GRAINS OF GOLD.

New Zealand Tablet, 26 July 1906, Page 3

GRAINS OF GOLD.

A Home. For something that abode endued With temple-like repose, an air Of life's kind purposes pursued With ordered freedom sweet and fair. A tent pitched in a world not right It seemed, whose inmates, o\ery one, On tranlo/uil faces bore the light Of duties beautifully clone, And humbly, though they had few peers, Kept their own laws, which seemed to be The fair sum of six thousand years' Traditions of civility. — Coventry Patmore. Grace is the life of the soul, prayer its breath. Only he who merits a favor knows how to appreciate one. The best of men are apt to be those most convinced of being chief among sinners. The more unhappy I am, the more will I trust in the mercy of my Lord, my God.— St. Francis. Nothing so much helps towards people understanding one another as realising the grounds of their differences. Charity alone can raise us to perfection ; but obedience, chastity, and poverty are the principal means to attain it. Patience is the garden of faith, the preserver of peace, the cherisher of love, the teacher of humility. Patience governs the flesh, strengthens the spirit, sweetens the temper, stifles anger, extinguishes' envy ; subdues pride ; she bridles the tongue, refrains the hands, tramples en temptations, endures persecution, consummates martyrdom. Patience produces unity in the Church, loyalty in the State, harmony in families and societies. She comforts the poor and moderates the rich ; she makes us humble in prosperity, cheerful in adversity, unmoved by reproach ; she teaches us to forgive those who have injured us, and to be first in asking; forgiveness of those whom we have injured. She delights the faithful, and invites the unbelieving ; she adorns the woman and approves the man ; is loved in a child, praised in a woman, and admired in a man. She is beautiful in either sex a nd in every age. '