A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by
    little statesmen and philosophers and divines.  With consistency a
    great soul has nothing to do.

    —­Ralph Waldo Emerson.

    Speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward.

    —­Exodus 14. 15.

Heavenly Father, I pray that I may not be so consistent in the small things of life that I will lose the great inspirations that come to the soul.  Broaden my life, that I may have the freedom of heart and mind to pass over the failures and interruptions, and with vigorous energy continue in the progress of life.  Amen.

OCTOBER EIGHTH

Caroline Howard Gilman born 1794.

Edmund Clarence Stedman born 1833.

John Hay born 1838.

    He weren’t no saint; them engineers
      Is pretty much alike—­
    One wife in Natchez-under-the-Hill,
      Another one here in Pike;
    A keerless man in his talk was Jim,
      And an awkward hand in a row,
    But he never flunked, and he never lied—­
      I reckon he never knowed how.

    —­John Hay.

    He is brave whose tongue is silent
      Of the trophies of his word. 
    He is great whose quiet bearing
      Marks his greatness well assured.

    —­Edwin Arnold.

    The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee,
    that I am not as the rest of men.

    —­Luke 18. 11.

Lord God, thou knowest what I am and where I belong.  Have mercy upon me and strengthen me, that I may not through weakness stay in the darkness.  Lead me out into the light; and may I find my way and be contented with it.  Amen.

OCTOBER NINTH

Michael Cervantes born 1547.

Jacques Auguste de Thuanus (De Thou) born 1553.

Charles Camilla Saint-Saens born 1835.

    I will not doubt, though all my ships at sea
      Come drifting home with broken masts and sails;
      I shall believe the Hand which never fails
    From seeming evil worketh good for me;
    And though I weep because those sails are battered,
    Still will I cry, while my best hopes lie shattered,
      “I trust in Thee.”

    —­Ella Wheeler Wilcox.[1]

    Cease every joy to glimmer on my mind. 
    But leave, O leave the light of hope behind.

    —­Thomas Campbell.

    Hope deferred maketh the heart sick; But when the desire cometh, it
    is a tree of life.

    —­Proverbs 13. 12.

Loving Father, help me to pass by my discouragements of yesterday and look into the hope of to-day.  Make me more careful of my strength, and less forgetful of thy promises and of my trust.  Amen.

[Footnote 1:  Special permission W.B.  Conkey, Hammond, Indiana.  Copyright 1912.]