So I ask Thee for the daily strength-- To none that ask denied-- And a mind to blend with outward life, While keeping at thy side, Content to fill a _little_ space, If thou be glorified. And if some things I do not ask In my cup of blessing be, I would have my spirit filled the more With grateful love to thee; More careful not to serve thee much, But to please thee perfectly. There are briers besetting every path, Which call for constant care; There is a cross in every lot, And an earnest need for prayer; But a lowly heart, that leans on Thee, Is happy everywhere. In a service which Thy love appoints There are no bonds for me, For my secret heart has learned the truth Which makes thy children free, And a life of self-renouncing love Is a life of liberty. --Anna Letitia Waring. TWO PICTURES An old farm house with meadows wide, And sweet with clover on each side; A bright-eyed boy, who looks from out The door with woodbine wreathed about, And wishes his one thought all day: "O if I could but fly away! From this dull spot the world to see, How happy, happy, happy, How happy I should be!" Amid the city's constant din, A man who round the world has been, Who, 'mid the tumult and the throng, Is thinking, thinking all day long: "O could I only tread once more The field-path to the farm-house door, The old green meadow could I see, How happy, happy, happy, How happy I should be!" --Annie Douglas Robinson. Happy the man, of mortals happiest he, Whose quiet mind from vain desires is free; Whom neither hopes deceive nor fears torment, But lives in peace, within himself content; In thought, or act, accountable to none But to himself, and unto God alone. --Henry P. F. Lansdowne. CONTENT I LIVE My mind to me a kingdom is; Such perfect joy therein I find As far exceeds all earthly bliss That God or nature hath assigned: Though much I want that most would have, Yet still my mind forbids to crave. Content I live; this is my stay-- I seek no more than may suffice. I press to bear no haughty sway; Look, what I lack my mind supplies. Lo, thus I triumph like a king, Content with what my mind doth bring. I laugh not at another's loss, I grudge not at another's gain; No worldly wave my mind can toss; I brook that as another's bane. I fear no foe, nor fawn on friend. I loathe not life, nor dread mine end. My wealth is health and perfect ease; My conscience clear my chief defense; I never seek by bribes to please Nor by desert to give offense. Thus do I live, thus will I die; Would all did so, as well as I. --Edward Dyer. Alt. by William Byrd (1540-1625). JUST AS GOD LEADS