with what he has, and would not strive for that which
is higher still--the fulfilment of his spiritual cravings.

When God at first made Man,
Having a glass of blessings standing by;
Let us (said He) pour on him all we can:
Let the world's riches, which dispersed lie,
Contract into a span.

So strength first made a way;
Then beauty flow'd, then wisdom, honor, pleasure
When almost all was out, God made a stay,
Perceiving that alone, of all His treasure,
Rest in the bottom lay.

For if I should (said He)
Bestow this jewel also on My creature,
He would adore My gifts instead of Me,
And rest in Nature, not the God of Nature.
So both should losers be.

Yet let him keep the rest,
But keep them with repining restlessness:
Let him be rich and weary, that at least,
If goodness lead him not, yet weariness
May toss him to My breast.

_George Herbert._

A PHILOSOPHER

"The web of our life is of mingled yarn, good and ill together," says
Shakespeare. It behooves us therefore to find the good and to make the
best of the ill. Two men were falling from an aeroplane. "I'll bet you
five dollars," said one, "that I hit the ground first."

To take things as they be--
Thet's my philosophy.
No use to holler, mope, or cuss--
If they was changed they might be wuss.

If rain is pourin' down,
An' lightnin' buzzin' roun',
I ain't a-fearin' we'll be hit,
But grin thet I ain't out in it.

If I got deep in debt--
It hasn't happened yet--
And owed a man two dollars, Gee!
Why I'd be glad it wasn't three.

If some one come along,
And tried to do me wrong,
Why I should sort of take a whim
To thank the Lord I wasn't him.

I never seen a night
So dark there wasn't light
Somewheres about if I took care
To strike a match and find out where.

_John Kendrick Bangs._

From "Songs of Cheer."

THE LIFE WITHOUT PASSION

A person may feel deeply without shouting his emotion to the skies, or
be strong without seizing occasions to exhibit his strength. In truth we
distrust the power which makes too much a display of itself. Let it
exert itself only to the point of securing the ends that are really
necessary. Restraint, self-control are in truth more mighty than might
unshackled, just as a self-possessed opponent is more dangerous than a
frenzied one. Moreover, there is a moral side to the ques