Methought that in a solemn church I stood; Its marble acres, worn with knees and feet, Lay spread from door to door, from street to street. Midway the form hung high upon the rood Of Him who gave his life to be our good. Beyond, priests flitted, bowed, and murmured meet Among the candles, shining still and sweet. Men came and went, and worshipped as they could-- And still their dust a woman with her broom, Bowed to her work, kept sweeping to the door. Then saw I, slow through all the pillared gloom, Across the church a silent figure come; "Daughter," it said, "thou sweepest well my floor." "It is the Lord!" I cried, and saw no more. --George Macdonald. SHARE YOUR BLESSINGS Dig channels for the streams of love, Where they may broadly run, And love has overflowing streams To fill them every one. But if at any time thou cease Such channels to provide, The very founts of love to thee Will soon be parched and dried. For thou must share if thou wouldst keep That good thing from above; Ceasing to share you cease to have; Such is the law of love. ONLY A LITTLE Only a seed--but it chanced to fall In a little cleft of a city wall, And taking root, grew bravely up Till a tiny blossom crowned its top. Only a thought--but the work it wrought Could never by tongue or pen be taught; For it ran through a life like a thread of gold, And the life bore fruit--a hundred fold. Only a word--but 'twas spoken in love, With a whispered prayer to the Lord above; And the angels in heaven rejoiced once more, For a new-born soul "entered in by the door." PAUL AT MELITA Secure in his prophetic strength, The water peril o'er, The many-gifted man at length Stepped on the promised shore. He trod the shore; but not to rest, Nor wait till angels came; Lo! humblest pains the saint attest, The firebrands and the flame. But when he felt the viper's smart, Then instant aid was given. Christian, hence learn to do thy part, And leave the rest to Heaven. --John Henry Newman. All service ranks the same with God; If now, as formerly He trod Paradise, His presence fills Our earth, each only as God wills Can work--God's puppets, best and worst, Are we; there is no last nor first. Say not "a small event!" Why "small"? Costs it more pain that this, ye call A "great event," should come to pass Than that? Untwine me, from the mass Of deeds which make up life, one deed Power shall fall short in, or exceed. --Robert Browning.