THE GARLAND..

Otago Witness, Issue 3619, 24 July 1923, Page 56

THE GARLAND..

FOR THE QUIET HOUR. No. 517.

B y

Duncan Wright, Dunedin

Chips from Wordsworth : There is One great society alone on earth: The noble living and the noble dead. The thought of our past years in me doth breed Perpetual benediction. Though inland far we be, Our souls have sight of that immortal sea Which brought us hither. To me the meanest flower that blows can give Thoughts that do often lie too deep for tears. Two voices are there: one is of the sea, One of the mountains, —each a mightv voice. The good die first, And they whose hearts are dry as summer dust Burn to the socket. Wisdom is oftentimes nearer when we stoop Than when we soar. The primal duties shine aloft, like stars; The charities that soothe and heal and bless Are scattered at the feet of man like flowers. Wo bow our heads before Thee, and we laud And magnify Thy Name Almighty God! But man is Thy most awful instrument In working out a pure intent. How many readers have had the great joy of reading “Thinking Black,” by Daniel Crawford? How many readers have had the privilege and luxury of reading Daniel Crawford’s later book “Back to the Long Grass,” in which will be found many new facts concerning David Livingstone, a great hero and a great traveller? As the book costs £1 many persons who aro deeply interested in Africa may be debarred from purchasing the volume. If so borrow or seek it from your library as I have done. Let me quote a few samples of what may be in store for you:

Some to endure and many to fail. Some to conquer and many to quail, Toiling over the Wilderness trail. “I will open up a uath into the interior of Africa or perish.”—Livingstone. ‘‘l shall not swerve a hairsbreadth from my work while life is spared.”—ldem. ‘‘My great object was to be like Him, to imitate Him as far as He could be imitated.”—ldem. ‘‘Nothing earthly will make me give up my work nor despair; I encourage myself in the Lord my God and go forward.”—ldem. I LOVE THY PRESENCE, LORD. By Rev. A. J. Treloar, B.D. I love Thy presence, Lord; I love to linger at my Master’s feet, Communing with my God, And hearkening to Thy voice so low and sweet; Revealing in each word How great Thy love to me, and how complete. Oh! that- my soul might scan With clearer sight, the sweetness of Thy face; And see the Son of Man As Son of God, in His own glorious place; And how His mighty plan Wins to Himself our sinful, erring race. Ah, then my heart would raise Unto Thy throne a brighter, sweeter song, And through the coming days Its melody should still be borne along— Till heaven’s songs of praise - Shall tune for endless years this lisping tongue. “HAS SOME ONE SEEN CHRIST IN YoU TO-DAY?” Has some one seen Christ in you to-day ? Christian look to your life I pray. The little things you’ve done or said, Did they agree with the prayer made ? Have your thoughts been pure, and your words been kind? Have you sought to have the Saviour’s mind? The world with a criticising view has watched, And did it see Christ in you ? Has some one seen Christ in you to-day ? Christian look to your life I pray. Have you been led nearer the Father’s Throne, Further away from the tempting one? Have your feet on errands of love been sent? Or on selfish deeds has your strength been spent ? Has a wandering soul, with hops born new, Found Christ through following after you? Has some one seen Christ in you to-day? Christian look to your life I pray. There are aching hearts and sin-sick souls. Being lost on sin’s destructive shoals, And perhaps of Christ the only view May be what they see of Him in you. Have they seen enough to bring hope and cheer ? Look to your light, does it shine out clear ? Has some one seen Christ in you to-day ? Oh! Christian be careful, watch and pray. Look up to Christ in faith, and then Lift up to Him your fellow men. Upon your own strength you dare not rely, There’s a fount of grace and strength on high, Go to that • fount and your strength renew. And the life of Christ will shine through you. —Anon. CHEERFULNESS. One melancholy person will mar the happiness of a household, particularly if he is an important member of the family. The father should not bring his business troubles home with him. Mothers have hundreds of little trials which 4ret the temper and cause the brow to cloud over; but, if it can possibly be avoided, such troubles shouid never be* made apparent to the family circle. Of course it may be hard to suffer all to one’s self; and it is so often a relief to pour into the ears of the assembled family the tribulations of the kitchen or nursery; but this disposition is better checked in the beginning. The habit of complaining is one that grows unconsciously, if indulged m at all. If an air of cheerfulness is assumed, however little it may be really felt, the spirit itself will soon pervade the soul and each effort to subdue the fretful and gloomy feelings will be found easier. No member of the family needs to feel the buoyant influences of hope more than the wife and mother. Let her particularly cultivate this habit of mind if her husband is inclined to despondency. Her influence on him is incalculable. But many a woman renders herself unfit for this duty by ruining her temper and nerves by overwork. That’s a bad plan, mother. Don’t try to do too much. Never mind if the baby’s frock is not finished; put it by until another day. Don’t be bent upon hanging up the fresh curtains to-day; let them wait until you are not so tired. Don’t work so hard as to unstring the nerves and make yourself incapable of proving yourself a cheerful companion to your husband a,nd children in the evening. A brisk walk in the fresh air, a call on a pleasant neighbour, will give you something pleasant to think about, and supply you with items to enliven the tea table chat, You cannot afford to be melancholy; so drive away dull care, and be cheerful, for your own sake as well as that of the household whose happiness depends upon your smiles ' THE ABIDING. The lav.' that rounds the star From flaming golden mass Forms in a crystal sphere The dew upon the grass. His thought that reaches down From star to evening dew Binds all in links of love Unchanging, strong, and true. No tumult of the day, No anger of an hour, Can change the law that hae Eternity for dower. And be it soon or late, By ways of sword or flr.me, All earth must kneel before The beauty of His Name.

Though ages come and go And all man’s dreams thereof, His lav/ that is supreme Shall bind all men in love! —Arthur Wallace Peach. A GARLAND FOR THE GARLANDMAKER—MR DUNCAN WRIGHT. Per favour Editor Witness. A kindly Scot, with wisdom’s root, On these fair lands in Southern seas. With sweet celestial tunes to pipe, Amid the jingling of bawbees. A man who loves his fellow men, Who leads, and points to first things first; Who knows, if souls but miss the Way, All Mammon’s gain is nought but curs’t A gatherer of wisdom’s gems, A preacher of eternal things; Exhorting to lay up in heaven, Where riches do not take them wings. A faithful soul, steadfast to truth, A witness, on the broad highway Of literature, as well as life, A sunbeam on a rainy day. A sower of immortal seed, Watered by dews of hearts—-desire To see the fruit of righteousness. His prayers, to bless the world aspire. Lord bless Thy servant with much time, And wit, to shine e’er set of sun. May his bright even-tide be sweet, E'er he doth hear Thine Own, “Well done.” Sydney, N.S.W., July 6.