—­Lydia M. Child.

    For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace:  the
    mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing;
    and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

    —­Isaiah 55. 12.

Lord God, I pray that I may not rest my hope in self alone, but know that the greatest joy is in the hope of the world.  Help me to have faith in mankind; and with a loyal heart and a brave spirit be as kind to the world as I can.  Amen.

FEBRUARY TWELFTH

Dr. Cotton Mather born 1663.

Peter Cooper born 1791.

Abraham Lincoln, Kentucky, sixteenth President United States, born 1809.

Robert Charles Darwin born 1809.

George Meredith born 1828.

With malice towards none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation’s wounds, ... to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations.

    —­Abraham Lincoln.

    The great moral combat between human life and each human soul must
    be single....  When a soul arms for battle she goes forth alone.

    —­Owen Meredith.

    According to the grace of God which was given unto me, as a wise
    master builder I laid a foundation; and another buildeth thereon.

    —­1 Corinthians 3. 10.

Almighty God, I thank thee for the courage that comes with a great life.  Help me to be brave, even if it is only that others may be blest.  May I lay a careful foundation and plan to build the best that I can afford.  Amen.

FEBRUARY THIRTEENTH

David Allan born 1744.

Maurice de Talleyrand-Perigord born 1754.

Richard Wagner died 1883.

A man is not his hope, nor yet his despair, nor yet his past deed.  We know not yet what we have done; still less what we are doing.  Wait till evening, and other parts of our work will shine than we had thought at noon, and we shall discover the real purport of our toil.

    —­Henry D. Thoreau.

When you make a mistake don’t look back at it long.  Take the reason of the thing into your mind, and look forward.  Mistakes are lessons of wisdom....  The past cannot be changed.  The future is yet in your power.

    —­Hugh White.

    He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing seed for sowing,
    Shall doubtless come again with joy, bringing his sheaves with him.

    —­Psalm 126. 6.

My Father, help me to survey my life.  Make me compassionate and considerate, that I may be qualified to promote that which is helpful.  May I appreciate that what is worth keeping I can obtain from thee.  Amen.