December 19

Judge not, that ye be not judged.—MATT. vii, 1.

"When you meet with one suspected Of some secret deed of shame, And for this by all rejected, As a thing of evil fame, Guard thine every look and action Speak no words of harmless blame.

"Think, if placed in his condition, Would a kind word be in vain? Or a cold look of suspicion Win thee back to truth again?

"Better have an act that's kindly Treated some time with disdain, Than by judging blindly, Doom the innocent to pain."

Guilelessness is the grace for suspicious people. And the possession of it is the great secret of per- sonal influence. You will find, if you think for a mo- ment, that the people who influence you are people who believe in you. In an atmosphere of suspicion men shrivel up; but in that atmosphere they expand, and find encouragement and educative fellowship.

HENRY DRUMMOND.

Every considerate word we utter concerning those about us, every time we give them the benefit of a doubt in our judgment of their motive, we are habit- uating ourselves to that charity which "suffereth long and is kind."

FRANCES E. WILLARD.