—­John Keats.

    Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing,
    that ye may abound in hope, in the power of the Holy Spirit.

    —­Romans 15. 13.

Almighty God, may I ever know the generous glow that comes with an overwhelming desire to cultivate the soul.  With hope may I find the way through the darkness that leads to immortality, even if I may have to experience the weariness that may accompany it.  Amen.

APRIL TENTH

Hugo Grotius born 1583.

William Hazlitt born 1778.

General Lew Wallace born 1827.

General William Booth born 1829.

The essence of happy living is never to find life dull, never to feel the ugly weariness which comes of overstrain; to be fresh, cheerful, leisurely, sociable, unhurried, well-balanced.  It seems to me impossible to be these things unless we have time to consider life a little, to deliberate, to select, to abstain.

    —­Arthur C. Benson.

    Four things come not back—­the spoken word, the sped arrow, the past
    life, the neglected opportunity.

    —­William Hazlitt.

    Wherefore, brethren, give the more diligence to make your calling
    and election sure.

    —­2 Peter 1. 10.

My Father, may I not miss my work through indifference and feel it is thy neglect of me.  May I be reminded that the enrichment of life comes through persistency and being consistent, and may not be found on the idle paths of extravagant ways.  Help me to take up my work with a willing spirit and give my best to it.  Amen.

APRIL ELEVENTH

George Canning born 1770.

Edward Everett born 1794.

Donald G. Mitchell (Ik Marvel) born 1822.

    The safe path to excellence and success in every calling, is that of
    appropriate preliminary education, diligent application to learn the
    art of assiduity and practicing it.

    —­Edward Everett.

    That nothing walks with aimless feet;
      That not one life shall be destroyed,
      Or cast as rubbish to the void,
    When God hath made the pile complete.

    Behold, we know not anything: 
      I can but trust that good shall fall
      At last—­far off—­at last, to all,
    And every winter change to spring.

    —­Alfred Tennyson.

And we desire that each one of you may show the same diligence unto the fullness of hope even to the end:  that ye be not sluggish, but imitators of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

    —­Hebrews 6. 11, 12.

Lord God, help me in all my circumstances, and be with me in my daily work.  Help me in my efforts, as I endeavor to attain, and may my will be hid in thine.  Amen.