May 17

The merciful man doeth good to his own soul.— PROV. xi, 17.

Wilt thou draw near the nature of the gods?

Draw near them then in being merciful,

Sweet mercy is nobility's true badge.

SHAKESPEARE.

Though justice be thy plea, consider this—

That in the course of justice, none of us

Should see salvation: we do pray for mercy;

And that same prayer doth teach us all to render

The deeds of mercy.

Ibid.

We are unmerciful when without necessity we are judges of evil thoughts, when we suspect meanness, littleness, untruthfulness—not to speak of worse sur- misings—in others. The merciful in thought give no room in their hearts for suspicions such as these. They do not secretly impute evil.

RICHARD C. TRENCH.