APRIL THIRD

George Herbert born 1593.

Washington Irving born 1783.

Edward Everett Hale born 1822.

John Burroughs born 1837.

    Sum up at night what thou hast done by day
    And in the morning what thou hast to do: 
    Dress and undress thy soul:  mark the decay
    And growth of it; if with thy watch that too
    Be dowl, then wind up both; since we shall be
    Most surely judged, make thy accounts agree.

    —­George Herbert.

    To look up and not down,
    To look forward and not back,
    To look out and not in, and
    To lend a hand.

    —­Edward E. Hale.

    There is a healthy hardiness about real dignity that never dreads
    contact and communion with others, however humble.

    —­Washington Irving.

    I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: 
    My justice was as a robe and a diadem.

    —­Job 29. 14.

My Lord, I pray that I may always be found clothed in love and kindness.  Make me worthy to minister to those who may be dependent on me, and whether they be rich or poor, high or low, may I try to help them.  Amen.

APRIL FOURTH

Oliver Goldsmith died 1774.

Dorothea Dix born 1802.

James Freeman Clarke born 1810.

    “The greatest object in the universe,” said a certain philosopher,
    “is a good man struggling with adversity”; yet there is still a
    greater, which is the good man who comes to relieve it.

    —­Oliver Goldsmith.

    Yet I believe that somewhere, soon or late,
          A peace will fall
    Upon the angry reaches of my mind;
          A peace initiate
    In some heroic hour when I behold
    A friend’s long-quested triumph, or unbind
          The tressed gold
    From a child’s laughing face.  I still believe—­
          So much believe.

    —­J.  Drinkwater.

    But whoso hath the world’s goods, and beholdeth his brother in need,
    and shutteth up his compassion from him, how doth the love of God
    abide in him?

    —­1 John 3. 17.

Almighty God, may I have a liberal heart.  Grant that I may feel the needs of thy children in all lands; and may I be willing to give of thy blessings, as I am ready to receive them.  May my tribute be not only of tender thoughts and kind words, but may I give of myself, and of what I have, as thou hast through love and wisdom done for me.  Amen.

APRIL FIFTH

Elihu Yale born 1648.

Sir Henry Havelock born 1795.

Frank Stockton (Francis) born 1834.

Algernon Charles Swinburne born 1837.