November 23

Be strong, all ye people of the land, saith the Lord, and work; for I am with you, saith the Lord of hosts.—HAGGAI ii, 4.

We rise to meet a heavy blow— Our souls a sudden bravery fills— But we endure not always so The drop-by-drop of little ills; We still deplore and still obey The hard behests of every day.

Ah! more than martyr's aureole, And more than hero's heart of fire, We need the humble strength of soul Which daily toils and ills require— Sweet Patience! grant us if you may, An added grace for every day.

ELIZABETH AKERS ALLEN.

If you could once make up your mind in the fear of God never to undertake more work of any sort than you can carry on calmly, quietly, without hurry or flurry, and the instant you feel yourself growing nervous and like one out of breath, would stop and take breath, you would find this simple, common-sense rule doing for you what no prayers or tears could ever accomplish.

ELIZABETH PRENTISS.

If thou workest at that which is before thee, following right reason, seriously, vigorously, calmly, without allowing anything else to distract thee, but keeping thy divine part pure as if thou shouldst be bound to give it back immediately—if thou holdest to this, expecting nothing, fearing nothing, but satisfied with thy present activity according to nature, and with heroic truth in each word and sound which thou utterest, thou wilt live happy. And there is no man who is able to prevent this.

MARCUS ANTONINUS.