October 27

Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.— ISA. xl, 1.

Ask God to give thee skill

In comfort's art,

That thou mayst consecrated be,

And set apart

Unto a life of sympathy.

For heavy is the weight of ill

In every heart;

And comforters are needed much,

Of Christ-like touch.

ANNA E. HAMILTON.

Unless we have a deep and real sympathy we can never touch the lives of others. Sympathy is not condescending pity. It means the suffering and rejoicing so intimately with others that their sorrows and joys are really ours. True sympathy cheerfully steps out of the sunlight and enters into the shadow for the sake of the clouded soul. It leads the strong after the fashion of our Lord, to share and to bear the infirmities of the weak.

C. H. BRENT.

Strengthen me by sympathizing with my strength, not my weakness.

ALCOTT.

If thou art something, bring thy soul and inter- change with mine.

SCHILLER.