I count this thing to be grandly true, That a n.o.ble deed is a step toward G.o.d,-- Lifting a soul from the common clod, To a purer air and a broader view.
--_J. G. Holland_.
By permission of Charles Scribner's Sons.
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STILL, STILL WITH THEE
Still, still with Thee, when purple morning breaketh, When the bird waketh, and the shadows flee: Fairer than morning, lovelier than the daylight, Dawns the sweet consciousness, I am with Thee.
Alone with Thee, amid the mystic shadows, The solemn hush of Nature newly born; Alone with Thee, in breathless adoration, In the calm dew and freshness of the morn.
When sinks the soul, subdued by toil, to slumber, Its closing eye looks up to Thee in prayer; Sweet the repose, beneath Thy wings o'ershadowing, But sweeter still to wake and find Thee there.
So shall it be at last in that bright morning When the soul waketh, and life's shadows flee; O in that hour, and fairer than day's dawning, Shall rise the glorious thought, I am with Thee.
--_Harriet Beecher Stowe_.
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SHORT BIBLE STORIES
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G.o.d SEES ME
When does G.o.d see me?
G.o.d sees me when I am good, and it makes him glad.
G.o.d sees me when I am bad, and it makes him sorry.
G.o.d sees me when I play, and knows if I am kind.
G.o.d sees me when I am at school, and knows if I am faithful.
G.o.d sees me when I am at home, and knows if I obey my father and my mother.
G.o.d sees me when I am cross, and knows how ugly I look and feel.
G.o.d sees me when I am happy, and knows how glad I am.
G.o.d sees me all day long, and wants me to love him.
G.o.d sees me all night long, and watches over me while I sleep.
"When I run about all day, When I kneel at night to pray, G.o.d sees.
Need I ever know a fear Night and day, my Father near?
G.o.d sees."
"Thou G.o.d seest me."--_Genesis 16:13_.
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WHAT DOES G.o.d WANT ME TO DO?
G.o.d wants me to be kind to other children.
G.o.d wants me to be gentle and loving.
G.o.d wants me to be kind to animals.
G.o.d wants me to obey my father and my mother.
G.o.d wants me to care more for others than for myself.
G.o.d wants me to keep the Sabbath day.
G.o.d wants me to pray to him every day.
G.o.d wants me to tell the truth.
G.o.d wants me to be happy all the day.
G.o.d wants me to be good, and then I shall be happy.
G.o.d wants me to do these things because he loves me.
I ought to want to do the things he wants me to do.
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[Ill.u.s.tration]
PLOWING IN THE LANDS OF THE BIBLE
From a photograph taken by Mrs. Louise Seymour Houghton, and used by her kind permission.
How strange it looks to see a camel harnessed to a plow! If you look closely you will see that the plow is strange, too. It is a crooked branch with a plowshare fastened to it. It has only one handle. It was a plow almost exactly like this that was used in the times of the Bible. This picture was taken in the plains of old Philistia.
[End ill.u.s.tration]
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WHAT G.o.d GIVES
G.o.d is always giving.
G.o.d gives to the trees their leaves and fruit.