Only _pray_ fervently; let your prayer be thoughtful and reverent, sweet and full of hope. The poor have nothing left to them but _prayer_; but that prayer, so humble, so pleading, ascends to GOD, and is listened to with Fatherly love! Do not have a number of varied prayers, but let the "Our FATHER" be ever on your lips and in your heart. Love to repeat to GOD the prayer that CHRIST Himself has taught, and for His sake is always accepted. Look upon yourself as a hired servant of GOD, to whom He has promised a rich reward at the end of the day He calls _life_; each morning hold yourself in readiness to obey all His commands, in the way He wills, and with the means He appoints. The command may not always come _direct_ from the Master; it would be too sweet to hear only GOD'S Voice: but He sends it by means of His ambassadors; these go by the names of _superiors_, _equals_, _inferiors_, sometimes _enemies_. Each has received the mission (without knowing it) to make you holy; one by subduing your independence, another by crushing your pride, a third by spurring your slothfulness. They will, though fulfilling GOD'S command, do it each in his own way, sometimes roughly, sometimes maliciously, sometimes in a way hard to bear ... what does it matter, so long as you feel that all you do, all you suffer, is the will of GOD? Do your duty as well as you can, as you understand it, as it is given to you; say sometimes to GOD, "My Master, art Thou satisfied with me?" and then, in spite of ennui, fatigue, repugnance, go on with it faithfully to the end. Then, whether praise or blame be yours, you will, good faithful servant, at least have peace. 2. HUMBLE TOWARDS OTHERS Look upon yourself as the servant of all, but without ostentation, or their having any knowledge of it. Repeat to yourself sometimes the words of the Blessed Virgin Mary: "Behold the handmaid of the LORD," and those of our LORD, "I came not to be ministered unto, but to minister;" and then act towards others as if you were their slave, warning, aiding, listening; abashed at what they do for you, and always seeming pleased at anything they may require you to do for them. Oh! if you knew the full meaning of these words, all they signify of reward in heaven, of joy and peace on earth, how you would love them! Oh! if you would only make them the rule of your life and conduct, how happy you would be yourself, and how happy you would make others! Happy in the approval of conscience, that whispers, "You have done as CHRIST would have done." Happy in the thought of the reward promised to those who give even a cup of cold water in the name of JESUS CHRIST; happy in the assurance that GOD will do for you what you have done for others. Oh! what matters then ingratitude, forgetfulness, contempt, and scorn? They will pain, no doubt, but will have no power to sadden or discourage. Precious counsel, inspired by CHRIST Himself, I bless you for all the good you have done me!