Edmund Cartwright born 1743.

Anthony Trollope born 1815.

Arthur Christopher Benson born 1862.

By religion I mean the power, whatever it be, which makes a man choose what is hard rather than what is easy; what is lofty and noble rather than what is mean and selfish; that puts courage into timorous hearts and gladness into clouded spirits.

    —­Arthur C. Benson.

For all noble things the time is long and the way rude....  For every start and struggle of impatience there shall be so much attendant failure....  But the fire which Patience carries in her own hand is that truly stolen from heaven—­unquenchable incense of life.

    —­John Ruskin.

    But they that wait for Jehovah shall renew their strength; they
    shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be
    weary; they shall walk, and not faint.

    —­Isaiah 40. 31.

My Father, I pray that I may not be indifferent to the call of my soul.  May I not seek to serve the disappearing and neglect to make life worthy.  Acquaint me with the permanent values of life.  Make clear the way of strength, that I may not be misled by ease and carried to weakness.  May my life be ennobled by the power of my possessions.  Amen.

APRIL TWENTY-FIFTH

Oliver Cromwell born 1599.

John Keble born 1792.

Alexander Duff born 1806.

Guglielmo Marconi born 1874.

Mrs. Burton Harrison (Constance Cary) born 1846.

Samuel Wesley died 1735.

Truly God follows us with encouragements:  let him not lose his blessing upon us!  They come in season, and with all the advantages of heartening, as if God should say, “Up and be doing, and I will stand by you and help you!” There is nothing to be feared but our own sin and sloth.

    —­Oliver Cromwell.

    Sun of my soul, thou Saviour dear,
    It is not night if thou be near;
    O may no earthborn cloud arise
    To hide thee from thy servants’ eyes.

    —­John Keble.

    For Jehovah God is a sun and a shield: 
    Jehovah will give grace and glory;
    No good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

    —­Psalm 84. 11.

My Father, may I not err in choosing thy benefits, nor fail from the neglect to use them.  Make me appreciative of all thy gifts, and, through thy wisdom and power, may I find the best use for them.  Amen.

APRIL TWENTY-SIXTH

David Hume born 1711.

Daniel Defoe died 1791.

Charles F. Browne (Artemus Ward) born 1834.

How strange a chequer-work of Providence is the life of man! and by what secret different springs are the affections hurried about, as different circumstances present!  To-day we love what to-morrow we hate; to-day we seek what to-morrow we shun; to-day we desire what to-morrow we fear; nay, even tremble at the apprehension of.

    —­Daniel Defoe.