Have you found your life distasteful? My life did and does smack sweet. Was your youth of pleasure wasteful? Mine I saved, and hold complete. Do your joys with age diminish? When mine fail me I'll complain. Must in death your daylight finish? My sun sets to rise again. I find earth not gray, but rosy; Heaven not grim, but fair of hue. Do I stoop? I pluck a posy; Do I stand and stare? All's blue. --Robert Browning. WE SHALL KNOW In wise proportion does a fond hand mingle The sweet and bitter in our life-cup here; Each drop of either is by love eternal Poured forth in wisdom for his children dear. The loving Father, as a wise physician, Knows what the wants of all those children are; Knows which is needed most--the joy or sorrow, The peace of comfort, or affliction's war. Then, should the bitter be our daily portion, So that we cannot any sweet discern, Let us, in childlike faith, receive with meekness The needed tonic, and its lessons learn. And if we cannot even that decipher, Let us be still, nay, thank him for his care, Contented that we soon shall know--hereafter-- When we the fullness of his presence share. --Charlotte Murray. THE STEPS OF FAITH Know well, my soul, God's hand controls Whate'er thou fearest; Round him in calmest music rolls Whate'er thou hearest. Nothing before, nothing behind; The steps of faith Fall on the seeming void, and find The rock beneath. The Present, the Present is all thou hast For thy sure possessing; Like the patriarch's angel, hold it fast Till it gives its blessing. --John Greenleaf Whittier. I am of sinfulness and sorrows full! Thou art the Mighty, Great, and Merciful! How should we not be friends, or thou not save Me who bring naught to thee who all things gave? --Edwin Arnold, from the Sanskrit. MY GUIDE I know not the way I am going, But well do I know my Guide! With a childlike trust do I give my hand To the mighty Friend by my side; And the only thing that I say to him, As he takes it, is, "Hold it fast! Suffer me not to lose the way, And lead me home at last." As when some helpless wanderer Alone in some unknown land, Tells the guide his destined place of rest, And leaves all else in his hand; 'Tis home--'tis home that I wish to reach, He who guides me may choose the way; And little I care what path I take When nearer home each day. THE LORD'S PROVISION In some way or other the Lord will provide; It may not be _my_ way, it may not be _thy_ way; And yet in his _own_ way, "The Lord will provide." At some time or other the Lord will provide; It may not be _my_ time, it may not be _thy_ time; And yet in his _own_ time, "The Lord will provide."