July Eighth
Jean de La Fontaine born 1621.
Dr. Samuel D. Gross born 1805.
Joseph Chamberlain born 1836.
Neither gold nor grandeur can render us happy.
—La Fontaine.
Spirit of God! descend upon my heart;
Wean it from earth; through all its pulses move;
Stoop to my weakness, mighty as thou art,
And make me love thee as I ought to love.
I ask no dream, no prophet ecstasies,
No sudden rending of the veil of clay:
No angel visitant, no opening skies—
But take the dimness of my soul away.
—George Croly.
For a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
—Luke 12. 15.
Eternal God, help me to honor my life; and may I realize, whether I select good or bad, much or little, the harvesting is for eternity. Grant that I may not make my life accumulate gold and grandeur, and laden it with much spending; but may I strive and love what thou dost love, and make my life worthy of my labor. Amen.