But when the rocks have crumbled the souls of men will abide. If that which is seen is temporal, we thank Thee O Lord, that the unseen is eternal. We are awed by the majesty of the seas and the mountains. But we are inspired by the immortality of the soul. Heavenly Father, may we live today as if made for eternity. So may our lives be dignified and glorified. Amen.
George L. Perin.
October 31