GRAINS OF GOLD

New Zealand Tablet, 1 October 1908, Page 3

GRAINS OF GOLD

A PRAYER. I do not ask that every day be bright With golden noon and radiant, starlit night. I only ask, O Lord, for light to see The narrow path, and know Thou leadest me. I So not ask for honor, wealth or fame ; 1 do not wish for an emblazoned name. But, Lord, a precious boon I ask of Thee : That Thou would'st give me true humility. I fear, O Lord, these wayward feet will stray And this rebellious heart will not obey. Into a humble heart, like unto Thine, 0 Lord, transform this restless heart of mine ! 1 do not ask to have my good deeds known To all the world. Upon Thy altar stone I lay my gift, knowing Thy love for me Is the. sweet guerdon of my trust in Thee ! Thou knowest every winged thing that flies; Without Thy will, no flower fades or dies. O let Thy love and care o'ershadow me Until at last I rest in peace with Thee! — Exchange. Discontent is the most absurd of all indulgences, for it destroys present happiness and gives no promise for the future. If you desire to reform your fellows remember that example , is more potent than precept, and vastly more agreeable than precept in the form it is usually propounded. ' Attend to your own business' is rather - bluff _ advice, but it is worth considering. Your fellows have-Jaults, .no doubt, about it, but ifthey occupy much, of your attention the chances are ten to ' one that their virtues outnumber your own ten to one. Just S5S 5 ? -i1"i 1 " m md **' yy ° U haveh0 «se-cleaning of your own to do. Nobody likes a busybody. " _ -.DM you ever think-That -a kind word put out af interest brings back an enormous percentage of love and appreciation? That thought loving thought may not seem to.be appreciated,' it has yet made you better and braver because of it? That the little acts of kindness and thoughtfulness day By -day are, really greater than one immense act of goodness once 1 a year? ' That to be always polite, to the people at home is not only more ladylike, but more refined than having "company manners '? That to learn to talk pleasantly about nothing in particular is a great art, and prevents you saying things that you may regret? That to judge anybody by his personal appearance stamps you as not only Ignorant, but Vulg&r.