What joy one moment may impart
If it be spent aright!

One moment saves the broken heart,
And puts despair to flight.

All can bestow most precious gifts-
The weak, the low, the poor;
The feeling heart from sorrow lifts,
To Heaven's wide open door.

AUGUST 13.

"Them that honour me, I will honour."1 Sam. ii. 30.

If the Lord makes us willing to espouse His cause, we may depend upon Him to espouse ours.

NEWTON.

AUGUST 14.

"Thou makest the outgoings of the morning and evening to rejoice."-Ps. lxv. 8.

Yet not so much that, while I wondering tread
Th' unfoldings of Thy silent Providence,
Thou giv'st to feel Thy kind withholding chain,
And gentle leading-not so much for this

I thank Thee, heavenly Father, Friend, and Lord!
As that each morn and eve, that hasten on
My days to number-to the homeless heart,
Which turns from fairest scenes unsatisfied,
Wearied with vain pursuits and vainer end,—
Thou in serener dwellings dost disclose
The kingdom of Thy treasures, new and old.

Thy guiding hand a little further on!
Thus doth Thy Spirit walk with soundless tread,
In the outgoings of the morn and eve,
Leading us on, unseen, unheard of man;
Constant as dews, whose footsteps fall from heav'n
Noiseless, and not less balmly in their tread;
Gradual, as rays that build the golden grain ;
Unseen, as gales that homeward bear the sail ;
Dear, as awaken'd thoughts of absent home;
And soothing, as familiar strains from far,
Long-loved, but dull to unaccustom'd ear.

The Cathedral.

AUGUST 15.

"But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, long-suffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.

O turn unto me, and have

mercy upon me.”—Ps. lxxxvi. 15.

"Mercy and truth be with thee."—2 Sam. xv. 20.

Wait awhile, O Death,

For those who love this fleeting world too well! Wait, till it force their hearts to turn away From all its empty promises, and loathe

Its deep hypocrisy. O, wait for those

Who have not tasted yet of Heaven's high grace, Nor bring them to their audit, all unclothed With a Redeemer's righteousness.

MRS. SIGOURNEY.

AUGUST 16.

"Called to be saints."--Rom. i. 7.

It is a common thing, when ne out of a family becomes religious, to say-they are "called out of their family." But that is not so: they are not "called out of their family;" they are called in their family, and should intercede for the rest-that is their calling.

H. D.

AUGUST 17.

"In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee."Isa. xlix. 8.

My God! is any hour so sweet,

From blush of morn to evening-star, As that which calls me to thy feet

The hour of prayer?

Blest is that tranquil hour of morn,
And blest that hour of solemn eve,
When, on the wings of prayer up-borne,

The world I leave !

For then a day-spring shines on me,
Brighter than morn's ethereal glow;
And richer dews descend from Thee

Than earth can know.

Then is my strength by Thee renewed;
Then do I feel my sins forgiven;
Then dost Thou cheer my solitude

With joys of heaven.

No words can tell what sweet relief

There for my every want I find,

What strength for warfare, balm for grief,

What peace of mind.

Hushed is each doubt; gone every fear;

My spirit seems in heaven to stay;

And e'en the penitential tear

Is wiped away.

Lord! till I reach yon blissful shore,
No privilege so dear shall be,
As thus my inmost soul to pour

In prayer to Thee.

66

AUGUST 18.

'If a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual restore such an one in the spirit of meekness."-Gal. vi. 1.

Despise thou not a small thing, either for evil or

good;

For a look may work thy ruin, or a word create thy wealth.