Kind words are but empty breath To the heart that's still in death; When life's load is hard to bear Let me then the kind word hear. Hast thou sunlit smiles to give, Smiles that make us want to live? Ere I cross death's sullen stream, On me let those bright smiles beam. Smiles, whate'er their power to save, Can not penetrate the grave. Ere I reach life's ending mile, Give to me the sunlit smile. Prayer can stay the trembling knee: If thou hast but one for me, Let it offered be today, Ere the life-light fades away. When my soul transcends the air, I no more shall need thy prayer: Let now, today, thy soul travail; 'Tis only now thy prayers avail. "If I should die tonight, My friends would call to mind with loving thought Some kindly deed the icy hand had wrought, Some gentle word the frozen lips had said, Errands on which the willing feet had sped; The memory of my selfishness and pride, My hasty words, would all be put aside, And so I should be loved and mourned tonight." THE WARFARE OF A CHRISTIAN LIFE. It is blessed and glorious to be a Christian. No other life is so beautiful and pure; no other life is so tranquilly peaceful; no other is so full of rest, happiness, and satisfaction. The Christian, however, does not go to heaven on flowery beds of ease. His pathway is not strewn with roses all the way; there is now and then a thorn. It is not sunshine all the time; now and then a shadow falls. To win heaven he must fight. There are some things to oppose a Christian on his pilgrimage to the skies; these he must contend against. The contending against those things prepares him for his blissful home above.