The wisest reader may perceive, In writings that shall ever live, A reflex of his own wise thoughts That to the world he did not give; But to the mind of him who learns, They are as seeds of knowledge brought That soon take root and rarefy Into a whole great field of thought. SCHOOL. Life is a school for all mankind, Where daily lessons are assigned And each may do his best; God is the Master who will teach The truths that lie within our reach And leave to us the rest. Each has his proper place at start And each can learn his little part If earnestly he tries; Altho’ his standard may be low, He surely to the head will go Who on himself relies. Each has a chance among the rest To do his worst or do his best And his must be the choice,— Either to break the golden rule And cause confusion in life’s school, Or heed the Master’s voice. The discipline is not severe, Altho’ the Master we should fear To keep us from a wrong; There is no need to sigh and fret, Or to despair, with lashes wet, Because our task seems long. The lessons that so oft’ we spurn We know that some time we must learn, Then why should we delay? He stays behind who is the dunce, The wisest does his task at once And goes upon his way. The Master’s sympathy prevails With him who tries altho’ he fails, For He will help not chide; When rest and honors have been won He hears the Master say: “Well done,” And he is satisfied. THE GRACES. Faith, the angel of my prayer, Hope, to lighten every care, Love, to lift life’s heavy yoke, These the graces I invoke; But the greatest of the three Is the last—sweet charity. SUNSHINE. The sunshine makes the flowers grow, They cannot thrive in shade; If naught but darkness did they know Their brightness soon would fade. Our lives require the sunlight’s glow, They cannot thrive in gloom; If naught but darkness did thy know Bright hopes would never bloom. The sunny smiles that make life bright And bless the passing hours, Will do for souls that need the light What sunshine does for flowers. “WHAT SHALL IT PROFIT?” Will it matter, by and by, When he calls us each by name, Whether you, or whether I, Win earth’s honor and earth’s fame? Onward, in the rush of life, For the prizes of the race, Shall we mingle in the strife Crowding others out of place? Shall we seek Ambition’s goal, Where the earthly treasures stay, Passing by some helpless soul Who has lost the Heavenly way? If no kindness we have shown, Seeking to be first of all, Shall we gain a “welcome home” When we hear the Master’s call?