Little acts of kindness, How they cheer the heart! What a world of gladness Will a smile impart! How a gentle accent Calms the troubled soul, When the waves of passion O'er it wildly roll! You may have around you Sunshine, if you will, Or a host of shadows, Gloomy,--dreary,--chill. If you want the sunshine, Smile, though sad at heart; To the poor and needy Kindly aid impart. To the soul-despairing Breathe a hopeful word; From your lips be only Tones of kindness heard. Ever give for anger, Love and tenderness; And, in blessing others. You yourself will bless. Little acts of kindness, Nothing do they cost; Yet when they are wanting, Life's best charm is lost. Little acts of kindness, Richest gems of earth; Though they seem but trifles, Priceless is their worth. * * * * * If wisdom's ways you wisely seek, Five things observe with care:-- To whom you speak,--of whom you speak,-- And how,--and when,--and where. THE BLESSINGS. Blessed are the poor in spirit, They the kingdom shall possess, Rich in faith and heavenly blessings, Let us ever forward press. Blessed are the sad and mournful, Weeping o'er their treasures gone For the darkness gathered o'er them Is the harbinger of morn. Blessed are the meek and lowly, They the green earth shall inherit; Full of love, and peace, and gladness, Fruits of God's most Holy Spirit. Blessed they who thirst and hunger; All their wants shall be supplied; Never yet have been forsaken They, who on their God relied. Blessed they who, loving mercy, Joy not in another's pain; All the mercy shown to others They shall for themselves obtain. Blessed are the pure and prayerful, Seeking God in every place; They shall in their home eternal See Him ever face to face. Blessed are the good peace-makers, For God's children they shall be; Of His glory full partakers, When from earth their spirits flee. Blessed ye, when men revile you, Treat you falsely for My sake; For the prophets gone before you Did the self-same treatment take. Let us then be ever mindful Of the precepts Christ has given; So that when this life is over, We may dwell with Him in heaven. WHEN FATHER COMES HOME. When my father comes home in the evening from work, Then I will get up on his knee, And tell him how many nice lessons I learn, And show him how good I can be. He shall hear what number I know how to count; I'll tell him what words I can spell; And if I can learn something new every day, I hope soon to read very well. I'll repeat to him all the good verses I know, And tell him how kind we must be, That we never must hurt little creatures at all: And he will be glad, and love me.