GRAINS OF GOLD

New Zealand Tablet, 3 December 1908, Page 3

GRAINS OF GOLD

SELF-CHEATING. When kindness we withhold From friends we daily meet, It is ourselves we cheat Of wealth more worth than gold For life must e'er be cold,

And tares grow 'mid our wheat, When kindness we withhold

From friends we daily meet. Oh, let our hearts unfold Affection's stores full sweet ; Life, at the best, is fleet ; Too soon do we grow old When kindness we withhold From friends we daily meet.

— Aye Maria.

We must regard the community as superior to the individual in many an instance. Life is at best a climb, and celerity in the performance of duty, charm in speech and action and circumspection in all things will make the uphill journey all the easier.

An honest reputation is within the reach of all men ; they obtain it by social virtues and by doing their duty. This kind of reputation, it is true, is neither brilliant nor startling, but it is often the most useful for happiness.

Make good use of your fortune during life. Be not blind enough to depend on heirs, believing that, having forgotten yourself while on earth, they will remember you when you have departed, and give alms in your name. Now that you are able, do what lies in your power. Anticipate the Day of Judgement. Be beforehand with it. That day is coming, inevitably coming, as the rising of tomorrow's sun. The day is far off when the great White Throne will be set up, and we shall stand before God, and the eyes that are as a flame of fire will search us through and through, and not His eyes alone but the eyes of all men will be upon us, and the ears of men will hear that which the accuser will say against us on that day. There will be no secrecy there ; no hiding of our sins ; nothing concealed from God, or from that multitude which is around the great Throne. — Cardinal Manning.