February 23

Why stand ye here all the day idle?—MATT. xx, 6.

Nothing to do! There are prayers to lay

On the altar of incense, day by day.

There are foes to meet within and without;

There is error to conquer, strong and stout.

Nothing to do! There are lambs to feed,

The precious hope of the church's need;

Strength to be borne to the weak and faint;

Vigils to keep with the doubting saint.

Nothing to do! and thy Saviour said:

"Follow thou me in the path I tread."

Lord, lend Thy help the journey through,

Lest, faint, we cry: "So much to do."

ANONYMOUS.

Never be idle. Idleness means ruin, just as stagnation means decay. You can catch better things than early worms by rising in the morning—something that will paint your cheeks, lighten your step, quicken your pulse, brighten your eye and give you such an appetite as will make breakfast a pleasure, dinner a treat, tea a delight, and no room for supper. Besides, it's only one early bird that catches the worm. Every early boy can catch the benefit I speak of. And what the boy learns to love the man will turn to deeper account, and just when the idle man is thinking that he ought to have a fortune the early one will be wrapping his up and running off to the bank with it. ANONYMOUS.