Life In a Child's Album Lessons Small service is true service while it lasts; Of humblest friends, bright creature! scorn not one; The Daisy, by the shadow that it casts, Protects the lingering dew-drop from the sun. To-Day So here hath been dawning Another blue day: Slip useless away. Out of Eternity This new day was born; Into Eternity, At night, will return. Behold it aforetime No eye ever did; So soon it for ever From all eyes is hid. Here hath been dawning Another blue day: Slip useless away. THOMAS CArlyle. The Noble Nature It is not growing like a tree In bulk doth make Man better be; Or standing long an oak, three hundred year, To fall a log at last, dry, bald, and sere: Is fairer far in May, Although it fall and die that night,— Forbearance Hast thou named all the birds without a gun? In man or maid, that thou from speech refrained, O, be my friend, and teach me to be thine! RALPH WALDO EMERSON. Life Lessons Life The Chambered Nautilus Lessons This is the ship of pearl, which, poets feign, Sails the unshadowed main, The venturous bark that flings On the sweet summer wind its purpled wings Where the cold sea-maids rise to sun their Its webs of living gauze no more unfurl; And every chambered cell, Where its dim dreaming life was wont to dwell, Its irised ceiling rent, its sunless crypt unsealed! Year after year beheld the silent toil That spread his lustrous coil; Still, as the spiral grew, He left the past year's dwelling for the new, Built up its idle door, Stretched in his last-found home, and knew the old no more. Thanks for the heavenly message brought by thee, Child of the wandering sea, Cast from her lap, forlorn! While on mine ear it rings, Through the deep caves of thought I hear a voice that sings: Build thee more stately mansions, O my soul, Leave thy low-vaulted past! Let each new temple, nobler than the last, Leaving thine outgrown shell by life's unrest- OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES. Life Lessons Duty So nigh is grandeur to our dust, So near is God to man; When Duty whispers low " Thou must,” The youth replies, "I can." RALPH WALDO EMERSON. Life Lessons On His Blindness When I consider how my light is spent Ere half my days, in this dark world and wide, And that one Talent which is death to hide, To serve therewith my Maker, and present Is Kingly; thousands at his bidding speed, Sir Launfal and the Leper As Sir Launfal made morn through the darksome gate, He was ware of a leper, crouched by the same, Who begged with his hand and moaned as he sate; And a loathing over Sir Launfal came; |