SERIOUS THOUGHTS.

Waikato Argus, Volume X, Issue 865, 26 January 1901, Page 1 (Supplement)

SERIOUS THOUGHTS.

THE GIFT OF SMILES. "The sunbeam steals from out the awesome cloud. Which hovers darkly o'er the brooding earth Wooing the toiler by his labours bowed, To pause and feel a moment's thrill of mirth. The child with tripping feet and dancing eyes, Comes singing gaily some sweet laughter song; And weary men, by kuowledge grown too wise, Learn from the child and for the child's heart long. With these your part is ; flashing merry wit And showering everywhere your glecsome smiles, Like birds that over earth-bound toilers flit, You lift our thoughts on high by sunny wiles. Is thi6 a little gift ? Ah ! no. On you A ministry of brightness God hath laid, Most for the toilsome, weighty cross, a few For sweetness, sunshine, smiles, songs, He made." Henry Ckombie. The power of life over life is something almost startling. There have been single looks of tlie eye which have changed a destiny. Tnero hava heen meetings of only a moment, which have left impressions for life, for eternity. No one of us can luu'ersianrt that mysterious thing we call influence We are forever adding to the world's health, happiness and good or to its pun, sorrow and curse. Every moment's true living, every victory we wit over self awl sin, every fragment of sweet life we live, makes it easier for others to be brave and true and sweet. We are always giving out influence, " Where'er a noble deed is wrought, Whene'er is spoken a noble thought, Our hearts in glad surprise To higher levels rise. The tidal wave of deeper souls Into our inmost being rolls, And lifts us unawares Out of all meaner cares."'

Good companionship lias only blessings for a life. There have beeu mere chance meetings for a moment, a.s when ships .speak at Sfla and pass each on it« course, never to meet again, which yet have left blessings whoss influeuce will never perish.

" There was a smile "Which out of her eyes' blue heaven fell As the suubeams dart. The beautiful smilo fell into my heart, And, fulling, was folded in love's sweet shell, And the beautiful smile became a song In my heart." —Rev. J. R. Miller. (F). MIGHT HAVE BEEN. I might have been more patiant— All! would the angry word Upon my lips had perishad Unuttered and unheard ! Some heart would now be lighter To wend its toiisome way ; Some life would be more cheerful More suushiily to-day. I might have been more kindly— How trilling is the cost Of simple deeds of goodness, Whose power is never lost, The golden moment vanished And never to return : The glory of bestowing Too late, too late, I learn. I might have been more loving To those who hold me dear; What little deeds neglected Had soothed their pathway here : The hasty word or action That, pained a gentle heart Ah ! will its mournful memory From out our life depart ': I might have been r—sad burdeu Of life's remorseless song. Within the heart for ever' Its haunting echoes throng. Oh.' youth, upon the threshold To this sweet lesson bow. For deeds of love and kindness Life has one season—now; . —Axon. (F).