_I believe that today is better than yesterday, and that tomorrow will be better than today._ GEORGE F. HOAR. _Make yourselves nests of pleasant thoughts, bright fancies, faithful sayings; treasure-houses of precious and restful thoughts, which care cannot disturb nor poverty take away from you,--houses built without hands for your souls to live in._ JOHN RUSKIN. Dear Father in heaven, around Thy name cluster the most sacred and holy affections. Thy name, indeed, is above every name infinite in love, and awakening in each heart a sense of filial gratitude. At this morning hour, therefore, we are mindful of the tie that binds us to Thee, that provides a nesting-place for pleasant and restful thoughts, that makes duty less irksome, home-love more tender, sacrifice more willing, and character more noble. In this spirit we pray Thee, O Father, send us forth to the labor which awaits us, only to realize, under Thy Providence, that this is the best day of our life, and full of assurance and rejoicing for a still better tomorrow. In the light of faith, hope and love do we ask and offer all. Amen. WILBURN D. POTTER. March 22 _Scarce tangible may be the first glad sign, Yet how it shakes us with a vernal thrill! The voice of the south wind behind the hill; Or an elusive bird-note faint and fine; A flush at dawn along the wan sky-line; A lyrical exuberance in the rill; A something working its mysterious will Both in majestic hole and tenuous vine!_ _It is the vernal spirit. In the earth It throbs and pulses; quickens in the air; And permeates all nature thro' and thro'. In the expectant poignancy of birth What raptures, what rare ecstasies we share-- Old,--ah, how old!--and yet forever new!_ CLINTON SCOLLARD. O God, how good Thou art! All Thy works praise Thee. The world is filled with Thy glory. This dawning Springtime brings Thee very near every responsive heart. Thou art the fountain of life. We see Thee in bursting bud and incipient bloom. We hear Thee in the rapture of birds and in the new-found gladness of sun-kissed rivulets. May we, the children of Thy love, be new born into a deeper spirituality,--a richer life! May the beauty of the Spirit breathing through our hearts call forth the latent goodness that slumbers there! Speak through us the music of Thy love. Perfume us with the odors of Thy heavenly grace, and may we walk this day in tune with Thee! Amen. JOSEPH COOPER. March 23 _Work is the grand cure of all the maladies and miseries that ever beset mankind--honest work, which you intend getting done._ THOMAS CARLYLE.