The tiny herbs which blossom

everywhere

No less His watchful toil and patience share.

mp The little ones who the kingdom grow, [to know; The weak, the tender, He delights His Spirit loves the humble and the meek,

And 'tis the lowly whom He deigns to seek.

mp And all small flowers of fair humility, [charity, Sweet temper, daily patience, Kind words and cheerfulness to Him are dear,

More than most deeds whose praise men tell and hear. mp For these sweet virtues, meet for daily food, [by His blood; Grow near His cross, are watered Were no such flowerets in their circle wrought,

The hero's and the martyr's crown were nought!

mf Thou, who would'st till thy garden

And little herbs upon the ground;
The Master cares for all.

mp One thing is ever His pursuit,
And fills His loving mind,
That each should grow and bring
forth fruit

According to its kind.

p It is the Lord Who lays His knife Upon the tender shoot, And though it pierce the very life, 'Tis needful for the fruit.

mf The richer is the soul He tends,

cresThat it should serve yet nobler The more doth He desire [ends, More nobly still aspire.

mp Withhold not, Lord, Thy pruning knife,

If dead leaves of decay,
Or overgrowth of worldly life,
In us are gaining sway.

mp We ask Thee not for gladsome lives Untouched by earthly ill;

We ask but for the soul that strives
Thy pattern to fulfil.

shrine.

[For Children.]

E. S. A.

mf IN our dear Lord's garden, Planted here below, Many tiny flowerets

In sweet beauty grow.

6.5.6.5.

mp Christ, the loving Gardener, Tends these blossoms small; Loves the little lilies

As the cedars tall.

mp Nothing is too little

For His gentle care;
Nothing is too lowly
In His love to share.

mf Jesus Ives the children, Children such as we,

Blessed them when their mothers

Brought them to His knee.

mf Jesus calls the children, Bids them come and stand

629

In His pleasant garden,
Watered by His hand.

mp Lord, Thy call we answer; Take us in Thy care, Train us in Thy garden,

In Thy work to share.

S.M.

own,

mf WE give Thee but Thine Whate'er the gift may be; All that we have is Thine alone, A trust, O Lord, from Thee. mf May we Thy bounties thus

mp

mp

mp

As stewards true receive,
And gladly, as Thou blessest us
To Thee our firstfruits give.

O hearts are bruised and dead,
And homes are bare and cold,
And lambs, for whom the Shepherd
bled,

Are straying from the fold.

To comfort and to bless,

To find a balm for woe,

To tend the lone and fatherless
Is angels' work below.

The captive to release,
To God the lost to bring,
To teach the way of life and peace,
It is a Christ-like thing.

mf And we believe Thy Word,

Though dim our faith may be ; cres Whate'er for Thine we do, O Lord, We do it unto Thee.

E. S. A

Teach us, as ever in Thy sight,

To live our life to Thee.

mp And Thou, Who cam'st on earth to die,

That fallen man might live thereby,
O hear us, for to Thee we cry,

In hope, O Lord, to Thee.

mp Teach us the lesson Thou hast taught,

To feel for those Thy Blood hath bought:

That every word, and deed, and thought

May work a work for Thee.

mf For all are brethren, far and

wide,

Since Thou,

died :

Then teach us,

Lord, for all hast

whatsoe'er betide,

To love them all in Thee.

p In sickness, sorrow, want, or care, Whate'er it be, 'tis ours to share; cresMay we, when help is needed, there

Give help as unto Thee. mf And may Thy Holy Spirit move All those who live, to live in love, cresTill Thou shalt greet in heaven above

All those who give to Thee.
G. Thring.

mp THINE are all the gifts, O God!
Thine the broken bread;

Let the naked feet be shod,
And the starving fed.

mp Let Thy children, by Thy grace, Give as they abound,

Till the poor have breathing-space,
And the lost are found.

mf Wiser than the miser's hoards
Is the giver's choice;
Sweeter than the song of birds
Is the thankful voice.
f Welcome smiles on faces sad
As the flowers of spring
Let the tender hearts be glad
With the joy they bring.

7.4.

mf STANDING forth on life's rough way,

Father, guide them;

Oh we know not what of harm

J. G. Whittier.

May betide them;

'Neath the shadow of Thy wing, Father, hide them;

Waking, sleeping, Lord, we pray, Go beside them.