When the Omniscient Giver of all life, In His eternal council first conceived The thought of man's creation, forth He call'd Into His presence three bright ministers-- Justice, and Truth, and Mercy, that forever Had hovered around His throne--and thus He spoke; "Shall we make man?" Then stern Justice replied: "Create him not, for he will trample on Thy holy law;" and Truth, too, answering, said, "Create him not, O God! he will pollute Thy sanctuary!" When forth Mercy came, And dropping on her knees, exclaimed: "O God! Create him! I will watch his wandering steps, And tender guide thro' all the darksome paths That he may tread." Then forthwith God made man, And said: "Thou art the child of Mercy; go: In mercy with thy erring brother deal." --_Judge Crittenden, of Ky._ 1334 MERCY. Think not the good, The gentle deeds of mercy thou hast done, Shall die forgotten all; the poor, the prisoner, The fatherless, the friendless, and the widow, Who daily owe the bounty of thy hand, Shall cry to Heaven, and pull a blessing on thee. --_Nicholas Rowe._ 1335 He that showeth mercy when it may be best spared will receive mercy when it shall be most needed. 1336 MERCY. I would not enter on my list of friends (Though graced with polished manners and fine sense, Yet wanting sensibility) the man Who needlessly sets foot upon a worm. An inadvertent step may crush the snail That crawls at evening in the public path; But he that has humanity forewarn'd, Will tread aside, and let the reptile live. Ye, who love mercy, teach your sons To love it too. --_Cowper._ 1337 It is beautifully said that the veil of futurity is woven by the hand of mercy. --_Bulwer-Lytton._ 1338 We pray for mercy, Let that same prayer teach us to render The deeds of mercy. --_Shakespeare._ 1339 Merit does not always meet its due reward. 1340 Merit and good-breeding will make their way everywhere. 1341 All are not merry that dance lightly. --_Herbert._ 1342 When I dinna ken what I say, Sandy, And ye dinna ken what I mean--that's metaphysics. --_Scotch._ 1343 Method will teach you to win time. --_Goethe._ 1344 FRIENDS IN NEED.