Leaves of Life Part 87

The great elements we know of are no mean comforters; the open sky sits upon our senses like a sapphire crown--the air is our robe of state, the Earth is our throne, and the Sea a mighty minstrel playing before it.

--John Keats.

Ah Lord Jehovah! behold, thou hast made the heavens and the earth by thy great power and by thine outstretched arm; there is nothing too hard for thee.

--Jeremiah 32. 17.

Almighty G.o.d, I thank thee for the power that gives me the breath of life. May I be willing to be controlled by its guiding care. Amen.

OCTOBER THIRTIETH

Rev. John Whitaker died 1808.

John Adams, Ma.s.sachusetts, second President United States, born 1735.

Adelaide Anne Procter born 1825.

And yet thou canst know, And yet thou canst not see; Wisdom and sight are slow In poor humanity.

If thou couldst trust, poor soul, In Him who rules the whole, Thou wouldst find peace and rest; Wisdom and right are well, but trust is best.

--Adelaide Anne Procter.

The heart to speak in vain essayed, Nor could his purpose reach-- His will nor voice nor tongue obeyed, His silence was his speech.

--John Quincy Adams.

But still believe that story wrong Which ought not to be true.

--Richard Brinsley Sheridan.

Blessed is the man that maketh Jehovah his trust.

--Psalm 40. 4.

My Father, may I not be given to unkindly speech. Deliver me from a critical spirit; and may I not encourage mistrust, but cultivate the kindly considerations in which life abounds. Amen.

OCTOBER THIRTY-FIRST

All Hallow's Eve.

John Evelyn born 1620.

Christopher Anstey born 1724.

Ere, in the northern gale The summer tresses of the trees are gone, The woods of autumn, all around our vale, Have put their glory on.

The mountains that unfold, In their wide sweep, the colored landscape round, Seem groups of giant kings, in purple and gold, That guard the enchanted ground.

Ah! 'twere a lot too blessed Forever in thy colored shades to stray; Amid the kisses of the soft southwest To rove and dream for aye;

And leave the vain low strife That makes men mad; the tug for wealth and power, The pa.s.sions and the cares that wither life, And waste its little hour.

--William Cullen Bryant.

Let the field exult, and all that is therein; Then shall all the trees of the wood sing for joy.

--Psalm 96. 12.

My Father, may I have an appreciation of the wonderful creations of the earth. Give me a discriminating eye, that I may know the precious things that thou art growing; and throughout my life may I love the beautiful, and choose that which will make my life worthy of growth.

Amen.

NOVEMBER

Who said November's face was grim?

Who said her voice was harsh and sad?

I heard her sing in wood paths dim, I met her on the sh.o.r.e so glad, So smiling, I could kiss her feet!

There never was a month so sweet.

--Lucy Larcom.

NOVEMBER FIRST

Sir Matthew Hale born 1609.

William M. Chase born 1849.

Sir Robert Grant died 1892.

O worship the King, all glorious above, O gratefully sing his power and his love; Our Shield and Defender, the ancient of days, Pavilioned in splendor, and girded with praise.

Thy bountiful care what tongue can recite?

It breathes in the air, it shines in the light; It streams from the hills, it descends to the plain, And sweetly distills in the dew and the rain.

--Robert Grant.

Ye shall walk in all the way which Jehovah your G.o.d hath commanded you, that ye may live, and that it may be well with you, and that ye may prolong your days in the land which ye shall possess.