The Harvest of a Quiet Eye. _With Numerous Illustrations by Noel Humphreys, Harrison Weir, Wimperis Pritchett, Miss Edwards, and other eminent Artists._ THE HARVEST OF A QUIET EYE. LEISURE THOUGHTS FOR BUSY LIVES. BY THE AUTHOR OF “MY STUDY CHAIR,” “MUSINGS,” ETC. [Illustration] LONDON: THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY, 56, PATERNOSTER ROW; 65, ST. PAUL’S CHURCHYARD; AND 164, PICCADILLY. [Illustration: “_The outward shows of sky and earth, Of hill and valley he has viewed; And impulses of deeper birth Have come to him in solitude._ “_In common things that round us lie, Some random truths he can impart, --The harvest of a quiet eye That broods and sleeps on his own heart._” WORDSWORTH. ] [Illustration: CONTENTS.] PAGE THE OLD YEAR AND THE NEW 1 MUSINGS ON THE THRESHOLD 23 SPRING DAYS 41 MUSINGS IN A WOOD 63 THE MAY-DAYS OF THE SOUL 85 SUMMER DAYS 101 MUSINGS IN THE HAY 123 THE BEAUTY OF RAIN 145 AUTUMN DAYS 161 MUSINGS ON THE SEA-SHORE 183 MUSINGS ON THE MOUNTAINS 199 MUSINGS IN THE TWILIGHT 221 WINTER DAYS 241 THE END OF THE SEASONS 265 UNDER BARE BOUGHS 283 [Illustration: Preface] These papers, written in the intervals of parish work, have appeared in the pages of the _Leisure Hour_ and the _Sunday at Home_. Their publication in a collected form having been decided upon by others, it only remained for me, by careful revision and excision, to render them as little unworthy as might be of starting for themselves in the wide world. I shall not say that I am sorry that they are thus sent forth on their humble mission. Indeed, I am glad. “Brief life is here our portion”:--and surely the wish is one natural to all earnest hearts, that our work for our Master in this sad and sinful world should not have its term together with the quick ending of our short day’s labour here:--and a book has the possibility of a longer life than that of a man. The Night cometh, when none can work; how sweet, if it might be, that when the day is ended, when the warfare, for us, is over, we may have left some strong watchwords, or some comfortable and cheering utterances, still ringing in the ears of those who stepped into our place in the unbroken ranks. Yes, the evening soon falls on the field; the day is brief, nor fully employed; inanimate things seem to have an advantage over us; streams flow on, and mountains stand; “While we, the brave, the mighty, and the wise, We men, who, in our morn of youth, defied The elements, must vanish:--be it so! Enough, if something from our hands have power To live, and act, and serve the future hour.”