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Las diagrammes suivants illustrent la mAthode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 MICROCOPY RESOUITION TfST CHART (ANSI and ISO TEST CHART No. 2) 1.0 I.I 1.25 12.2 1.8 III ^ /IPPLIED IIVMGE Inc S? 16S3 East Main Street S'.S Rochester, N»» York 14609 USA ^£ (716) 482-0300 -Phone SS C^'B) 288 - 5989 - Fax « tfl» ^H^tC., The articles Included in this r«iio-.. •'Family Hera.d and Weekly sJr, tntl,"": "'*'"•" '^^ '^'^ permission of the publishers of that Jour^^ tt ^ "•" *'"'"«~"« reprint them in their present form '* ''" ^""'«- '* """""ed to Retir6 de de ia Bi d0 1-1 --'lection rUnlMrM ^ i: J i M»^ S ; ^ » •• #. THE SILENT BEACON. ■V. • l-ai;, /j,j. m -^MF Paths of ?EMt ^-HY E. r. HAHR Y A-TH fl ,^,^^^,.,^^ ^^ '^ , G . Ha V Y ^ ^ s"ja ■: AN* L A ^ ■":^ II ^s*^;v% 5^" ■^ Ii TIE Patis of Peace ■Y LILY E. F. BAB BY WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY A. G. HAC£Y 3 7/^ MONTHCAL THE CANADA ENGRAVING 4 LITHO. CO. L. 1901 MITEO p Entered according to Act of Parliament of Canada by LILY EMILY FRANCES BARRY, in the OfBce of the Minister of Agriculture, In the year 1901 INDEX. The Message ok Peace '■^" Real Joy of Christmas... " Yeab Before Us Be Noble Our Mark Sklf-Help ...'....." The Pow^r ok Kind Words. ' •' Secret of True Skili DcTv OF Resting "VaLUK OF COL'RTESV " DouBTi.vo Heart Love is All Mine E.vemv Contentment True Distinction Mental Dignity The Trie Values of Things '!! Intellectual Like God's Good Gifts Revenge The Child's First School-Room " Nearest Duty Cause and Effect Provocation A Rich Inheritance The Motive Power of Love . . . . . On the Heights Searching fob Pearls The Perfect Rose Mildew of Monotony .... Relative "Values Self-Complacency The Imperative Dutv JeaIX)U3Y Perseverance Nature's Healing Touch...... ... The Seeds We Scatter Greatest Names Enjoyme.vt of Virtue Great and the Small... Ik We Had But a Day Solitude 9 U 13 to 17 19 •21 24 26 28 »t 32 ai 38 40 43 44 46 47 49 52 55 57 (iO 63 66 68 72 75 77 79 82 84 m 89 92 96 99 102 r' ^ VI lNDEX-(a,«/,««^^.) The Skchet of Holiness.. iMOKtsa Ui'Wakd Thk Fokmatiov ok Cuhactkb . Want oi Motive... ■■ TKar OK Kduc.atio.v JiNCOUKAOEMENT SVMI'ATHV IN Joy Hidden Beahtv Toleration \ KA.STER Thoiouts .... An Kastkh Mystery The Soul's Standard '■ Family " Best Way..... ..'.' ■ Art ok E.njoyment J< LOWER or Fruit ... JuiwE Not SKLK-nKLIANCE.. . . . I'OTENTIAL VlHTUfiH riiK Tell-Tale Countenance. LTnpROKITAHLENESS ok Gripp Shining at Home ' Ix)OK Forward. ... Family Strike..... Artikioial Deeos. Benekhent A( tivity *»RA1ITUDE Hospitality The Value ok Great Ideas PeRKECTION IN TltlKLES . The Prior Claims ok Duty ^VMPATHY IN Failure... Ked- Letter D.ws... The Silent Beacon. " Force of Example!. Wm, Hammer and Chisel.. iv Harvest Time. ... The Wrong Way Mistakes ok Altruism Just Cri. icism . . . Unmst Criticism. The HioHT Kind OF Rivalry.. ART. THE JiDlXWTOl! Weariness Sklk-Love A Firm Footiiold •TWIXTD..WN and Dark Orowino i.v Wisdom 105 108 111 114 117 121 12.3 128 131 134 13S 141 143 145 148 lijO 133 155 l.W 159 160 1(>2 164 167 168 170 173 175 177 173 182 184 186 188 190 193 196 199 201 204 206 209 212 215 217 219 222 234 227 229 231 INDEX— ( Confhiucd.) COXVKTIOX OK CimOM HuivEss ,\xi> Faihre. TlIK PlIILOsOl'lllC Hl-IKIT OUK I)K8KKT.-< SSKUVINt; O.Ni: M ASTKK ■ ■ . . ....W.^. ., . Tick Unrkkok.mki. Hkkihmkh Dlti.Vn V Ol-' L ABOl R Mka Cui.i'a TlIK W'KAK Ml.NI) ...... ■• DiCNITV OK KoOI. ,, ' I.V.VO<-KNCK Hkkoi.«m IX Smai.i, Tiiixos..!. .SOHKOW's SWEKT IsES TlIK Two Clas.ses of Hi.MA.vnv ... Limit ok Asi'iu.vnox Mv Oariikn The Highest Kn()Wi.ki>oe ■■ BOKK i*Ei.K-RKSTKAIXT Uki.a.xatiox The Place ok i^iietxess CHAIN.S OK HAHIT The Ekkkacy ok Wokk Dkiktino .Sl'XNV SCOT.S JUriLDINO KOR KtkKMTV ACQlriESCKXCE Modesty The Pre(iol-!s.\e.ss ok Oi-couti xhy! SWEKT AXI> SeRVICEAIII.E ' Xatukk'8 i^cllOOI.. VII •£« :.'4I n:i i'4.> •-'J: •-Mit iil 2r.4 LV>7 2.-.!( 2(ii ■i^-A 2iifi -'CO •>::\ 27.5 278 2S1 2><1 287 27 2!l n....... •--'•-i '--tiji: '•:;';;. 'rTT !' -'^- 77vis.nofp,i,,,,,: ,,;'-7-''-'':.n,.lnmin;,o,.r , •^"•'"ii tiM-zi..'; ;^: ^ r'"'- "•'^ "'m.v . „, j^^^^^^ •>'".i<-tio sfr.ins of tT^ ' /""" "^"- ^il<.' »1... "'^/'.oir (^l.risrn J , ;^ ^''-^ "'^ »'- '•'•il.l.VM si,... "<^;lm..^s. a„ ,,,,,, ,,„^;;,3 ^'^"'^ l>^<';v the s„rfa,ps «'"^ -v.vf .>nifi.,,„.;. Vv" .:7r'^' 't^f--ro.u.|,in.. ^%.Iuooxcoodin^Mhatof f!' ;>'''^"'^ " '^'^''^'t. have a <^roppod at the shnW f rn^T; r/'-rl "'•^•^'•^'' ^^^^ THK MKssa«;k ok l-y.M.K 3 A !.....« .. r„ HH...r „t off th. vesture of Ifef ind re yo h,ve worn so ion. and put on a holiday '^ mcnt lust for the day. You are not forgotten Z are not alone, even though you cannot see yo^paVt in t}^ ?oTSnn:dlh?f;> ^^^" though t-Lgif^trind ; Toasting and the lights seem not for you There arr. "veet„e. set' ^o^^i^ ^: t:^ ::^TC!:. IN THE PATHS OF PEACE «<■ 1.0 „f ?owl n ' ""■ »P'»"<'»'"-- Whether Christinus." °* "^ -»^ Alorry *^^^^ f!| II THE REAL JOY OP CHRISTMAS. Christmas comes but once a year, And to all it brings good cheer. ' '^ yc^IZT""" "ncommon, at this season of the fhev " t "'" Ti r "^^" ^"^"^^^ '^""^'^ that iney hate and " dread " Chrio ^ TKn oxpla„ar.on of this singular attitude tolTr;^, a festha ^^l^ch, of all others, should be most favourable o a S in . I' T^ .'^""^ ^^« «««««" brings to the "^ V^^^^^S of b.towing^.luall^ bir if ^^r r edi, t^^„, ^r^oZ^ciet but It surely does not improve the situation to look afc t?^T"' "^'' ^^'^ ^'"^ ^^"«*™«« spirit i an affair of the heart, not of dollars and cents, and VI for Jho^ outade one'a immediate family. NoLe L from the „bi,vf,f •'■^.Pr/'^' '""ong us are not exempt way and at T^ttl. ^ ""^ "^™' '" ' ^<^ P-»<=efnl devces for proving . kind remembrance of^e.? 6 IN THE PATHS OF PEACE ^vo possihiv can. 1^. or Poor 1 ? '' '"'""^^ P^"^P^« «« Jikeuise. Even i ' \2T ^T"" ""^ ^^ ^"^ ^^o '"^« -e not fill I to oZZ ""'^ '^' ''"'^^^^'« «*«^k- l^ar "-0 liiiv,. 'viti, „.. \o., v' tl" '''7 "'"'<"■ "'" '""'" ■■""*■ if o,„..n.„. ■ \:;;:;: • s - '•amiot make moro of ,> ^*' ''""'''•^ ''^^«"se yon I mi^ht I.avo done .o n" 1^^ "Vj^'V' !'^ '^''^ ^''^' ;"any a I.eart nt tlK^reZ-onc. ' of t^'f ' ^* ''^'^'''' kept no more oa earth ill ' , ,^'''' ^''''^^ ^^'^^ be parent. Yon t i Xl 'V '"''"^ '^"'^'' '"'^^'>''nd, or Hn-ldren, C ^')j^ "Tl^^' ^^ to ,-ive ^nr dear and pre.W ZL 1 ' ^-^'r^ «" I^'"'^"^^ «>•- ^he an.l cdK-erf'!:" -VroTV ' ^^^^^^/'.'^ed by love tl.0 nnmher and natnre of thl' T T"" '" '«^^'- ''f^' dHfchtfnl nivsterie. . , d 1' '''"'' ^'^''^'^^'^ *he Eve, the earlV wak;,;'' 1 ^'"^'-Pat.ons of (^hristmas ^lay toi; oC%-:^ZtT '""T'V''^ '^^-^'^"^ .voars after, and lend: Vot J'chr.';'"' ''""^ ''^'' ^^"^^ t>on and si,nifieanee wholl,'^^ rn::i.^nr«- ->^^ir^' Ill THE YEAR BEFORE US. Discourage fanciful ideas, abstract notions, and all ttl-cons,dered attempts to reach ends, which, however desirahle ,n fhnmehrs, are not placed vithin the compass of your abilities or duties Perform those duties ivhich ore present, plain and positive. — Daniel "Webster. OWEVER little one may be jjiven to the habit ot introspection, a backward glance or two at the opening of a Xew Year is almost inevitable. Ihey are not agreeable, these backward glances Often thev make onr cheeks bum with shame, our brows darken with self-contempt. The vista they reveal lie. tlirough a long valley of humiliation, through wiiieh arc flitting, like accusing spirits, the ghosts of our dea.l sms. bo many for pride, so many for selfishness, f..r extravagance, malice, hatred, jealousy and covetousness, Jor impatience, anger and recrimination! So manv ala^, ! for wasted hours, and unheeded opportun.tico for niisapplied energies, unworthy ambitions, neglected duties, breaches of trust and it mav be, other lances from our ideal which we hardly .larc to na.ne, even to ourselves. Truly, a disheartening record which might well induce despair were it not for the white stone here and there marking a duty faithfully performed, a sorrow nol)ly borne, an injury forgiven, a temptation resisted a ministration of mercy, a soft answer, a word in season.' lliis much at least, remains— in the mid^t of the 2 ■ \ II ■ll 8 I !l t •• ^:i IN THK I'ATir.S OF I'KAOE ano.l,er o^eal whiot L^" g ^rknl " ^ '"''' Kind of iWpS:i:^,'L"[Sv:':";rr ^'■"' surface i ^" "^ immaculate overlooking. i„ „, ,„ ™' ''"P"' '""' aspirations, tainnl,I.e,rds;, :''.■: Zt^iZ"'"" '° "='"^'' ""»'■ pnsifivo." It i. rio-l.t to? • , " P"^*"'- P'"'" and service. ' *^ "^""P'*" »PP»rt..nities of In.mUer .elf fro,; /;\.r7 ,f;'l™'nfion of freeing .y„„r. sniee yon ninst do it whv not nJ' "' ^°"' '"<> .-aH^cation. ,, p„.f„;„i;'^ i^tr^per jaT,:::-? »^.^^^ ••>^^ IV BE NOBLE. Better not he at all than not be noble. — Alfred Tennyson. OBILIT\ of ch^.acter and of purpose gives to the humblest life a dignity that raises it to the level of the highest. Not what we do, but how and why we do it, determines our rank and status in the order of true merit. To serve faithfully is more honoral.le than to command badly. True nobility adapts itself courteously to the exigencies of time, place, and circumstances, concerned not with what is due to itself, but intent rather on supplying the needs of others. In reading the lives of great men and women, one cannot fail to be impressed with at least this one point of resemblance in which they all met — namely, a readiness to accept existing conditions with equanimity, to submit cheerfully to hardships, limitations and hindrances, rising above them all eventually by sheer patience, steadfastness, and determination. With a great end in view, it is wonderful how quickly one can surmount the most threatening obstacles, counting as nothing the toil, pain, or privations that must be endured. But when the heart is set only on small selfish aims, when it is greedy of pain, pleasure, praise, and every little passing gratification, the merest trifle becomes a means to the end, and thus may prove a source of disappointment or irritation as well as of satisfaction. To discern true nobility, mark the attitude of any i i 10 'N THK rATiis OF l-KACK ^'"•"^^^ that to-nt>m.. .1 II Z '"'■'■'•'''. '•^' ""^^^^•'"•'1 proves tho sUnU^:iJ^VZ:r rr'rr ^'^ ^"'' I'ovond thorn, to riso , ■ ^^'^^ "'•'''t.v to soe nnotod .houM help to din.h h ; L'.t t' I"*' "'"'^■•" ^ '^^ "•l"M-ont woaknoss of tho ties . " ? ./ """''T «t all tlian not ho noble." ^^'"^^'"'' "^' 1)0 ':i i -^5^^^ y OUR MARK. Let our livcf hr purr ns snowfldda, where our foot- steps leove a iu""'• •■'".•lfi.l,"as(k, .lifllioiiw from willinnt „. I ■.■• ""'"<^- iMscvprv ■■..<-.t,t! .rsr;:; ,„?"'• '"■™"''"'' "-■'■■■'"v '1..' citsido ;„ ,M ' i;^'°S"; "' "'" »"■" li™ tvo,;, le..!.,al crowtl, ,,,37^ ■„,;'■•""■ """••■'' ■■""' ""<•■■ accmlane. , ■ tl> ? ho " "/ ' •T"^" " P"''""''" *».• .>*. in 'l.at wo„M mark ■"";/" r''.,^^"'r"-'^bol,i,,,| ,,3 eiideavou r?. nt not stain tlio fair fi eld of our VI SELF-HELP. The ttnlif sound mid /iralllii/ (Icsrrivlinn nf tissisliinr<> is thitl V'liirh Icnrhrx l)nI('i)fii(lt'H(T avd srif-lirlp. — W. !-:. (Jlii.l-fonr.. nlp^KOM the time that a child Ix-f^iris to h-ani the ii-«- ^K£ (if his fcf't, tlic tnolhcr gnuliially ;^ivi's up \\i<: )»ra(',ti('(' of carryiiif; him in her arms. 8h(; feel •: 110 (h'crcaso of toiMlci'Ticss towards the littlo one that toddles l»y licr side, hut fllio knows lliat for his ri^'ht physical dovclopmcnt lu- needs to exercise the unused inuHclos that are called into play only wlien he is erect and active. Xo intellifient person would accuse her of unkindness when slie resists tlio appeal of the little out- stretched arms aiiity which move us to ^ive of our surplus wherever it appears to be needed, or we even deprive ourselves of some accustomed comfort in order to bestow food and raiment on a suffering' fellow-creature. We do not immediately perceive the liarm that is frrquf-ntiy wrought by the indiscriminate sharing of our substance u '''^' '•"^: I'M IIS ..!• ,.,.:,^,.,, i.ii r 7;""'^ "•'"•- o„,. ,„„„,,. . : ' •;V"'".(Hv. „ ,i„, :''^""-'-' ''.v .1... .lis, .;',„;;" ""'^ i-" i^ n,.i..,v Vn-:;::jr:;!:;;;::\rrr^ n .•'(hrn,..I. II,,, , I,,,..,.' " ■^•""'•''' " ".n.v I„. ,,,-.|v ^^'V'"^"''''- '",„v UMfor ,' / '""""•«•'•"■•'">.•.• who,,, '■'^••>'"v 1.0 n,..,v ho si , ';"" "'••'" '•'"••^"'v-s. WI..M, i, '^'^-r'"-'- ''-'"rlh.M. proof n.i, "'" •,ir'-<>'"ify tl.,,s . ^ ';" >'-- nil 1„, Ll of h :. '"""••^'"'-- '•« wi.nfo.1. '•'T^^"['^^" of his I,,,,,. I '';:•; '''^7'' J'opin,,^ f,>r a ";f <^'' '^•vi,.^. ,11 tho hon , V o' ,/''''■' r''^''''^'-' ^"'i;p..n„nHosthnMj:;;v;;;--'. a„.i;i;oi'u:"r^--''--o..t..o„3>io ^^•>tl. rho other wo do no '. "*^ ""^^ ''^"^ ^^ «^n-e that "^ "'^eoii.seiou8iy destroy. VII THE POWER OF KIND WORDS. ffnp,,i„rs. is „ ,,rrnl ,,n,rrr of /,n/inrss. ThuH, kind '""■.Is, In, /„•„• ,,o,rrr of ,u;.l„n,u, hnpplnr.s, ha,, also ' /";"•'•'■ "/ pn.lann;, l,„linrss, ,n„l so of uuLhn, m.u '" '""'• ~~V. W. Fal..r. ,^:Fin'r()nS ,„.,-o,H who ,,hhum,p ;, r,.„Horio,H or •,% n.|.iM,u.|ifi,l i,|ii(,„|,. (owi.nis (|„: vvcjik and (>ahIo OnN- ♦ . i • a« Ncrlal.lo .Ml.Mir of sanc-titv. Tl... ,„„«f, irr..|.Vio,H an. „oton,>..s .sinM.-rs i,. „... ,,,„, ,,,„ ,..„ ,,^ k oM.nu .av. win, -vsp,.., ,nr . Uu't, paf.nuv an.l p.Mtl.-.u.ss, h. ncvor ,.,., »"iHs„nH.ion, rato o,„. own virtues shH. .r ^^e hold oursolvos ah.of fro.u thos,. who falter ml f 1' 1 m ho upward path or, wo n,ako thoir " ,! ' ' ^Znf^^^t ''' ^^'' disapproval o. birds'" n gm^ rebuko. and ovon ooca..ionallv by nnoallod-for and thoroforo nnportinont ron.onstranoo. Thi. i' n our part m l.fo. Wo aro not tho jud:,os of on noth ' actions or niotivos. That is tho divi.io r;^ ' ^ Can wo doubt that it is safo in God's hand > K n . ' poor sinnors, and sorry failures that wo aro at tho bo ' 1 IS most booonn-no: that wo should olos- ou ■ < vo. n i nr^uithl 1 TT""^ ^"^^" '''"-' ^'y '^-'"d words, and npl ft h„n l^v a noblo oxamplo, .vo o:m at least lot h jp l„s way ,n poaco. AVo can nohold tho hoj, dv^ni<.v and beauty and loveablono.s of true o i.: o by refraining from the slightest word or aot unwoPhv of one who aspires to tho name ox Christian ""''^'''^■^ VIII THE SECRET OF TRUE SKILL. I'jfirh mi,jhl his srrrral prnrhin- null. n„niii,n„L Would all h„l sl„„i, l„ whnl Hir,j umlnshnul. ^^ — Alcxiiiuhr I'ojtc. 'IpIIK (•on.s(-i...iHn.-ss of i,.,wcr i< ;„■ unfailing s.,nr,.... ^ «>t plouHiin! to its poHscs^ur. Kimwlclj.,. is power, and theroforo wli(..so(,vcr jic(|uircs rojil kiiowlfdm! in any dop«r(„u.nt of Hrwun-, art or i.id.istrv, l,n<.o„„M ly m nmrii the inaHtcr of hi,,, who ivmairis J^aioraiit ..f the same suhjct. Thc-o is prolml.ly no livin- l„„„an bon.K who iH not fitted in .'xeel in .son.e partin.h.r kind of work, hut not all take the rijrht n,.-as,„-e fo,- aseer- tainin^r the real Lent of their natures, and the limit of their capacity for useful achievement. The avera-c girl lacks thoroughness in her methods of workin- and studying. Slu! ehoos(,s a calling often at random, or for the sake of some slight social or <,ther trivial advantage, which has n..thing whatever to do with her spcc-ial fitness for it. Then she strives for the kind of prornmeneo which is achieved l,y outward appearances and IS satisfied if she makes a decent living and wins a few agreeal.Ie friends. But she knows nothing of the sweet satisfaction that grows out of the conscious mastery of a subject, through serious and concentrated eflort to overcome its (linicltics. 0„e yirl thinks she will be a pianist, not l)ecause she is "moved l»v the concord of swot sounds," and becaus.. her love of "music surpasses every other love she has hitherto felt, but because a certain degree of proficiency in piano-plaving will ensure her popularity and bring her into prominence wherever she goes. She will not succeed, because one 80 vain and shallow will never .nderstand the exquisite IS '^ TIIK lAiiis ,,K l'i:\( K -ir,.H„, i„„,,,„ti,v ,.,''''' ^\''«;/^';m'':% <- v;iiiitv iiii.l ..u: i" . ••i"«'!, .,11 '"""""' '" "I'K'li "n,. I,,,s iKvri l,„rn or o ■• ■ r"'T' ■■"■■■"-'"■"•- Ti„. i„„n, ', ,; "^-■>";i:.:;:!;:\:;,';:r':;'z:,:::'''^;'; -r' • • . -^' "-'^N ^^"on von do not i ii-r von rnfi...;,, :;:';:;;;r",'rf ' "'•::■"'■■"• '''•■ "- '^••^' '^i..' tin- ™ .1 S: ;, : Z'l-f : i"'^ "" f"-\ i-T'"-^ -rvc. like . »; o,„. ,.,.,.,, i, ,,„„„,,, ,,.!'::,";„;:;-- - -a.!. ..PP. to ..ppi.v It to liumble tasks. «v '^*i.-4riP THE DUTY OF RESTING. n/n„ yoH havr found a d,nj lu h, nl/r, hr Ulr [,„■ a day. , . ' ^IVKN n favMural.N. op,K,rt„r.ity, iIh- ....jority of If^ ''."nkn,.! rc..,..in. littl., ,H.rs„asi,M. .,, ,ak.. a holMlay. I{y ,„a„v, in<|..,..|, tli.. li^^M.-sf, ,,n.|..xt f..r I,ll,.^,.s.^ ,.s ..../rcl „,,o„ all t..o .aK-rly ; |,„f, lluro arr o„ 11... ..(l,,.,. j,,,,,,!, ,„„„|„.,.s of won,..,, to ^vl,o,M f|.,. art, ot r...Hf„,^. a,.<| »ak,„K n.-natio,, i, a wholly nnk.HHvn Ho,„y,. of p|,,,s„r.. and profit. To huH. an .<-• tlM| w..nls of tl.„ Chin-s. p,.,,, ,„ay l.n approp,i- atcly atlilrcsscMl. « i i Ah a n,l<., it is tl,n wonia,, wl.o has tl,„ ^roatf-st n.-..| ot a nuh.la.y who is most avrs,. f,. ,akir.- one- TIm- ^nsy |.o„s,.krrp..r, tlu, tin-.l ,„oth..,- of a yonn^ lamilv,' wor ...,. tl... t....a.l,n II of h.r „,...,..linK .lily tasks fr.,;,! «n..k.s .....I t., w....ks ,.,„|, ...o.v.s at, last to h.-liev.. th.t. for l,or, lM.yo„.l tl... „a,-,-.,w .-in-l.. of h.-r home, th., u-orl. no l..n^n.,. ..xists. S., ..fr....t„ally .I....s .sho ,.„t H-..s,.|f ofT from all .ntomsts not i.nn.o.liatdv afr....tin« !.«• ^^'v\Un■v .,t h.r fa,„i|v, that if you w..u'l,| .sn^r^ost t- l'«'r to ak.. a holi.h.y, sh,- w..nl.l I... at a loss to know vvhero or how t., .sp..n.l it. Sh., .,von takes mneh omiit o herself for h.,,,^. „o devote.l to her l.on.e ar..| family hat she ,s unal.lo to spare a n...ment from th.. labours her dov.,t.on nnp..ses. It .lo..s not oceur to her that >y thus wilfully shuttin^^ her eyes on the brightness and .oauty ^,at l,elon^..s to her as n.ueh as to any one else, sfie IS ofTerin- an aflFront to Provi.lenee who placed her here am surround.-d her with so many evid.u..es of watchful care and love. :'^r 20 JN' THE PATHS OF I'EACK plate but wifh 1 ^ '"^' '° ^"^"^^ ^'^ contem- heroine after a S^L ""t t '"'' "'" ''" ""» ••■ !.«• persistent reS tVre , ! f T"'*"" ''"^'""•y- nuu4 «ss,„„e "tl^ee 3 a"ebS.%Tr°*r'',"'''; .-.nd children, and tl.ev too LT ctn 11. T, f ""' ...a".v „n innocent relaxation ,h„',d'''K'" ,^''8'' "."nent va „e to ti.eir bodies and ^Z ' ""■ aek otvW e "tlnl'VefZ '"-T"*"^ ^""O ""' ""- H... .-eas;U''tttTe\hoHS :? 1;.^ "^ -";?" _™nde,,r of the universe, her liWeTai.y ta ks are of.t , ^^orse, but a thousand t mes hcttar- if +u u ' s|K.ceed,ns honsehold cares, and filling Ae heartThi: fresh eom-ase to face ne«- difficulties. If !,,"?„ „' i only a ,lay to be idle, be idle, at leas, for a day ^u*y X THE VALUE OF COURTESY. Manners sometimes count for more than morals. Most of us would rather pass an evening with a well- hred highwayman, than an hour with a clownish saint. — From "Guesses at Truth." .»IK"'^^^7 courtesy, is so closely allied to real virtue ^I that It IS well-nigh unpossible for the one to exist independently of the other. The foundation of good manners being an unselfish desire to please the practice of them necessarily entails the cultivation of
e like Ilim. whose rude clownish manners inspire ineir fellow-creatures with abhorrence and contempt 'r' •ri[ 1. •)•) IN THK PATHS oi- I'KACK r(m„ „„|,.s,.„,jj Cliris,,,,,,, „.|,„ ,,r,..e,„i,„.,„rv ^^homoot. on tho snbim of J^^^^ affairs. Ilor visit, aro-c ovo K ,L t Jl"? ^"•■"•' . M^wiw '; ,«iir ' ^..t--: TIIK VALHK OF TIM i; ('(UnnKSV 23 cfficiont, auxiliary of tlic zc-al.niH Christian. WitluMit it tho l)c.«^, directed efforts are likely to rcHiilt in more harm than good, but by its aid 'mountains may be mov<.d. Politeness, like tho lever Archimedes longed for, can move tho world. ; ■( >LVV^- fi\^ V 1 w ^■^ •-« ^K« -^m ^.■m K XI THE DOUBTING HEART. At every irifk, scorn to take o/fence, I Hal always shows groat pride or little sense. — Pope. (UKL J kiunv lives in a i.crpott.al turmoil because j 1.0 «h,«I.ts sl.o in.a.^n-,u..s her friend, pnt upon li«i. Jl(>r egotism is jw-sitively a disease She .^ooms to tlnnu she o.eupies 'so large a lace in ^ In MiUo uord or perform a single action without the a oued or cover antc>ntion of wounding her feelinj ciiarit.% to harbour such unkmd and generally uniust suspicions of really woll-moaning persoi, , o ^ha her "mversa distrust of others is equivalent to rconfe Jon o ogregioiis ^^nity, which suffers unless cons antir ^d 1 St "; "'T''^ '"'r''''''- ^ ^"«"^' '^^-orbed in thought, It may be, or perhaps deeply worried about ^^ome private matter, passes hej on tL^treet wil seeing her, or bows with less than usual cordialiTy and straightway, she flushes ^nth indignation ; teZ'Joi Scrert;:^irrf •^'". ^7^^ ^'?^-^^ - " to .av " A V f "Vrf ^' ^'^"^^ "^* «^^"^ t« her to sa.v . .Afy friend looks anxious to-dav, I fear she n;ny have received bad news," and to pas^ ^n tmd turbed save by a kindly impulse of sympathy. ' far .T ''"''T ""^"^^'ered, a visit is not returned for a few weeks and the unconscious offende^ls bitterly accused of rudeness or inconstancy, while a MC • .mar,- - ^-^V- •^S? THK [M)lJirnNfJ IIKAKT 25 tlie titrio t\w. oiinHHiOn of the expenfed courtesy may ho due to illtirsa, pressing engagfimcnta, or other important causes not always easily exphiine<| to one outside tho family circle. Similarly, in countless ways, one who goes ahout seeking for causes of offence, may find them, real or imaginary, on every side. How more than foolish thus voluntarily to emhitter one's life with fancied griev- ances, when with a little less pride and a little more sense, one can readily learn to overlook trifling vexa- tions, and to suppress feelings unworthy of onesself and imjust to one's friends. The hahit of distrust, if suffered to take root in the heart is difficult to dislodge ; young girls should there- fore guard against it as one of the most formidable obstacles to their future happiness. It is better to bo generous and believing, even if we are sometimes deceived, than from too great caution, to go through life with doubt, like a canker worm for ever gnawing at our hearts. *^^^' I ■ r. r \l u XII LOVE IS ALL. The worldy amhiUom, empty cares, Its small disquietudes and insect stings DMed her neur. She was one m!de up Of feminine affections, and her life ^ ^^as one full stream of love from fount to sea. , — Henrv Tavlor. .HE poet wlio.0 linos I have quoted has taken U- f then.o -V Perfect Wonmn," and even in t and tn:^^tr "' '' ''' ^'^'^ ^ « -'^ ^-tS ^tlnsu repining, these are what make the ideal wom-m dormant, the most endearing trai^ of hpf.l? ' T-nsuspected imtn th^ *^, u J , ^^ character are them forth It it f^ '^' ^''^' ""^'^^^ ««"« be loved t th ;;;\rp"oe'riIkeV^^T \'''' ^"^ "aj' me poets like to write about, but ''i^[^aeis^^smammmm^-n%^!^mm^\p LOVK IH ALI, 27 there are other ways hardly less swnet and satisfying, in which each of us may find an outlet for our ** feminine affections." Perhaps it is an aged paront, or a helpless infant, or invalid, who leans upon our love. Be it husband, parent, child or friend, let our devotion be but unselfish enough, and it will prove the highest source of happi- ness to ourselves as well as to its object. Without this foundation, no woman can make a success of her life. She will build with cards upon shifting sands, and some day will sit weeping among the ruins, realizing when too late the cause of her failure. Let Lo, -, then, be our watchword, the end and aim of our existence here; as it also will be in the world to come. ^.^^^e^ •\;f' |C'5 XIH ii MINE ENEMY. He who ha/h a /housnud friends llaih not a friend to spare, ^^nd he who hath an enemy Wi/l meet him everywhere. — Omar Khavvani. . '"^'"^^fi^es on the immun tv thov hivo go through life without ex«Mting jealousy in some rpiarter, and from this unhai)py viee, rtl» while to exereise sonu; <;are and self- restraint in order to avoid giving offence to any with whom we may have dealings. lint for this, it is not m'eessary to take refuge in the ignohle safety of eom- ])leto isolation, whieli must ultimately generate a narrow, selfish, suspicious nature. Tluf hotter plan is to meet one's fellow-creatures in an open, friendly spirit, making careful selection here and there of such as are worthy to grapple to one's soul with hooks of steel, and exercising tact and judgment in keeping at arm's length those who are likely to ^ rove troublesome or dangerous. True friendship, resting on a basis of mutual affec- tion and esteem, is inspired by individual worth alone, and thus is not susceptible of change ; but, if made to depend on outward circumstances, such as convenience or temporary' advantage, friendship is indeed but a name, and destined to vanish before the first real test put Tipon it. Enmity is often the fruit of a false friendship. Tf you would have no enemies, be hostile to none. Love begets love in the wide as well as in the more limited V' , ti . sense . msmfs^'Jsr-a.- TTSSP-^^ ■>.J-ir7^^if>.Sf^Z^J XIV CONTENTMENT. If the sun shines on me I mm ««/ / n ^n me, I care not for the moon. —Italian Proverb. ouo ,„ „Wi„„. wondor l>ecau.c "me t . '' °-™' ""'' grieve and bevond onr roaol. '"■' ^ S™'ifi<'ation ,3 thought, for in^fnnnn . *k ' ^^ ^^^® barely a tions of whid, »),„,. ™"et.v of ap^eable sensa- dailv t Jks/we foil rrelT L"*/"'"™""'^'' °f »" «ro ,,nablo ,0 find Uric ♦fd^ n ^?^"'. °^ ""•«■ '''■» idtiring family affect ion, we cry for '»/^:j^- CONTKNTMKN'r tho moon of frmtitlrd vanity, of nn empty popularity, of passing social j)rominenco. There are women who take a far keener delight in exciting the admiration of strangers than in tightening the bonds of love and respect that unite them to husband or children. In a vain attempt to outdo a neighbour, they will spend time and money that they grudge to bestow in an effort to amuse a fractious little one or to increase the comfort of home. There is some streak r.f perversity in human nature which causes it to view with indifference the blessings actually within its reach, while attaching a quite ficti- tious value to those that appear to be inaccessible. This pecidiarity often develops into a real mania. There are women who cannot possibly feel contented while from theif surroundiiip* an,l those who lend it to thom Ihe chstmction is plainly perceptible, whe eter me n and women conp-epue in any numbers, whether iny hamlet or in the erowded metropo is. There are a ways some who shine only in reflected li^h whi e ot .e. car-, the source of illunnnation witLn' tl^lt solves. , former are not greatlv to be envied because their temporary prominenc-e, 'beinff dependent' precanous. Tlie latter, on the contrarv suffer no depreciation in altered conditions or surro^i'ndi ^7 , ^ are welcomed wherever they po and in whatever i," being readily recognized a. valuable additions to f^^ mienor ty— or of mediocrity, at least,— to make one's ncco.^ in any direction, hinge on purelv exten al co„di tions or circumstances. What we are. not what wo do nor where and how we live, must ever be ?he mo't obvious and interesting fact concerning us. if we make the most of such opportunities for self- TKIIK DISTINCTION 33 improvcmont as am within our reach, wc cannot fail to achieve a kind of personal distinction tfuit will announce itself to all who meet us. If we arc nnabht to win admiration, cfltccm or popu- larity, in our native hamlet, it is extremely unlikely that prcater success will atten_; *-.'!►.* 5'^^ *mMi- XVII I THE INTELLECTUAL LIFE. bJilTn'r'^f"" ^{''K'^f'' ^^'« intellectual man, tauttful thinhmg, just as moral virtue delights in rigorous and beautiful conduct. ^ ^ —Philip Gilbert Hamerton. F ,^„^.^^^"^7^,^^^^^^ whose oppor- t tumties of self-culture are limited, to excuse their in^s nf/r'-'i'; '^% P^ ^^ unfavourable surrounT boSs T.T''"l.^^ '\ ^^^^"^*^ «f «««««« to good .W • .• ^ "^'^^^"^ ^^^'^ i« certainly a severe depnvation, but not so severe as to involve thp TnT plete sacrifice of the intellectual li^e/ ^Jllurf heS f nes'''":V"'.Pt"^-^^^ ''' ^^- mind^-^eLonnn stones and "books in the running brooks "-that with eyes to see, and ears to hear, n!t one amonf i .?e::to^^- '' ''''''''''''' ''^-'- *^ - --^ -betoSerl^ ^"^ ■''"'''' ^'''^ '^ Shakespeare would St ^en t U f^^^^«P^«^^'« time, some of the rrnufaZ ^T'i^ ^''' "^'^ ^'""^^" ^^^"^^ immortal r^utat ons wh.ch have not suffered from comparison / .• T , ^ '^''"^^^ 't"^ent of our time eniovs So^r^^atrpTaf '^'"ir^-^' ^"^^"^^ *^ *^- "^-^ the 3^.T l\ '^"-^^ command, yet how few take the .ame delight m '• vigorous and beautiful thinking" THE INTELLECTUAL LIFE 41 as did the ancient philosophers at whose feet the world still sits to learn ^v^sdom. It is therefore no proof of a superior intellect to be familiar with the names and works of the greatest authors. Intellectual power may exist without any such know- ledge, and a refined taste can feed itself as well on the wonders of Mature, as on merely human masterpieces, and even, no doubt, a great deal better. Your intellectual status can be pretty accurately gauged by the degree of interest and attention which you bestow on the beauties of J^ature, and the workings of her laws. If the greatest scholar or poet in the world should come to visit you he would not care about any of your book-lore, which he would already have learned by heart, but he would be greatly interested in learning from you some facts about the natural history of your neighbourhood, and any romantic or historical associa- tions connected with it. If he should find you perfectly acquainted with every kind of flower and tree growing thereabouts, and with the habits of insects and birds, with the nature of the soil and the rQcks, with the origin of every stream, and knowing accurately the best seasons and localities for taking interesting observa- tions of various kinds, he would carry away with him a pleasant remembrance of every moment spent in your society, and a feeling of real respect for the resources of your mind. Metaphysical speculation also offers an unlimited field for the exercise of the mental faculties. Medita- tion on the great problems of existence elevates the thoughts above low and common things, and prepares the mind for the intelligent discussion of philosophical subjects. ^ High thinking is generally the precursor of noble living, and this has frequently been exemplified within 'i ! ■, t ; I'! r:?-ffl^BF'-V>i ' i M I 11. 42 IN illK PATHS or PKACE tlioroforo, hhZfZt/^'''^'^r''''''- ^o not, ipnoranco of wL h v ^'*"' «"/"-«»ment for the before y^ur ey Id wl rll'? '^^''^^ ^''' «P«" von wiil find -onrso f '''" '•'"'" ''""^ 'mastered it knowledge "lu'rwHlfi^rT'-" "' ""^ ^"^^""* ^^ M r! 3 . .»' *^m ■-^fS^'s XIX GOD'S GOOD GIFTS. God's gifts put man's best dreams to shame. — Mrs. Browning. jftyE find a singular satisfaction in counting our worldly possessions, and knowing, to the frac- tion of a cent, their precise value, whether intrinsic or relative. But we rarely think of the good gifts God has lavished on us, which are beyond price, and which, if we were rightjy constituted, would in a great measure, if not completely, satisfy our wants and provide us with a deep and unfailing source of happi- ness. Try to enumerate them all, and you will find the list practically endless. But if you had no more than your five senses to be grateful for, are not these alone incomparably more precious than all the wealth of the Indies ? What endless avenues of delight they open up to you! What a tremendous misfortune it would be to lose even one of them! Yet are we so much the slaves of habit and routine, that many of us cease to be conscious of the pure joy of living, and disregarding all real possibilities of happiness of which the germs are within us, waste our days pursuing shadows which we shall never overtake. As a powerful and pleasant antidote to the feelings of envy and jealousy which so frequontly assail those who are not favorites of fortune, I strontrly recommend the practice of counting up God's gifts. A little reflection will suffice to show that they do indeed " put man's best dreams to shame." ^1 A ! 1 ' , f j 5 f j^,«iap.i»ni':^?^^:^~-^ . XX REVENGE. Wo,nania-e, ^"^«. «.„,. fo„ ,,,, ^„, „ „.^„^. „^ i,.„, . ''• -"Maud." or apparent °^:S^' ^a^^rj::' I^hS '*"~' average woman's breast »„J^ f^ and long in the tinitTfor "pavWoff'-t^ « freqnentl.y au oppor- of character, Ving a fn.it?,,? ""/""""ate defect well to its pcsessfr a tlln T''^ °^ -nhappiness as ler. It is of c™^r ^ "''!; """'' '" «»■""<" with of intel igence Ttewr"""",""" T* " '>■«'' '■^d^'' cannot faU tTperl^VZt^ ^"' J/^^ ""^ "^"^""^ effectual destroyer of 1.-. .1^ disposition is an '■r fntr?"r^^^^^^^^^^ -ae her hoth she kno.. that there a'eTh!rrf!'"^'"f"''? ^^ "'^""^^ of seeking an exnl»r,»«! ""disposal rational means How ofte^ ^e hsti„„ f " °f ,'^" ?»«™% attitude. and oali„"dTs:uS ^of r'^:','*;^;^'"!;" " ^"""^ nuarrp] f P„* j?* ,. ' ^'^ fancied cause of wholly nnpremedifated orTo trffliT tl T ""T' '.' notice : also, that life ;, J ., * ? ^ '™''"'y »* ' "*^ '= '"o short and precious to be RFAENGE 45 wasted in strife or contention, and that real sorrows and irreparable losses being inevitable, it is childisji to expend on insignificant ones regrets disproportionate to their importance. If it is womanlike to take "revenge too deep for a transient wrong " we must strive to unsex ourselves to the extent of refuting the poet's accusation. Let us not be above appealing to masculine wisdom in cases open to doubt. The injury or affront which fails to impair the appetite or destroy the sleep of an affectionate parent, husband or brother can scarcely be as grievous as it at first appeared from a feminine point of view. It is wonder- ful how much happier and light-hearted one becomes as soon as the resolution is taken and acted upon of dismissing all thoughts of resentment and revenge, and betaking one's self in moments of mental perturbation to some useful occupation or agreeable pastime. It is not precisely easy at first, no more than it is to ride a wheel or paint a picture, but with practice, the difficul- ties quickly vanish, and the exercise becomes a positive pleasure. Try it. .■A I III ■^i: XXI THE CHILD'S FIRST SCHOOL.ROOM. The molhcr^s heart is the child's school-room. "^,,, . —II- W. Beecher. heart, M-hosi rece^os vl 1^ T"'' "'^T^^'' ^^ y^^' i« .your child's Xorom Tho'T''' ^ -'^ .'^"' ^^^^ infuuny can ,,icTco t ,n , . i ^I''"''' ^tuitions of tlao soul. ^ *''" '"^'^^ fornndable barricade of meet, and wheu it is a ' 'ntr \ "'^^^rthj daro not pity of it! See the for"t Jtr",^ -worthy-the and garnished • thllT-' "" school-room is swept «lnno^; thatlh^ t" ^l^erTr ^e'et'lfd' ^^'^' 4 in^irlious disf^'are lo^ Vl^ '^'' ^^^^« ^^ ^^n^e disinfect the scLorroZbor './"''*' '' ^""^.^ «««" «». heart-free All had equal chances in his eyes In tl.« JT t^' choice he m,„t have disco4Tsome specS „ha™ other he had h.tberto met. Give her the credit dueT 5>:;ti„f:fi5i::,!r::^^r " "'"--• "'■- - - .entZnfe-bi^tS: X ^tilLf^r!'-^' '""""■ W. in life prove a'crcdil To tiSrl'ZaZC h^^l".;;^":^,'*"™-';"' "■" '?■"■" '">'' -™- ^^ _„ reared son= tu disnoiiuur their father's name. CAUSE AND EFFKCT She wonders despairingly why the first has had better luck than herself. Would it not be kinder and fairer to admit in all humility that the successful mother is the one who understood her duties best and applied her- self most strenuously to their fulfilment? Two girls are thrown penniless on the world. One becomes a burden to herself and her friends, forever bemoaning her fate, and making half-hearted, fruitless attempts to secure her independence. The other goes resolutely to work to find a secure foothold, and before long you hear of her filling some position of trust and quietly settling down into her new sphere of useful- ness with the determination to adorn it as best she can. One is not luckier than the other. She is simply braver, more steadfast and persevering. If we want luck," we may all have it if we are willing to work hard enough to secure and keep it. Let the world that knows nc;hing of our labours and self- denial mar\'el at our good fortune. "We shall personally have the deep satisfaction of recognizing in the measure of success we may achieve, the reward of our ability and honest endeavours. m *^.^^^iV ii i III I , lilt XXIV PROVOCATION. To be able to bear provocation is an araumeni nf great reason, and to forgive it of a great ZZ ^ ^ROVOCATIOX is regarded by the average ■^ human being as a quite sufficient excuse forT ebullition of temper. One would like to a^k of the man or woman who reasons in this way : " Is^here ;roU:rto^S"^ ''-' "°^^^^ ^'^- - ^« - but^ivThi'-^'T"' V?* ^^' i°in^"^ity from temptation attlc^ of tW "7'^' i^""' '' ^'^'^^ t« the fierces for !»,- f -^ "P*r\ ^ *"" ^°"^^ not praise a hermit for mamtammg an habitual serenity of mind sincT^o one comes to disturb or interfere Jth hTm 1 blind maji gets no credit for remaining unm^ed win an unfeehng person mocks him with an insulting Xre ne^er' rtlZf'"^. 1 '^ ^^'^''y bonestX ha^ never, m the moment of extreme need, been confronted a n_ar . an-, th,, reasonable mmd. It is when the :i f PROVOCATION 53 enemy is lying in wait, to torment and exasperate you, that you need to be most wary, to keep a cool head and to put a bridle on your tongue. To yield to a feeling of irritation caused by a thoughtless, or even a malicious word or act, is to abdicate the throne of reason and become the slave of ignoble passion. The true Christian attitude towards one who seeks to annoy us, is one of pity for a soul darkened by unworthy sentiments and warped by mean motives. Whenever we come in contact with an inferior nature, the obligation is laid on us of revealing by example the beauty and charm of a higher one. This end is easily secured by the "soft answer," or by a discreet silence, or an aJroit change of subject An effectual reply to a sneer, a taunt or a reproach may take the form of a good-natured admission that it is deserved. This removes the possibility of argument or recrimination, and affords an opportunity for divert- ing attention to some other topic. With practice one may become quite as expert in parrying a thrust as an ill-natured person is in dealing it. It is an art and an accomplishment well worth acquiring. While reason suffices to make provocation harmless, a great mind goes farther still, and freely forgives the author of it. This is not so difficult when we bear in mind that there are moral as well as physical infirmities and deformities. It is scarcely consistent to expend all our sjTupathies on the lame, the blind and the deaf, and keep none for the narrow-minded, the jealous, and those who are obviously incapable of noble, generous or refined sentiments. The eyes of the soul are often blinded in youth, by prejudice, or inherited predilec- tions. The heart contracted by selfishness, covetous- ness, or distrust is deaf to all appeals for affection, mercy, gentleness. We owe some consideration to those who are so afflicted, and when they falter or I ! '' '1 i 'n •|l n itu h ityi 54 IN THE PATHS OF PEACE Stumble on the way, it is our part to help them forward, by - 7ord or example, as we would lead a blind man from a threatened danger which his infirmity prevents him from suspecting. To forgive the mistakes of others, even though we have suffered from them becomes easy enough when we have learned to view them in the light of true charity. Readily enough then can we repeat the dying Saviour's prayer for His persecutors : " Lord, forgive them, for they know not what they do." ii ^^.^^-^SV 'K. XXV ' Lit ■ . A RICH INHERITANCE. They are rich who possess God, hut they are richest v:ho possess nothing hut God. All creation helongs to him to whom God is his sole possession. — F. W. Faber. ROM the lips of a little child I learned a lesson once which has left an indelible impression on m^' mind. The passage above quoted recalls this incident. We were walking along one of the lovely paths that thread the more secluded portions of our beautiful Mount Royal. It was a day in early summer. There was a delicious mildness and freshness in the air. Spring's tender green was still on every leaf, and wild flowers blossomed about our feet in generous profusion. My little companion, though not yet five years old, was keenly alive to the charms of the surroundings, and clapped hei hands for joy as we penetrated further and further into the sweet solitudes of the mountain side. Suddenly she stopped and asked me eagerly : " Who does the Mountain belong to?" After a moment's pause, I answered : " To you, my darling." I shall never forget the look of rapturous incredulity on the baby face. " To me !" she repeated ; " is it my Moun- tain?" *• Yes, dear," I replied, " God gave it to you for a playground." " Oh, isn't He good?" she exclaimed impulsively, and with a wholly new interest in the fair scene before us, she silently studied the trees, the rocks, and the sweet flowers blooming at our feet. 6 u m it! t 1 56 IN THK PATHS OF PEACE i.3»r I, too, was silent, aud asked myself if, indeed, I shared the love aud gratitude of the child towards the Creator for the great and wonderful possessions He had made mine. Alas! when we cease to be children, we cease, too often, to care about the gifts of God. The treasures of the fields and woods appeal to us no longer. Our hearts are filled so full of greed for the common things that pass away, there is no room in them for the sincere enjoyment of the eternally good and beautiful. We take no delight in the marvellous manifestations of dmne power and beneficence that enrich our great dwelhng-place and play-^ound, the earth, because we are too much occupied in cramming as many objects as we can lay hold of within the four walls we call our home. Our idea of contentment, of success in life, goes not much further than the possession of countless thmgs, which, once within our reach, we discover to be absolutely useless, if not cumbrous, appurtenances. It is m the crucial moments of life that our various belongings stand revealed at their true worth or worth- lessness. When the heart is swayed by any strong emo- tion, love, grief, resentment, pity or noble enthusiasm, the only influences that can attune themselves to the soul and fill it with peace, comfort, or serenity, are those that our Mother Nature wields in her own sanc- tuaries away from all the artificial restrictions and -complications of conventional life. But such influences are withheld from those who have habitually ignored or ■despised them. We cannot " possess God " by a mere momentary impulse of will. We must first dispossess ourselves of all that is useless and unworthy of our solicitude. When we can truly say that we are satisfied with Him alone, we will realize with more than common thankfulness that all creation belongs to us. XXVI THE MOTIVE POWER OF LOVE. Love is a higher intellectual exercise than hatred. — ^Thackeray. !UST as the infinite love of the Creator for the works of His hands is a corollary of the divine omniscience, so the human capacity for loving cor- responds with the degree of knowledge attained by each incUvidual. So great a perfection resides in every created thing, however humble, so marvellous is the fitus-js of each for the functions assigned to it, so ines- timable its value in its relation to its surroundings, that a knowledge of the same cannot fail to inspire the intel- ligent observer with those mingled sentiments of deep admiration, interest, curiosity, and sympathy, which constitute love. Hatred, on the other hand, is equivalent to a confes- sion of ignorance. It is a senseless negation, a denial of the inherent good in persons and things ; a revela- tion of the contracted horizon which bounds the hater's mental vision. One feels the futility of appealing from the verdict of a hater. He hates because he knows no better, because of some blind instinct of self-defence which awakens within him w^hen he is brought in contact with superior strength or skill. Sometimes it is merely the sense of being baffled by the unknown or unknowable — someone or somewhat that he cannot understand, and therefore fears, dislikes or distrusts. Ignorant persons frankly confess to " hating " men and ':l 1 'hi 58 IN THE PATHS OV I'EAf K • > ii . ' : 1; •, |l|. 1 f'lfi' ' women to whom they have never sp<.kcn a word, and who have never harmed them ever so slightly X"v on he grounds of some physical pecrdiarity or eccen- tZV- TT' '''^^''^' irrifntosby its L^larity. The trained observation is not similarly affected for he reason that it is accustomed to refer alMhin' to 8 submerged in the interesting mental process of inquiring into its wherefore. ^ evid?nl*^^"'''^ "'''^^^'*^^' ^''""^' ^^^ ""'^t repellent evidence of disease, possess for the student of medicine aereTal • "'""* "i?'^'*' ^""^^''^^^'-^ effaces the X Se w'w r""i '"* .^"^'"^^^^ '^•>' *'^^ «I-«tacle. l^ero would Lo no horror in such sights for any of us we are'TJil ? T.T ^^-^^-^^-^V It is because we are ignorant of the reason of their being that we hudder at the mere mention of them. That le art Til Busceptible to the influence of knowledge to the exten of being made to love things that we once hated I proved by some part of the experience of nearly every human being. As our knowledge of things and per^S Wtlfr^rl*^ '7 'r-^ widens^and d~ ^v ery wife and mother, for instance, learns to conquer old aversions and repugnances in the discharge of her domestic duties. The dainty maiden who onfe shr^k from contact .vith an unwashed child, marri^and e^ds by eheerfully performing the most iienial services ?or half a dozen little denizens of the nursery. Tnother 8ing, the duties of a nurse unthinkable, ultimately finds her highest happiness in ministering to sufferW humanity m a hospital ward. suuering It is then sufficiently clear that whatever or whoever 18 knowable is also in a certain degree loveable and It THE MOTIVE I'OWEIl OF LOVE 59 This view Ls as consoling to a troubled heart as it is acceptable to a philosophic mind. It converts what was once an object of hatred into one of mystery, merely, from which the former element of irritation is removed. Even a declared enemy, who robs and despoils, persecutes and calumniates one, becomes a psycholofi^cal study of surpassing interest rather than a target for useless vituperation, or a subject for ignoble revenge. The sublime passion for knowledge, havin^, its source and ultimate end in the eternal and infinite, inevitably submerges every temporary or private interest, and lifts him who is possessed by it to a plane of thought and feeling in which no pettiness or selfishness can survive. All who attain this level enjoy a god-like immunity from common, trivial cares, a serene sense of lasting separation from whatever is base and ignobly disquieting. In knowing and loving, their noblest attributes find adequate expression, their most passion- ate desires, complete fulfilment. Into these rarified regions we are all privileged to penetrate, and there we may dwell our lives long at peace with ourselves and with every other. Yet there are always some who find the height too steep to scale, and who are weakly content to dwell in the darksome vale below where ignorance, contention and hatred abonnd, where true love, knowledge and joy are things unknown. XXVII ON THE HEIGHTS. Peopled and warm is the valley, lonely and chill the height, But the peak that is nearer the storm-cloud, is nearer the stars of light. . —Selected. ANY men and women, conscious of a call to a liiphcr life than the one they are leading, lack the necessary courage and firmness to break away from old habits and associations, to set their feet in new, untried paths, and, unsupported by the sympathy of human companionship, to attempt to scale the somewhat forbidding heights that lead to the desired goal. Looking at virtue in the abstract, it seems eminently beautiful, desirable and attainable by a mere effort of the vnll In hours of soUtude, meditation and prayer, it is easy enough to assume the mantle of holi- ness, to shudder at the thought of sin, to spurn tempta- tion and to draw up a rule of life which would not dis- credit an angel. But, in practice, the average human being finds that the pursuit of the higher life involves numerous and painful struggles with nature, separates bim more or less from others of his kind, and shuts off many comforting sources of sympathy and support. It is not given to every one to stand alone on the chill height of Duty without casting backward and regretful gianees on the warm peopled valley, called Do-As- You- ON THK HRKillTH 61 Ploaae. Down thcro, familiar forms are gatheretl tofjethor in friendly comnuloship, eating, drinking and making merry. They seem to have no care for the lonely climber of the heights, or, if they look his way at all, it is with a oirious disdain. Few, even among those who loved him best, are willing to follow him into those cold upper regions. He must perforce press on alone. Sometimes, indeed, he turns and falters. A liand he loves beckons to him from below. It would be so easy and so swot-t to retrace his footiitcps, to seek tb- warm shelter that awaits him thtire, to relinquish . l' further effort, to be satisfied with the common level "♦" virtue attained by the great majority. But be ^; yielding to the fatal temptation, his eyes once moi»^ seek the heights, and lo! they are crowned with stars of light that shed a divine effulgence on the towerir.g peaks. Ilis heart quickens within him. The spell of common things is broken. The mystery, the grandeur of the eternal enthral his spirit anew and give wings to his feet. He is saved. But the same struggle repeats itself over and OTer to the end. Storm-clouds intervene between him and the heavenly vision that beckoned him on, and at such times his wistful glance strays down to the valley, and something within him urges him to go back. Many a traveller, weary and faint-hearted, thus returns to ri?e no more to the same heights. Only the dauntless few arrive at last on the Alpine summit known as Final Perseverance. And even from that glorious eminence, if they look with pity on the lower worlds they have forsaken, it is often with the pity that is akin to love. The merely human in us dies hard. "NVe are loth to kt go of hands that hold our own in a warm and friendly clasp — to forsake the companionable fireside, and set out alone on a dark and solitary road. But this is life, indeed, and we are powerless to order .1" m^^'^F^ 11:1 ^ 62 IN THE PATHS OF PEACE It Otherwise Happily, the hope siustains us, through the never-endmg struggle, that our earth is merely the > eshbule of heaven and that in the greater life beyond nl uncer amty shall be changed into certainty, promise into fulfilment, and mutability into the , .nnanence of everlastmg happmess. "^^ XXVIII SEARCHING FOR PEARLS. Errors, liJcr. straws, upon the surface floiv, lie who would scare., for pearls must dive below. — Addison. r^EC^AUKE of a certain <]ni('knpss in dotoctins; flaws ^ and shortcomings where others diseern perfec- tion, or a near approach to it, there are persons who flatter themselves that they are endowed with pnpcrior wisdom, which it is their pleasure and duty to disseminate among their too trusting neighhours. They delight in pointing out the clay feel of otlier folks' idols ; they shake their heads and smile pityingly when anyone ventures, in their presence, to exy)res8 unstinted admiration, or enthuriasm for any object, cause or T)er8on whatever. To them, nothing or no one is wholly good or worthy of resi)ect. In this nil admirari attitude they go through life, deriving little pleasure or benefit from any source, and grudging the satisfaction which more generous natures reap from a willingness to give honour and credit where both are due. As a matter of fact, it is the superficial observer who sees only the defective side of an object or of human character, and fails to discern the true value that lies hidden beneath a deceptive exterior. No remarkable degree of insight is required to detect errors that float like straws on the surface of a stream. But he whose ' » 'f SiP'" It is? I 64 IN THE PATHS OF PEACE mental gaze penetrates to the deep below, and who— like a diver— can discern pearls in the very slime of the nver-bed is the one whose judgment of men and tilings IS to be respected. r^'"". "u" /^'°^"»^«'- tl»at beautiful legend of the Uinst which relates how, one day, a dead dog lying in the street m Judea evoked expressions of contempt and disgust from aU the passers-by. One called attention to his draggled coat, another to his sightless eyes, another to the flies that swarmed round his open mouth a fourth to the stench that arose from his decaying body. Suddenly One stood in their midst, who, looking with compassion on the offending beast, said with infimte gentleness, in a voice divinely sweet, "Pearls are not equal to the whiteness of his teeth." The carping crowd was silenced, and each man went his way musing on the lesson that had been conveyed m those simple words pronounced by Jesus of Nazareth, for all knew that none other could have spoken them. Ihe habt of criticising and fault-finding is easier to acqmre than that of bestowing a just appreciation where It IS due ; but with the right dispositions, the latter may be cultvated until it becomes a second nature. Once acquired, it becomes to the possessor a source of positive happiness of a kind which remains for ever unknown to the captious critic who has eyes only for errors and flaws, and who thereby misses all the beauty and goodness that exist in the world. It also becomes a power for good, by diffusing hope and courage in timid breasts, and inspiring affection and gratitude in hearts that would, failing such help, be heavy with mis- givings or resentment. No weapon is more effectual for the disarming of hostility than a word of praise or appreciation judiciously bestowed. No moral stimulus acta more powerfully on the human soul than the desire to live up to the high estimate formed of it bv others ^^'ir': ■r'-fr: ^^ ■■'' -%?t^^'< SEARCHIGN FOB PEARLS 65 When you think little of a fellow-creature and his work, and permit him to sec i , you thereby diminish hia incentive to improvement, and relegate him, perhaps permanently, to an inferior status. Show him, on the contrary, that you respect his motives, that you believe in his capacity to overcome the difficulties lying in l>is path, that you recognize the good that is in him, and you have helped him to brace himself for a fresh effort, you have brightened his outlook, and perhaps given him a foothold that will ultimately lead him to the highest point of success. When we are tempted to repine because we lack the means to relieve the material necessities of our poorer neighbours, it is well to pause and ask ourselves how we are dispensing that richer store of love, sympathy and kindly encouragement which is locked up in our own breasts. There is always somebody quite clwe to us — sister, brother, husband, parent, child or friend, who needs them. ^f^^^i^ ^BBEsamai: nmm -I r m XXIX THE PERFECT ROSE. A hundred different and sweet smelling leaves are needed to form a rose, and the hundreds of pu ous no to make up perfect happiness. — Cannea Svlva. wr ^'^^^^'*^l^ P'«J^ F'tal lies in your path. Only one. It was dropr>t>,l from a ro.se that some one earned ean-les.ly. Do you pass it by, unhoed- in?. trampling: ,t nithlesslyumler foot, perhaps, or do .vou stoop to pick It up, lay it tenderly in your palm, and contemplate its exquisite beautv. Surely you can spare a moment to feast your eyes on the lovelv deli- ca e colour ; to note the fine curving outline, the velvety, cool surface, the heavenly fragrance it exhales. Ao human hand ever fashioned anything so rarely perfect as this. As you gaze you are filled with wondeV and ^leMt. with humility and rev.rence. This little piece of CmkIs hundnvork brings you so close to Ilim ! lou wonder how any one could ever doubt His infinite power, His love, His very existence tK '^T T/'f' P^**' **'«^ '^'»" "^^^^'^ ^>« "'isscd from the hundred that make up the perfect rose, but to you who look upon It with seeing eyes, it comes as a message straight from Him who made it, and you will go your jay cheered and strengthened because of that fragment of beauty, of divmity-nlmost-which you picked out of the dust because you knew its value and did not despise the chance of pure joy which a moment's atten- tion to It could not fail to bring you. In the same manner, every daV and all day lontr iov waits upon our footsteps, lurking in unexpected places. THE I'KKFECT ROSE 67 gleaming like a ray of liglit here, radiant like a rose there ; now emitting a delicious perfume, again salut- ing our ears with a sweet sound, caressing our cheek with a touch of divine tenderness or irradiating our heart with an unlooked-for happiness. It mav be the glory of a sunset or the unfolding of a leaf, the song of a bird or the freshness of a breeze ; the light of love in the eyes of a friend ; a word of prai.-*.' from one placed over us ; it may be a task accomplished, a doubt removed, a prayer answered. For, Proteus-lik.s joy is ever changing its shape, and has as many varying aspects as there are moments in time or moods in human hearts. But one thing we know beyond all peradven- ture. It is ever with us and do wo but choose to look for it we can not fail to find it. Yet there are malcontent?^ who car<> nothing for the petal, and are ever clamouring for tlie perfect rose. Their eyes see only the joys that dazzle, their hearts take no account of happiness save such as makes them objects of envy to the whole world. How poor is the life that rejects all the minor chances of happiness while watching and waiting for the great pri/^es of earthly existence. To lose these, then, is to lose every- thing. ^ But no kind or degree of sorrow, suffering, deprivation or disappointment has power to overwhelm the soul that is wont to accept in glad and thankful spirit, the "hundred pure joys that go to make up perfect happiness." This is what we must strive for, therefore, the superior insight, the trust, the love that will help 'us to recognize the beneficent designs of Providence, and to rejoice in all the manifestations of Divine love and power that enrich the world. This is the only way in which we can secure to ourselves a lasting immunity from the disquiet and endless longings of dissatisfied souls. i«?i k > XXX THE MILDEW OF MONOTONY. The mildew of monotony destroys the keenest pleasure. — Sir Herbert Maxwell. JO the hungry and sick and sorrowing ones of earth it must appear well-n gh incredible that the conditions which woul< bring them permanent relief from their troubles, be .me, at times, so irksome to those with whom they art )rmal, as to appear well- nigh intolerable. The stan ng wretch at the palace gate cannot conceive the satiety of the prince ; the helpless cripple believes that earth would be a paradise indeed, if he could but walk a be strong ; the pale mourner beside the grave of a k nfi one feels passionate envy of the lot of her whose ircleof beloved ones remains unbroken ; yet, so curiously constituted is human nature that possession of a coveted object, or fulfilment of the most ardently desired hope, soon converts the most intense longing into a placid, if not indifferent acceptance of the greatest favours and blessings. The most discontented persons in the world are found among those who have never experienced the sensation of hunger, who are in full possession of their health and faculties, and whom the greater sorrows of life have passed by untouched. The cause of their dissatisfac- tion is simply a weariness of what, in the estimation of some, might be regarded as ideal conditions. The », i THE MILDEW OF MONOTONY 69 mildew of monotony has fallen upon their pleasures and destroyed them. It i3 useless to blame or denounce this universal human liability to chafe under too long a continuance of even the greatest blessings. It is there and it cannot be disposed of by words of censure or remonstrance. The wiser plan is to regard its signs as symptoms of a diseased condition of the mind, calling for tender care and judicious treatment. As in the case of oth^r maladies, prevention is better than cure, but oftenest, the eflfects of monotony on the human subject are not apprehended or suspected until they have made inroads on the patient's mental con- stitution which only the most suramarj' and powerful measiires can effectually resist. The "mildew of monotony" is responsible for a greater number of wrecked souls and desolate homes than may be traced to any other malign influence that militates against the security of individual or domestic happiness. No power is more insidiously effectual in alienating the affections of husbands from their wves, of children from their parents. To escape from its influence how many young men and maidens yearly take the broad and flowery path that leads to destruc- tion, how many husbands and wives forget the solemn vo"^ made at the altar, how many rash unions are formed, and loving ties thoughtlessly sundered? The magic prescription for the malady produced by monotony is "change." It is wonderful how persist- ently some persons set their faces against the merest suggestion of change in the home. They insist on the same programme, week in, week out. They keep the same hours, eat the same food, wear the same kind of clothes, express the same opinions year after year. The slightest attempt to introduce an innovation on the part of any member of the family is met with a determined n >n 70 IN THE PATHS OF PEACE Vl '• M : li^f \ resistance. "We have never done it before, why should we bepin now?" is supposed to settle the ques- tion beyond all dispute. The world would soon come to a standstill if peopled entirely by such narrow-minded, unprogrcssive and selfish tyrants. In a hundred little ways it is possible to vary the monotony of home life without upsetting the estab- lished order of things to any serious extent. The mse woman, perceiving little signs of dissatisfaction in her husband or children, makes a duty of planning some pleasant diversion or change of routine which awakens new interest and* distracts attention from recognized causes of irritation. In one family that I know, the annoimcement that every one may sleep late the next morning, if so inclined, put.s the whole household in the highest good humour. Of course a holiday is chosen for this little indulgence. Special privileges granted now to one, now to another child, " just for a change," have a wonderful effect in brightening up the spirits of the 3'oung people, and reconciling them to the disagreeable tasks of life. To promote the general comfort of the home, it is neces- sary that certain restraints be put upon the individual inclinations of separate members of the family, but it is of equal importance that sxich restrictions be removed at intervals to counteract the cramping influence they would otherwise exercise on the mind and character. A man, especially, is apt to feel at times, a strong desire, almost a need, to break away from his usual routine and enlarge bis experience of life by eontaefc with some of its less familiar aspecTs. There are wives who deeply resent such a di>ipos.ition on the part of their husband? and wiio take no pains To eoneoal their dis- pleasure over the least evideace of it. On the other i^ f-W THE MILDEW OF MONOTONY 71 hand, there are not a few husbands of the crank species who are intolerant of change, declining to recog- nize that the average woman's natural cravings for a little pleasurable excitement now and then, are not wholly satisfied by her daily privilege of ordering his dinner, sewing on his buttons, and studying the back of his head while he peruses the evening papers. An occasional effort of unselfishness all around is needed to keep the mildew of monotony from settling on the pleasures of the home. :■:! ^»w1:^t^ I ' i • if Pf ^ i 1 i: - ''i i XXXI RELATIVE VALUES. May no one be able io say of us that tre are too busy io be kind. — Selected. T'l/'JIATEVER be our limitations in other direc- tions, there are few among us who have not acquired a fatal facility in the art of excusuig ourselves from the perforniimcc of certain im|)ortant duties. The validity of our excuses is, as a rule, less obvious to others than to ourselves. When we say, in explanation of some regrettable omission of an expected kindness or courtesy, " 1 was too busy to attend to the matter," we may, in a measure, salve our own con- science with the conventional plea, but we seldom succeed in impressing our hearers with the sincerity of our statement. The weakness of the argument lies in the fact that, too often, when we believe ourselves very " busy," we are expending time and energy on objects less worthy of our attention than those we j> ^lect- inrr. The relative importance of the varion as on ou}' affection and interest that arise from day to day, should be carefully weighed in our mind before any are dismissed on the plea that we lack tlie time to consider them. Unhappily we are often so much the slaves of eircumstancea, so blinded by vanity, selfishness, and foolish ambition, that wo fail to discern the true values riuu«ly and steadfastly to the secnrinir of such aims as will increase the happiness and welfare of others ! k ;l ^'■■n MiaoCOfY RiSOlUTION TfST CHART (ANSI and ISO TEST CHART No. 2) bi M2B ii& tii iSi Li 1^ k& 1^ 2.0 1.8 ^ >>PPLIED If VMGF '653 Eost Main Street Rochester. New York U609 uSA (716) 482 - 0300 - Phone (716) 288 - S989 - Fa« Inc m hi' 74 IN THE PATHS OF PEACE reflect honour on our own hearts, and be to us a comfort in days of sorrow and trial. With this lofty purposo before us, we shall indeed lead useful and busy live?, but they shall be so well-ordered that time will always be found to be kind as well as busy. , ;.!,■ ^^^^^^ ¥ • mih XXXII SELF-COMPLACENCY. A man who cannot mind his own business is not to be trusted with the king's. Savilie. I i JljT is no uncommon sight in this world of mysteries :, and anomalies to see men and women who have been notoriously unsuccessful in the management of their own affairs, assuming, without hesitation and even with alacrity, responsibilities of the most serious character, which, neither by experience, education nor inherent ability, they are in any sense fitted to discharge in a manner profitable to others or creditable to themselves. There are practically no limits to the self-complac- ency which is the usual accompaniment of certain kinds of ignorance, of which the worst is probably that which results from a superficial knowledge of things. The spectacle of fools rushing in where angels fear to tread, appeals in a good many instances, to one's sense of humoiir, but often, too, by reason of the earnest though misguided zeal of those who insist on playing such a sorry part, it becomes pathetic. In any case, the conse- quences are wholly mischievous if not positively disas- trous to all concerned. The injury that is constantly worked to good causes by the mistakes of fervent but ill-advised champions of the same, is simply incalculable. Of course, only a rare degree of modesty will reveal to a man his own unfitness for particular roles, or will persuade him that he can best help on a cause by refraining from identi- •n a , '"I 76 I\ THE PATHS OF PEACE P'i fying himself with it in any way. Women, too, as a rule, are lacking in the commendable diffidence which arises from a recognition of their own shortcomings. The fi edom which is now enjoyed by our sex in the matter of participation in affairs outside the home has multiplied the temptations that delude mediocrity with their dazzling promises of easily-won triumphs in one or another province of effort hitherto untried. We must needs be on our guard against the flattering iiJu- sions through which we see ourselves occupying a position of prominence in some sphere outside our own accustomed one. Especially should we cultivate humility with regard to our special fitness for work that has a professedly religious or philanthropic object. A sudden access of zeal counts for nothing in the matter of equipment for a new function. Enthusiasm is the first lamp that goes out on a 'difficult road. Before presuming to teach, exhort, guide or govern others, let us ask ourselves a few questions. Am I Avorthy ? Does my own life bear testimony to the sincerity of my con- victions? Have I earned the respect, the admiration, the affection of those who know me best, and therefore most truly? Are my own personal affairs in such a successful condition as to inspire confidence in my ability to accomplish greater things? Honest replies to questions like these should deter- mine the course one ought to pursue when in doubt as to the wisdom of launching into a new field of effort. And if the verdict of conscience is unfavourable to one's self, the only rational and dignified course open to one is humbly and faithfully to apply one's self to the performance of the modest duties of one's station, content to achieve perfection in small things rather than court failure in those beyond one's capacity. !l XXXIII THE IMPERATIVE DUTY. ire viusi ever he Injing to know more and more wl^t. are the things to he helieved and done. ^ — W. E. Gladstone. f,F one would live a well-ordered and happy life, it . is of primary importance to realize exactly Avliat one'-s place is in the world, and how best one can fit one's self for the duties one is expected to perform in it. Many women waste valuable years between their youth and maturity, waiting, like Mr. 3ilicawber, for something to turn up. Others, even when their life work has been plainly marked out for them, put no heart into their tasks, because their lines have not fallen in pleasant places. Their eyes are always wistfully straying into paths which their feet can never tread. Happily, examples are not rare, of the really sensible and capable woman who determines to make her life a success, no matter how scanty the materials at her com- mand. If she can be no more than an instrument in the hands of others, she sees to it that the instrument is well constructed, always in order, and warranted to give perfect satisfaction. If she is placed in authority, she makes tho?c und^r her glad of her sway, so wisely, yet so gently, does she exercise it for the good of all. ' One definite aim is always before her eyes, and she moves straight for it, heedless of interruption or hindrance. i'.i '•H m 78 IN THE PATHS OF PEACE Vi r;.K Every year of her life is represented by some useful achievement, some forward step in the direction of knowledge or virtue, or philanthropic effort. For her there are no regrets over golden opportunities missed, and, better still, so deep is the satisfaction that springs from the consciousness of duties faithfully performed, that she feels no jealousy of the performances or rewards of othei-s. There is no room for envy or any kind of bitterness in a heart that is filled with the joy of doing, and doing well. There may be, — indeed, in a noble-minded woman's soul there must be — some long- ings that will ever remain unsatisfied, some lofty ideals unattained, but these only prve as a beacon of hope and an inspiration, not as an excuse for vain repinings, and unfaithfulness to other claims. They keep alive in her breast a laudable ambition to prove worthy of the highest honour that may come to her, but pending the happy time that may mean release from irksome condi- tions, she is bravely determined to make the best of those conditions, and is often astonishpd to find how much real satisfaction they can De made to yield her. So, though she may be neither lucky nor rich, in the common acceptance of those terms, she is envied by many who come under both categories, because she is busier, happier, and more resourceful than they. If young girls could realize the importance of discovering early in life, " what are the things to be believed and done," they would suffer no temptation to come between them and the faithful performance of their plain duty. The fruits of perseverance, after a short trial, will convince them that this is one of the simplest and surest methods of attaining happiness, and, of earning the respect and good-will of their fellow- creatures. ri I XXXIV JEALOUSY. — trifles, light as air. Are to the jealous confirmation strong As proofs of Holy Writ. ^ —Othello. j^jT. EALOUS Y is the thom on the rose of love. Even <(^i while the the beauty and perfume of the flower are filling the eyes and the heart with gladness the unsuspected thorn pierces the tender flesh and leaves it bleeding, and quivering with pain unspeakable. The wound is one that heals slowly, if at all. Some- times the soreness remains through life, and oh, the pain of it! It is like the torment of a lost soul that has gained a glimpse of Heaven and then been hurled into outer darkness. The radiant and triumphant happiness of a heart revelling in undisturbed possession of a love most highly prized is on a sudden changed t • bitter disappointment, to an overwhelming sense oi injury, defeat and humiliation. Under the influence of jealousy the gentlest souls become the most implacable, and in an undisciplined nature its effects are indeed terrible. The daily press teems with the tragedies brought about by the workings of this devouring passion. Few are safe from its ravages, for if some escape its actual pangs, they are all the more likelv to be objects of jealousy on the part of others and thus voluntarily or not to be drawn into complications more or less disturbing, if not positively dangerous. ' { il * m 80 IN THE PATHS OF PEACE It is useless to reason with a jealous person. The feeling is too deeply rooted in the heart to yield to argument. Pride and generosity may help to conceal and control it, but no power on earth can wholly eradi- cate it. Therefore we should be very kind and patient with the jealous, not severe or scornful. Because of their weakness we should show them an increasing ten- derness and refrain from the least word or act that might disturb their trust in a beloved one. Is it not better to sacrifice an hour's amusement or the vanity of some idle conquest, than, for the sake of such an empty satisfaction, to inflict lasting pain on the loving and faithful heart of a wife, husband or lover ? In the less serious relations of life, however, jealousy is a purely detestable fault, and one which may and must be corrected if one would win the respect and good-will of one's fellow-creatures. The woman who hates another merely because that other is her superior, morally, socially or intellectually ; who is irritated by the prosperity or popularity of her neighbours ; who perpetually accuses her acquaintances and friends of neglecting and slighting her ; who even attributes their proiTcu-cd hospitalities to a spirit of ostentation ; who is never thankful for a small kindness, but alwavs covetous of greater ones — such a woman is less a subject for pity than contempt and dislike. There is nothing more ridiculous and undignified than an attitude of resentment towards the society of which one is a member. If one is lovable, one will be loved, and if the contrary is true, the fault is in one's self, not in those who have a perfect right to avoid disagreeable or tiresome persons. The less one adver- tises one's owm unpopularity, the better. Instead, therefo-"e, of looking for causes of offence in " trifles light as air," a sensible woman, recognizing the deficiencies in her o^vn character, or the drawbacks of JKALOUSY 81 her position, accepts the fact that she was not born to shine like those who are more fortunately situated. Having reached this point of view she \vill be a thous- and times happier than if she allows her existence to be soured by constantly reflecting on the superior Jii vantages of her neighbour. The double resolution to refrain from exciting jealousy in loving hearts, and to reject its suggestions in the ordinary relations of life, is one that, faithfully followed, wilfbe productive of much happiness to oursolve? and others. •^^ ^*\ it , XXXV PERSEVERANCE. < : I b ij J Shalt thou he faint-hearted and turn from the strife, From the mighty arena where all that is grand And devoted and pure and adorning in life. Is for high-hearted spirits like thine to command f — ^Moore. jPj^ UCH has been written about the isolation of 44$^ royalty and of genius, that terrible loneliness which falls to one who has no equals among his fellows, none with whom he can speak familiarly, who are competent to counsel him in difficulties, or to sympathise with his high aspirations. This condition is not confined to royalty ; it governs to a certain extent the life of every man or woman whose ideals are loftier and motives purer than those of his or her daily asso- ciates. When we are young, enthusiasm keeps the heart warm and strengthens the soul for its constant warfare against the impulses of our lower nature. It is not hard m the darkest hour of temptation to follow the pillar of fire that faith and hope sends on before us to light the way, but after some years of conflict and many disenchantments, our hold on our ideal, our belief in human goodness, grows weaker. Some day, we droop and faint beneath the burden we once so joyfully assumed, and ask ourselves, " Is it worth while to carry it any longer ?" Well for us if in an hour of such despondency, some PERSEVERANCE 83 fnendly remonstrance like the one quoted above is recalled to our mind. Shall we be faint-hearted and turn from " aU tb-* is grand," because on every side we see others too wev : or too cowardly to keep up the f al-"^? T^^^^ ^® * P°°^ ^®*^^°' «"'ely, and unworthy of high-hearted spirits, fit to command." Rather iJt us keep in view the power it is given us to wield and the responsibilty that goes wth power. Every individual, however humble, exercises power in a certain degree over some other, who in a particular sense is his or her mferior. The cook and the kitchen-maid queen it over their respective realms as surely as the lady in her drawing-room, or the sovereign on the throne. The highest ambition of each should be to know her kingdom and to rule it wisely that she may be beloved and honoured by those who depend on her. t't. ■ i I . *^^^£:^ I tn 11 XXXVI NATURE'S HEALING TOUCH. ».'?■■ n !| j It is impossible to walk across so much as a rood of the natural earth tvilh mind unagitated and rightly poised, without receiving strength from some stone, flower, leaf, or sound, nor without a sense as of a dew falling on you out of the sky. — Samuel Johnson. "XjJK^T'E arc for the most part unresponsive to the ^^r influences that bear upon us uncea8inj!;iy through the medium of the external worhl. 'Hm is because wo seldom walk abroad '* with mind unagitated and rightly poised." We are vexed with trivial care^. elated over some petty triumph, apathetic becau?e of the dull monotony of our existence, con- sumed with restless ambition, or absorbed in some great gratificatioi. Fnder theae conditions, we walk with unseeing eyts amidst the loveliest scones, or seeing, we are not moved, discovering no relation between these things and the subject uppermost in our tlioxights. AVe are wrapped in a mantle of selfishness which is imper- vious to all sweetness, beauty and lig'^t. Y>.t, by a slight et?ort, it is possible to detach the mind from purely personal concerns, and to leave it I'pon to the blessed influence of nature. No one can feel poor in the sense of possession that comes from looljinjr at mountain, sky, tree, and river, with appre- ointive eves. The beautv of them is ours : while we NATUHK's IIKALIN*; TOtTM 86 arc free to gazo upon thoir loveliness, no one can rob U8 of that inehtimablc lurtlirij-lit. We uovil no bit of yellow parchment lockc.l awa.v in a strong box to prove our ownership ; a man may culicct titlo-.k-eds hy th.j -xcore, but he can never have more tlian one pair of e.yo3 ; therefore, he receives no richer impressions from Nature's splendid panoramas than do I who, having no l''gal rii,'ht to a r.x.d, claim ihf uliol,; ,,arth as niv inheritance. looking back over past years have wo not all cause to regret the time we have wasted planning for idle ends, and grieving over ephemeral troubles. Hut who ever repents of the days spent near the heart of nature, m the woods, on the mountain-top. or by the sea i These are almost the only golden lioiirs, entirely free from bitterness or self-reproach, that are entered on the tablets of memory. AH the rest are streaked with >elfishness or sordidness, tinged with sadness or disap- pomtment ; a reflection to incite us to more frc(pi<>nt • ommunion with nature, and v^iut our desire to under- -fand her in iier most beautiful, solemn, and mysterious aspects. Before suffering ourselves to be caught inex- tricably in a network of small cares and worries, or even "verwhelmed and disheartened by groat ones, it will I'o profitable to keep the mind open and roadv to receive -tretigth from any stone, flower, leaf, or sound, ave, <*ven from " the dew that falls on us out of the skv.'' I J! it 'Ui \y--' Mil k: i) 1 1 ' f^i II 1 i itr ^ III'' '"( ill'' '■ I ' i-.j iti 1 rf r ft r i i" t XXXVII THE SEEDS WE SCATTER. So live, that when the sun, Of your existence sinhs in night, Memories sweet of mercies done May shrine your name in memory's light And the blest seeds you scattered hloom A hundred fold in days to come. — Sir John Bowring. 5t OMMON charity ordains that we speak kindly of the dead. However little a man or a woman has been loved in life, no words of criticism are spoken over the grave that imposes eternal silence on its victim. But often, a secret feeling of relief is expe- rienced in a household, when one who, by excessive severity, ill-temper, or other unamiable trait of char- acter, habitually disturbed the peace of the rest, is called to a last account. Few of us, however self-willed and dominant we may be by nature, like to think that our removal from the earthly scene will be a subject of rejoicing to those who are now compelled to live with us. There is one way of discovering whether this contingency is likely to occur. It might be profitable to all of us to have recourse to it, with a view of increasing our amiability, and adding materially to the happiness of others. Examine the nature of your influence on the family, TllK SKEKS WE .StATTEK 87 individually and collectively, and if you find that your presence, under any circumstances, imposes an uncom- fortable restraint on the others, resolve, in future, to correct your tendency to be over-critical, or severe. Respect for the rights of others, and a proper sense of the fallibility of private judgment, (especially as applied to matters that do not concern us), should help us to overcome the temptation to interfere in matters outside our jurisdiction. I would especially recom- mend this suggestion to sisters and brothers'^who are too ready to frown down and ridicule any proposals one of their number may make, forgetting that all are equally entitled to their own opinions, and subject only to parental authority, in matters calling for supervision. Those families are happiest in which the parents accord to each child a fair hearing, and equal oi>portunities of advancing their separate interest*. ITnfortunately, much injustice is habitually done to younger members of families, by the selfishness of older ones, who assume the role of censor to their juniors, thus making them- selves feared and disliked, where they ought to be loved and trusted. Much of the pleasure of life is forfeited by persons of a carping or overbearing disposition, because as soon as their unamiable weakness is discovered, they are shut out from the confidences of those who would otherwise naturally turn to them, when they have anything of interest to communicate. " Don't tell Agnes, she would be sure to make such a fuss," or " For goodness' sake, don't mention it to Edward, or we'll never hear the end of it," are little injunctions that frequently form the peroration of some interesting story, confided to one whose discretion has been tried and not found wanting. How eloquent they are of the small domestic tyrannies jiractiscd by Agnes aiul Edward in their respective households. T i • > 'I • 'I^^H s I '.''in- f • n -I ! 88 IN THE PATHS OF PEACE We cannot all achieve greatness of a kind that will bring us fame and honour, but with a little patience and good-will, we can so live, that when the time comes for us to bid a last farewell to our life-companions here, none will sav in their hearts, " It is better so." Hi. >l ^^^^^es* B'*''. XXXVIII THE GREATEST NAMFS. The greatest names are %ose which wen have made for themselves. — H. S. Merriman. n\\ ■ ! I ! \i [HE conquest of the world is not reserved alone for those who sit in high places, enjoying a heritage of power or great renown, bequeathed to them by illustrious ancestors. It is open to every individual who is willing and able to give the best that is in hirn to the service of humanity. There are endless avenues leading to the same glorious pinnacle of fame and honour. The scholar, the soldier, the statesman, the poet, the inventor, the scientist, the explorer, the orator, the philanthropist, the artist, the priest, the physician, each in his own time and way by " endless toil and endeavour," makes the long and diflScult ascent that leads to rest and glorious reward. According to the measure of his earnestness, fidelity, perseverance and unselfishness of purpose, is his progress upwards. Every word and act bom of pride, or vain self-seeking is a false step that causes him to slide back from the height already attained, and while he painfully recommences his journey, those who faithfully resisted the same tempta- tions are steadily rising far above him. We are too fond of calling by the name of genius the collective force of qualities which would not be denied ii . li ' { hi fa 11- Mm li't w^ i il 1 i '- ife 1 .^ L 11 90 IX THE PATHS OF PEACE to any of us were we only willing to cultivate them by constant and patient effort. Absolute sincerity and singleness of purpose, a conscientious and thorough performance of the tasks assigned to us, the concentra- tion of attention and energy on one worthy object, a wholesome contempt of trivial and temporary successes, or cheap applause, of small rivalries and jealousies, of criticism or censure from unimportant sources — these are not characteristics peculiar to genius alone — they are the fruit of honesty, fidelity, moral courage and the sense of personal dignity whicli is enjoined by the famous motto of the true aristdcrat: NohlcHtie oblige. In the ranks of our owi^ sex we find a bright array of names which shine with no borrowed lustre, but only with the radiance of a justly acquired renown. The fame of the brilliant Sappho survives even the fruit of her wonderful pen, of which only a few frag ments remain to establish her claims to literary celebrity. Cornelia, after the Virgin Mary, stands as the highest type of motherhood, and will so stand till the end of time ; Joan of Arc emerged from the humblest obscurity to save her country; Florence Nightingale had never a thought of fame before the Crimean war; the depths of her wotranly compassion were stirred on reading of the terrible sufferings of the British soldiers. '\ girding on the invisible armour of a wonderfu^ -rag^j strength and sweetness, she went nobl_\ to the rescue of her wounded countrymen, with results the world still stands amazed to see ! Grace Darling found a mission of heroic usefulness in the isolation of a lighthouse. Frances Willard began her career as a school-mistress. How many of us are more favourably conditioned than any of these for gi-eat achievement ! "VVe fail to emulate their efforts, not because we cannot, but because we will not do as much as they have done. AVe do not choose to be as brave, THE GKKATErfT NAMKS 91 as patient, as self-denying, as high-minded as they. Our hearts are set on smaller things, and we shrink from encountering ol)stacles of serious dimensions. It is easier and pleasanter to turn back and drift along with the crowd. But there are times when we cannot but pause and ask ourselves, with heart-searching scrutiny that hum- bles us to the dust : "What kind of a name am I making for myself ?" ^ ; I 'a :l ^^^^^ i< ; w Wl XXXIX THE ENJOYMENT OF VIRTUE. TJie entire object of true education is to make people not do the right things, but enjoy the right things. — Kuskin. , O do what is right, unless a proper motive inspires the action, is after all no such difficult nor intrin- sically creditable achievement. Any intelligent person having a certain force of will may acquire the habit of conforming to certain standards of conduct, or may occasionally do violence to his or her natural incli- nations with a view of earning public applause, or furthering some other selfish and private ends. Others may, '"'om a blind sense of duty, follow, "like dumb, driven cattle," where they are led, never asking them- selves why such and such actions are right and others wrong, assuming that their teachers and leaders must know, and rather stupidly accepting as inevitable the most distasteful conditions imposed on them as essential to a right life. Others again, moved only by a craven fear of punishment, the " whip to keep the coward to his track," are easily reduced to the kind of moral subjection which removes even the temptation to inde- pendent thought or action. There is, of course, no real merit either in a conventional conformity to accepted standards for selfish reasons, nor in the sheep- like submission which precludes an intelligent appre- ciation of the logical necessity of right living, nor in the base subservience founded on an abject fear of THE ENIOYMENT OF VIRTUE 93 future suffering. Xo man can appreciably grow in virtue until he has arrived at the point of view whicli reveals to him the ultimate desirability of virtuous action, for its own sake, wdthout regard to prospective rewards or punishments. Many persons, aiming at moral perfection (while ignoring its true nature), experience a certain gratifica- tion, not to say self-glorification, from the conscious- ness of having achieved a victory over the flesh in an endeavour to obey a higher impulse. But, in fact, the struggle that has taken place over a comparatively trifling matter, is but a humiliating indication of the distance yet to be traversed before the soul can attain the heights of spiritual perfection. The philosopher often reaches this altitude before the saint — so-called — the former being in reality, more entitletl to the appel- lation. For the philosopher, indeed, temptations of the ordinary kind at least, soon cease to exist. He is not compelled to wage a pitched battle with the powers of darkness every time he becomes aware that his senses and his soul are at variance. He brings a calm and judicial spirit to the consideration of the case. If ho chooses the wiser part, he does not become unduly elated over what, after all, was merely the prudent exercise of his reason ; nor would he dare to exagger- ate the importance of such a choice by ascribing it to a direct manifestation of divine participation in human affairs. When he errs, he does it consciously, accept- ing the blame and the risks, with a full knowledge of his fault and its probable consequences. If repent- ance comes later, it is not of the ignoble kind which shields itself behind the plea of the weakness of the fiesh and the violence of temptation. It is a frank "onfession of wrong-doing, an honest regret that sense prevailed over reason, a serious determination to avoid a similar pitfall in the future. i ll : I i 1 1 i H, I ifl 'i 1 94 ii- "1 IN TIIK PATHS OF I'KACK Education can do this much for us all. A great deal of what IS called religious instruction is either utterl- wasted or has a pernicious effect on immature minds. Instead of developing noble qualities, it encourages the growth of selfishness, cowardice and superstition. The niind must first be opened before salutary and fruitful Ideas can be mstilled into it. Learning moral law by rote and practi.^ing it as a matter of habit or discipline will never save a single human soul. We must first learn to grasp its meaning, to comprehend its beauty, and then we shall need no spur to urge us to do our duty, because we shall have found our keenest enjoy- ment m the pursuit of the loftiest ideals. As the distinguished writoi- and thinker above quoted (and now, alas ! no more), has wisely said, this is the entire object of true education. He or she must be accounted a false teacher who works Avith anv other end m view. a.-f ' ^.5^^^ l<* XL THE GREAT AND THE SMALL. /J. ^"^^j ^'*^ ^"^^^ surprises of existence seems to be that of discovering in the power of doing a difficult thing well, a developed grace for doing lesser thinqs ^'^^''' -Annie Fields. JN Objection not infrequently raised against the higher education of women is that in the majority of cases, it is likely to unfit them lor the ordinary domestic duties which are imposed on tnem by marriage. At first sight the objection would seem to be well lounded. It is, of course, vastly more important that the prospective ^vife and mother should possess a prac- tical knowledge of cookery, be proficient with her needle, and understand the care of children, than that she should become a brilliant mathematician or an accomplished linguist. But on the other hand, it has ben abundantly proven, in many well-kno%vn instances that the women who make the most perfect house- keepers are those who are most diligent and successful in following what are commonly called the higher pursuits of art, literature, or science. The domestic experiences of George Eliot, Miss Martineau, Harriet lieecher Stowe, Mrs. Oliphant, and many other women no less distmguished on the intellectual side, may be cited as affording satisfactory evidence in favour of the presumption that a woman's head, no less, if not more I 11, 06 IN THE I'ATHS OK I'KACK III it ' R^i: than hor heart, is a factor to be reckoned with determining the limit of her lioi:sewifely cajuicity. It is true that the Mrs. Jelljbys of real life are by no means an extinct species, but the degree of inca- pacity which assigns any woman to this category is more often inherent, than the result of injudicious training. There will always be some hopelessly incompetent housekeepers among both the educated and ignorant classes. But given two women of equal intelligence and general aptitude, the one whose mind has been devel- oped and trained by study or wide reading, almost invariably administers her housohold affairs with greater success than the other whose experience is limited to purely domestic matters. The reason of the educated woman's supremacy is plain. To the trained intelligence, all, even the com- monest tasks of life, come within the domain of art or science. They present desired opportunities for testing the practical value of favourite theories, for the appli- cation of great principles, and the observation of immutable laws. Viewed in this light, the ordinary household duties which an uneducated woman performs mechanically and with a dreary sense of the endless drudgery they entail, become in the eyes of her think- ing sister so many interesting experiments through which the theoretic knowledge gained from books or in the lecture hall is supplemented by the more valu- able experience of actual practice. The enlightened woman looks at her life as a whole, and plans its arrangement and government in conform- ity with a certain ideal which, as a result of her superior mental training is naturally a high one. Having ascer- tained her true place in the world, and the precise nature of the responsibilities which rest upon her, and her alone, she proceeds to map out her future course THE GREAT AND THE SMALL 97 with intclligenco and foresight. Ohstaolos she sees i„ plenty, but she regard, them as mere temporary, though often vexatious oKstnu-tions, which must finally yield before her invincible detennination to .succeed. U all know how easy c.tf„rt becomes when inspired by an eager f; 98 IN TIIK I'ATHS OF PK.VCE ing socks and making jam. But the conviction that through those small things she will yet reach the goal she is striving for infallibly sustainss her. She moves steadily forward, with ever increasing ease and rapidity, and evt-ry step gained is its own reward. She experiences a subtle sen.se of pleasure in the knowledge that uj)on the successful discharge of her particular duties hinge far-reachin; consequences of tremendous iniportanc(! to future gene tions. For her, " Joy's soul lies in the doing," and when the time comes at last to lay do\vn her tasks, she does it not gUidly but regretfully, as we close a book whose pages we have perusec^ with pleasure. This is the, secret of the highest human happiness, of true union with God. It is to realize the divine out- look which embraces all time and space. In such a mighty sweep of vision all things pfreat and small assume their true proportions, and there is no longer any danger of mistaking the trivial and transient for the sublime and eternal. I* -^^J^^ex' C > ) XLI IF WE HAD BUT A DAY. We should fill the hours with the sweetest things, If we had but a day ; We should drink alone at the purest springs In our u^j. d vay ; We should love with ^ lifetime's love in an hour, If the hours were few ; We should rest, not for dreams, hut for fresher power To be and to do. ^ — Mary Lowe Dickinson. Ji,F we had but a day ! Standing on the very threshold :, of Eternity, with what piercing insight we should see through the shams and delusions which sur- round us in ordinary life, and of which, in the expecta- tion of a long term of existence we are only too willing to become the dupes. With what unerring instinct we would range ourselves on the side of duty, of love, of justice, of useful toil and honourable achievement! Who could tempt us during the few precious hours remaining to us to stray into the primrose paths of dalliance, to occupy our minds with petty thoughts of personal gain, to grovel in envy or jealousy, or to breathe a blighting word of slander concerning a fellow-creature. AVith ears alert for the fast approach ing summons, how eagerly we would seek to fill our last moments on earth with deeds of mercv! How tenderly we would look upon those near and dear to us, * ■ r '1L. 'U 100 IN THE PATHS OF PEACE •• if* '! H ■■ \ \:\l liow gently we would speak to them, gladly overlooking such slight offences as tliey might have committed against us, in our vehement desire to be at peace with them, to bu remembered by them with love, and to be spoken of by them praisefully when we should no longer be in their midst. It would not be difficult at ^11. Nay, we si ould marvel at ourselves that we ever spoke or acted otherwise, and we would think in our hearts : " Could I but live this life over again, it would be oh ! so different!" Yet consider. There is no day that, but for the providence of God would not be the last for each one of us. We walk perilously near the edge of the precipice that divides us from the unseen world. The instruments of Death are many, and they take un- dreamed-of shapes. They threaten us continually. It is a miracle that we are saved. Others fall to right and left of us, smitten by sickness or sorrow, by lightning, sword, or plague, by whirlwind, accident or a treacher- ous hand. Our turn will come — when? "We cannot say, we only know for a certainty that it must come. To-morrow! Why not? The thought is not, or should not be one to terrify or sadden us. It need not shut out the sunshine from our hearts. Eather should it urge us to diffuse what light and warmth is in us, while we may, to " fill our hours with the sweetest things," and to " love with a lifetime's love in an hour," thus making every passing moment yield us a full harvest of lasting happiness. We are so constituted, however, that the majority of us would prove unequal to the strain involved by constant fidelity to such a high ideal. It is a humiliat- ing confession this, of the average human being, that IF WE HAD BUT A DAY 101 he cannot maintain the maximum of virtuous living for any considerable period of time. The occasional apses mto selfishness, indolence, materialism, appear to be mevitable. Well, even supposing this to be so, It u-ould still be a profitable exercise, and one which would immensely increaBe the sum of human happiness It only from time to time we could awake from the spiritual apathy which seems to be largely our normal condition, and realizing the unceasing imminence of hat last dread call, exeit ourselves to live the hours between one sunrise and sunset as if, indeed, it was the only day remaining to us on earth. ! * -^>^^S:x' 'f it,. •Ml #1 1 i 1 I 'i XLII m\ ^ SOLITUDE. Every life should havp i background of solitude. — Selected. ^T is not good for either man or woman to be con- stantly alone, but occasional opportunities for solitude are precious privileges which too often are misused or entirely thrown away. The social instinct is so strongly developed in some natures that to be deprived of human company for a single day, or even a few hours, appears to them an affliction hardly to be endured. This would indicate a poverty of individual resources by no means flattering to the mental calibre of a person so affected. There is something abject and pitiful in the habitual dependence on others for ideas of entertainment. Surely, we should all carry within us a sufficient store of memories, experiences, and predilec- tions, to supply us in hours of leisure with material for thought or motives for action. The old saw runs : " Tell me who your company is and I'll tell you who you are." "With equal point one might say, " Tell me what you do mth your solitude and I'll tell you what you are." Our real nature asserts itself much more strongly when we are alone, than when we are on our guard in the presence of others. If solitude induces in one a sudden relaxation of the physical and moral fibres, a tr^'r--^- i^:^i t'^.. ^■^! "^ .'2' Ml r f • I. , ■ ' i ' i' Si;-;' i vuot ' i. m ;.;:; l. |! ! If v:< I SOLITUDE. : I f 1 , i ' it. ' ^ SOLlTLItK 103 sense of liberation from the irksome necessity of keep- ing lip appearance., and a tendency to indulge in selfiX gravelling, or otherwise unworthy thoughts or actions one IS thereby convicted of a weak and shallow or even VICIOUS nature, and all one's .eeming virtues become so many hypocnsies which have only this merit, that thev make one endural;le to those who would shrink from contact with one's real self. A truly noble individuality, on the contrary, appears at Its best m solitude. This is its time for reflection for retrospection, for that calm scrutiny and impartial judgmeiit of self which is essential to the right develop- ment of character. Or, it isthe time for communing with nature, who reveals her secrets only to those who approach her as they would approach a shrine, in silence and reverence ; or, it may be, the hour of solitude is •esen-ed for that sweet and satisfying intimacv with the greatest minds which is accessible to us all throu-h the medium of books. The richer one's nature, the more numerous and pleasant the by-ways which invite one to stray from the dusty road of routine in the golden hours of solitude. A brush and box of colours for one, a needle and bit of embroidery for another, a horse or a wheel for the more active and exuberant, supply the desired occupa- tion for solitary moments. Each in it^ way, becomes to Its vota^, a source of serene and abiding happiness, imdisturbed by those doubts and misgivings that often wTtherT ^^'^''*^^ ^^^ memories of pleasures shared « o^loT-^ ^^ S'^'T f.^^'* ^' ^^ ^^^^"^ that, without a background of solitude " in one's life to encourage reflection, one never can penetrate below the surface of things. The deeps of experience, the highest aspira- Uons, the sweetest raptures, the sacredness of sorrow, the sublimity of the imiverse, will forever be to one as ff ill ■ Ml U'i: •■; A' L 'i 104 IN THE PATHS OF PKACE •vl so many scaled volumos. On the other hand, every hour of solitude well spent, is a distinct step forward in tho direction of intellectual and spiritual progress. Not only does it deepen the character and strengthen the heart, hut it eunohlos the countenance to a degree that is obvious to all. It lends a light to the forehead and eyes, and a beauty to the curves of the lips, that you may look for in vain among the frivolous and shallow-minded, who are incapable of reflection. There is every reason, therefore, for cultivating the precious opportunities for solitude that occur in daily life. ;Make provision for them beforehand, if you ^\•ould not, when they come, be found aimlessly asking, " AVhat shall I do with myself?" and manifesting an undignified readiness to fall in witli any proposal, how- ever foolish, for killing time. Walk, sew, read poetry, look at pictures, copy a beautiful passage from a favourite author, or learn it by heart, make an imaginary journey ^vith the help of a map to some place of interest, put yourself through an examination in contemporary history or literature, and note your deficiencies. These are but a few of the countless interesting occupations that may beguile a solitary hour and leave you the better for it. You may discover many more, by giving a little thought to the subject, and thus learn to put a value upon your hours of solitude far above that of the time spent in the society of ordinary men and women among whom your lot happens to be cast. ^^^^^ XLIII THE SECRET OF HOLINESS. hJ!l '1"^' f ^;^ «*^'^ ^/'« did less than other people, hut who d,d what they had to do a thousand times betir. ^^^ — F. W. Faber. ,NE is constantly surprised, in reading tlie lives oi the saints, to discover how many trifles, so to _ speak, went to compose the saintlincss that left Its impress on an entire world. We are apt to imagine that m order to become a saint a certain background and conditions favourable to such an intention are essential conditions to success. A good many of us have a secret conviction that it would not be at all difficult to live a samtly life provided we might choose the desired setting and opportunities. This is of course, an entirely erroneous impression. Holiness' is a positive attribute that exists independently of chances or changes, and that asserts itself unconsciously and inevitably m the most unlooked-for ways, times and places. It has its seat in the heart alone, not in the habit one assumes, nor the house that shelters one. ihe substitution of broadcloth for tweed, of a veil for a bonnet, of a cell for an ordinary sleeping room, though of apparently great significance in the eyes of the world,, IS of surprisingly small account in the spiritual balance sheet. Human nature has an inveterate habit of cropping out from beneath the most effective disguises. An 1 - Ul 106 IN THE PATllS OF PEACE {-, inclination to nin away from all the irksome and dis- agreeable conditions of one state in life, with a view of arriving at perfection in another, is an extremely doubtful indication of sincerity. The girl who has failed to exercise any influence for good in her own home imagines that if she could go to China as a mis- sionary she would be on the high road to perfection and canonization. In her complete lack of experience, she is unable to realize that she will encounter the same stumbling-blocks in an Eastern mission as beset her feet in her native village or under her father's roof. There will be the same little disappointments, discomforts, trials of temper, rivalries, temptations and humiliations. Wherever grown men and women are forced to live together and come in daily contact with one another, a certain amount of unpleasant friction is inevitable. The exception is when they are actuated by the spirit of Christian charity ; when they have attained that nobility of character which is proof against all petty temptations and weaknesses of the flesh. To reach such a high level, it is not necessary to cut adrift from one's ordinary surroundings. The patient practice of the common virtues of modesty, charity, loving-kind- ness and fidelity in all things great and small leads more surely and directly to the heights of spiritual life than a violent sundering of old ties and uprooting of con- firmed habits. One who earnestly desires to lead a holy life has no excuse for putting off the first step. The place is Here, the time is Now. However light or trivial, however onerous or distasteful the tasks of to-day, assume them with the resolution of performing them as a Saint Teresa or a Saint Frances would have done, without complaint, without complacency, working not for the applause of the world nor for private gain, but as a faithful servant of the Master who has called you to THE SECREr OK HOLINKSS 107 labour in His vineyard. Greater victories await you here than you would ever secure in distant places. Accept your allotted tasks not only with willingness, but with gratitude, as those which offer the best oppor- tunity for proving ycur devotion. In time the hardest A , ,"" ? ^.'"'''''"^ ^''*^' ^^^ "io«* distasteful sweet. And by that sign you will know that your growth in holiness is assured. ^^^^rv* M . M . I .\r,iv ■^ \ *■' THE CAPACITY FOR HAPPINESS. Thnr Is uolhing so great as to he capable of happi- vrss, to pluci,- it out of " each moment and whatever happens:' to find that one ean ride as gay and Itwupint on the angnj, menacing, tumuli anus waves of life as on those that glide and glitter under a dear s/cg ; that xt ts not defeat and wretchedness which come out of the storms of adrersity, hut strength and calmness. ^ — Anne Gilchrist. f, KNOW wonion who, with nil their material wanta , s;iti<^fic'(l, enjoyiiu;: perfect health, and Hurr.Minded h.v kind friends an.l relatives, are in a iiionic state of discontent and ill-hunionr. They are unhappy, not because of any hard conditions or unfavourable circumstances governing' their lives, but simply because they are incapable of feel i no; happy. Their hearts are obstinately clo.-=ed against all the most beautiful, joyous and gracious influences surrounding thorn, while their eyes arc ever perversely seeking out the most disagree- able and unsatisfactory asj)ects of things. Other wo"nien I know, who have been forced to endure every kind and degree of sorrow, pain, privation, disappointment. But an inherent nobility of character, an intelligent apprehension of the real value of a hard experience, an indomitable courage, a rare sweetness of disposition, combine to counteract in them the effects of the severest trials of love, faith or patience. Jll TIIK ..| aii.l -...mtoih lu,,rt, ...av 1... tnMpuranlv ucakrno.l by the l.h.svs of adversity; !>..< ■ f M not ,h.tn,y,.,l. Lnh.,,), i,. ^ .ni,..! ri^^htlv .on.ti- tuto.l, pam ha.s tho cinrt „f sharppni,,^. th,- in'n-.utluu. and o.nphasizin^r tho pm-iou-sn.-s of all that plras... <-'.'n.f..rls nr .ustaluH th<. h.uI. Tho.o who hav HNircn..! «'.ost.h..pyhuv.. (!,.■ k...,...M.,,.,..v,.iatio,. ul tn,. In,.,,, ness III whali'viT form it prcsiil- it.-df. A fatal ohstad.. to the happiness of h'linian Iumiu-s i,, perhaps tho majority of ,,,m.s, is tho fooli.j, and fa!.,, oonviction that it cannot vxUt in.l.p, n.hntlv of certain precoiuTivi.l conditions and coveted possessions Tho man or woman who starts out in pm-snit of happines^ iu-hufr on such helief, is fore(h.omev (|nestio.r:;'; any numbor'of persona who actually enjoy complete imn.unitv from the woes that oppress you. Those only are happy who want to be ho, who apply themselves to tho art of 'learn- inp: how to be so, anserve the seronitv of one's dis- Tfr7- ^? ^'''*' ^""'^ ^"'""^' '^"•^ •''"'^"i^ ^^^l>Je ami cliildisli. The grain of common sense which informs us that it is useless to cry over spilt milk should also check many a fit of ill-t(miper or disappointment . ,.^* ? ^'"* ^^^^ "P '^"i* ""nds that our chief business m life IS to be happy, and it will soon become a matter ■ 'if J1.i i ■ -' , - ' ^ 110 IN TlIK I'ATHS OF I'EACK of pride to sec with what scanty materials we can .'iuccessfully reach that result. It is far from a selfish ami, because the happy person alone knows how to „«v lf„ So d ,4v stoop. The cLst con ral' f "/"^^;'*"='^ ^^"'^^"^y to n„t ;f ,11 ' "'^''' "■■ "'<' next- """*' «l.<-n,Mvos onlv wi, „„„„„ ,„„»;,;„, ™ i „ ■ii 'is I 112 IN TUK PATHS OF I'KACK l! :(!ti fci M ! . If* ! % I st'ltish interests and cares ; seeing in life only an oppor- tunity for personal indulgence or advancement ; recog- nizing as good only those attainments or possessions that havo^ a commercial value ; ready at all times to barter the intellectual or the spiritual for tlie material, the eternal for tlie temporal. When the thoughts ''go up" on the other hand, "our life becomes erect." AV'^e need no other stay nor brace than this to counteract the fatal tendency to 3toop. The study of what is intrinsically high, noble and beautiful, lifts us effeetually out of*^the commonplace, the mean and sordid ruts of life. "We no longer grovel, we soar. The things that occupy vulgar minds are henceforth beneath our notice. From a narrow world of dull fact and prose we emerge into a boundless uni- verse made glorious with countless and sublime mani- festations of divine power. We feel ourselves related to all times, all persons, all places. The finite loses itself in the infinite. Oiu sense of proportion is read- justed. AVhat was once important in our eyes now stands revealed as utterly insignificant — unworthy of thought or effort. And what we formerly despised or neglected as unnecessary, superfluous, we now recog- nize and assiduously cultivate as the highest desiderata of our earthlv existence. This nuich cannot be acomplished for us by religion alone, in the ordinary sense attached to the word, that is, the purely devotional spirit. The real knowledge of God, which comes to us as well through a study of His works as of His word is the lever that lifts the soul to its true altitude, and keeps it erect. In the pursuit of every branch of science, art, or industry, this know- ledge may be, in part, acquired and made our own. As it grows, it changes for us the whole aspect of life. "We learn, by degrees, to refer everything to God, to ^l^m "^SSSSR?, L0OKIN(; UPWAIU) 113 prertaZ „f"°™ "' ""'"' '"" '"™'«<1 ^"'h "><> divine Thm V. r„ r"'" "'r'"'""'y ''^"■- '"■n.ar, affair,, good watchword for the faint-heirtod M „ 1 ? ," for^those who .h„ffle and sloVrSu^^ ;S^'^"'^;1; -^>5^^^ ii ' '-'* i 't !.; It ' tj fl XLVI THE FORMATION OF CHARACTER. You cannot dream yourself into a character ; you must hammer and forge yourself one. — Froude. ,HE habit of dreaming — ^witli the eyes open — is one to which most young girls and even women, incline both by nature, and as a result of the secluded and sedentary lives which the majority of tliem lead. There is virtue in beautiful dreams, when they are kept within proper bounds and not allowed to usurp the mind to the exclusion of the more serious aifairs of life. They serve to foster our ideals, and to keep idle, frivolous, or other unworthy thoughts, at bay. They are also a sweeo panacea against pain, disappoint- ment, and other troubles that may thicken around our path. Many a dull and sordid life is gilded for patient, struggling souls, by dreams of what might be, under less adverse conditions. These are some of the legi- timate uses of dreams. But it is against the abuse of the lovely and beguiling thoughts and visions that haunt the mind persistently in hours of solitude, that I would warn the growing girl or the young wife and mother. Even when day-dreams are not positively harmful, they are at best barren of good results to ourselves or others, and thus the time given to them is diverted from some more useful purpose. ^jEII^»3S^ THE FORMATION OF CHARACTER llo of what you would likp tl kI j ""inkmg constantjy you arc." If co„^iot%t %"r":Zl"''''^' J^""' character, rouse yourself ,J Ijrfrom an id™ and "hammer an~ ^US " a „f O^^^^""'-' When the ronn.1 r.-e ~j .f""f ^it a new one. pens, includes rn/whz'hL?r"^' ^^ '^^^^^^^ ^«P- I can think of no belter 1 J , ''^^*"^" «°^ «il^"-^> than the habit of efrn^^^^^^^^^^^^^ «g-"«t idle dream.^ passages from the worb ^f i"f .*^ ^^"^^^^ favourite exercise which conTribnte, ^^^^Poets. This is an other to the adoZent of I ™''' f ^^«*"^"y ^han anv of a sound liter^Haste '"'"^' '"^ *^^ «^^^*^^«tion t- ^^T^t^SpSt:^: r ^^ ^"^^^^^ ^^^- educated men and Tomen T.v IT T'"^^* *^« ^est is easil,. acquired! Td hat T ^ f f^^'t^' " ^"^ *'^* possessor with a PAv^+ai.i i ^"^ *^ invest the be compa^d ^.rr" ,?r """^/i^'"""™. not to V ordinary profici" ^^f .f '"'-« i-pired but one-half of the timf „ .j 1 ' f"^ or science. If ao piano, the tndr„?.t'' ^ 1^' «'"■' "^ '"-J^? "n devoted to the sS „f ^^ '*''*''» of novels, was >» a very'^noSbe'ttonVr™'"'''-" rtandard of taste and condtT "" •'"•'™'''''» of many. It ™ thereW „" ™1'"'*'=^' knowledge to become a tSe„T ofsrA '™" *" f°P°^ ^ oneself Wordsworth, Dante of f''''T' ^"'°"' ^rownina, ■"dtodevot^onesegl^Wvand" *'™""'' ™"'" self-appointed task ^ ^ '"'^ perseveringly to this A choice like this does no. exclude other write. iu. ''kl ■': H 1r Villi m < 1 1 j . if 41 i H''^' w ml htt^i: i. 116 IN THE PATHS OF PEACE from one's attention or affections, but merely implies a particular devotion to one whom it will be a matter of pride and honour to make one's very own. Young girls often write to me for advice on the subject of home study. To none can I make a more valuable suggestion than this : Eead and study the best authors. This is education in the highest sense of the word ; it costs little or nothing to acquire it, and your o\\Ti conscientious application is the only essential factor of success. All the professors and universities in the world cannot do as much for you. ^:^^^ XLVII THE WANT OF MOTIVE. ^nat makes life dreary is tke .ant of motive. VtX -r. — George Eliot. ■ 'tS^'t'i*.^-. ------- talk fo,. 1^7' ^tfr''™ T ""' "-"'^ " «"le 'ife, I am JraW is " ITM" "'" ™'"' »'■<' "hose one. There ie m.^^^ °- ?™ °™ '''"'^' " dreary similar ofrlmstaTeef Tt'*""' "'■'"'S "y ^^'' ^i* I fear al™™ Tn??'* the people they meet, dreaming, wbieh\hiXit fthe'rn,rfi'n?i;?r'-=°""\ now seems ever to elude thTm tW-e^ that self rs'rc'tett' -7 you^« girl who finds her- towards them alCTf -^ J ^ ?"!;''' '=" ''' ^J ^"ty fr„„ ..„■",""' as a fr'end and adviser, if X refnii,.:? M .} \-m 118 IN THE PATHS OF PEACE II i S! tions which thej are apt to regard as the determining forces of their lives. First of all, they must cease thinking of themselves. A young girl is too apt to look at life from a purely perso >dl point of view. She craves love, sympathy, appreciation. In her estimate of human beings, no one counts who does not, in some way, exercise a direct and agreeable influence- over her own life. '' What good is that to mef is the test she applies to any beautiful or good thing, or interesting fact brought before her notice. Surely this is an extremely narrow and ungenerous attitude to assume towards the world she lives in, witli its teeming interests, its inexhaustible resources ; or towards her fellow-creatures, each of whom has the same feelings, longings, hopes and need of sympathy as she. Another fault of youth is its impatience. Before she is well out of her teens, a girl expects to have reached the great turning-point in her life which is to give definite aim and shape to her future. Such a feeling of unrest is fatal to serious effort, or concentra- tion of purpose in any direction. I should like every girl to repeat often to herself the line above quoted : " "What makes life dreary is the want of motive." Have you a motive in life? or are you just drifting along this way or that, as every breeze and current may drive or lead you? Is your motive a good one, worthy, unselfish, stimulating? If not, make haste to provide yourself with one which wall furnish you with a constant incentive to improve yourself and do good to others. Let us suppose you live among dull, unresponsive, wholly uncongenial people. You feel that your superior talent or education, your fine feelings and THK WANT 01- MOTIVE ^ j ,, your sleepy Lulo tuwnV Vo^.Uof ' '"T ^J-'^^^^ ^" ^lup with one whose everT word ^ '\^ ^'^'"P-'i-" and inspiring ; ^-Jio innLZ ^ "^"^^ '''''' 8''»^'ious .satisfied your deal ^f 1,^ ^ r'"'"' ^'"^^^ ^"^ ^'^^'n^^v, woman? a4 tl j/otr^'r' ^"^"' ^'^ ^'^ I'-'^-t such an inflnen e ov t o " T" '""^ '° ^^'^^'^^ J"^^ meet every dav^T; H^f' ^^'.'"'"^ ^^ '^ .^our lot to it clccplv intere^^iini'^^B mirrd'^"' ^'^1^ '''' «"'' work, stndv, hnprove vo u elf f '"'"'"^ ^'"^^ '""^^ the smalle t detlilT of .t. , ''''''•>' ^^'-^^^ ^^-^'n t^ Above all, von 'ntt 1 ' '^''Tf '"'^ surrouiulings. thotie, not^nl :V tht ^ ;S:tn VlS'^^''^ r ^- above you, but to the hunZst of vn'' %'n *^'' ^"'^ tures as well. They are .1? J. f ' , "' ^^'^^^w-crea- '-1-bere is a divine spark if tfT '"'''''*' «"^ '^'^^^r- them. They haT TL 7 ""i ^'''^* ^"^ "^^'^^ ^"^ of :ou have to the sylX "^^' '' ^^"/^ ^^^^P^^^-' -^ i- full of hope and 41, ' ^'^ " ^'°"'''<= "•'»<■!■ of your strons: vouno- Kfp .,, X' .\^ ^"^^^ o^ two- tead of making th" poor little arms ache with ''practicing" useless accomplishments, would it not be infinitely wiser, kinder and ultiimUely more beneficial to all concerned, to give the same time and attention to the training of the future head of a family in those arts wliieh make for comfort, peace and well-being in the home. Is it not in the highest degree inconsistent, not to Pay cruel, to set a growing gir! to accomplish certain tiresome and difTicnlt mental feats which are held up to lier, through the formative years of her life as the end and aim towards which she must bend all her energies, direct all her aspirations ; then wb.en the tasks are all accomplished, the medals won, the certificates duly framed and hung up on the wall, to place her at the head of a household and expect her, at the risk of being severely blamed, criticised and rendered generally miserable, to develop a suddcni genius for domesticity to exhibit a perfect familiarity with kitchen utensils' to bake, and boil, and brew like an expert, to direct inexperienced servants, to know the danger that lurks in a defective drain pipe or a dirty dish cloth ; to cope f»F-:-?f TIIK TKsr or EIH-(;atI(i.\ j.... of .r„o o,„K.a„-,„', i,: ,1 :; :; r;;:.;, '" 'f '■'■''^''1' li""cJ, when .h,. sl.onM f,,.! ^ "' "^ ^^"^ ^'"'l- i^ now co,„pI,.te]v fo...;;;',;'''' "^^'^"^^ ■'^^^'^ I^^-*^^ that anv souse i.rofif.,blo l-m ' ;.' ?'""" '^ ^^''" '^^' '» family (lepcn.l.. This aftor mII ; \. • "^ ''"' .;»« of t,,e ,i.„«,.„,.:',.t:- . "«•:;,;.":;; ™':"'r' tile nursery witl. Im.. ,mi < i '* ""* ••'»o ih still in she i„vc. bi ;; ' . ,:^': i !:, r k'^T f", '"' "'? '"^-^ show l„.r tl„. ,„.,.,„. "■ , '"'"■ ''"• "•'"•I'l" I" it^ lit. / ward I , ■ ■ 'i" "T '"' '■" " '«'I'J' " «"'! Z!:^^ .ni;o",;::;:. ;;^'„;",;;.;r •^-i'"' -^- "-''^ W ffradnal stem ll [ l" "* T"^"''"?? them. Thus, -t ore.., her ri^i^rdoln ' ^'"^"^"^^ '^"^ ''""'^^- commit faynnrit. n.LTe '- ''' P^"'''-^'' ""^ ^^ Of great men an //If '.'' ^"™^^^'.>'' to rea.l the lives fereat men, and to trace back to their humble be-in- ii !' 124 IN TlIK TATUS OF PEACE nings the inventions and enterprises that have most benefited the world. Teaeh her to observe and admire the handiwork of God, and encourage in her a whole- some curiosity regarding the wonders and beauties and secrets of nature. Let her take daily exercise and recreation in the open air, that she may be both healthy and happy. Teach her to be gentle, modest, truthful, kind. This is the sort of education that produces a woman fit for any calling or position in life, the capable, intelligent, sympathetic, sensible woman, who is faithful in small things and in great, whoso hands, heart and head have been equally cultivated. Educa- tors the world over are waking up to the truth at last, and in many directions systematic efforts arc being made to do away with various fads and follies sanc- tioned or encouraged by modern educational methods. It is not too much to hope that radical reforms will be carried out within the next few years. Common-sense is destined to triumph over foolish vanity. There is room for hope that the growing girl of to-day may be given a fair chance to perfect lierself in those arts and accomplishments that will render her indispensable to the happiness and comfort of her family, instead of being the expensive bunlen and ceaseless cause of anxiety she is in too many households as a result of present conditions. '*VkV^<* ^^^^M^ XLIX ENCOURAGEMENT. When we lake people mrrrbj as the,, are we make them worse; when we treat them as if they were what they shonld be, we improve them as far as they can be ""P"'''^- -Goetho. fllE defects or liniifations of those who live uikIit , ,. the same roof with us are apt to excite in us a _ cortflin iiDpatieiK e, which, if we yiei.i to it, must inevitably warp our ju.lcrment in all matters relating to them. Wo seldom stop to enquire to what extent we ourselves are responsil,l,> for those same defect^ We are oeoasionally hurprised to discover that they entirely escape the observation of stranirers, an(i that outsi.le the family oird,., tho one whom we have accus- tomed ourselves to regar.l as hopeles.sly stupid, awk- ward or "provokinn:" ^in any sense it" may please ua to attiich to that word), enjoys a certain degree of popu- larity and esteem. The tnie explanation of the surprising fact is so iinflattenng to our self-esteem that not every one of IIS IS willing to accept it with a good grace. It is simply that our pr(.sence has an irritating effect on others, bringing out the worst that is in them and suppressing the very qualities we blame them for not possessing (.racous and gentle attributes are the flowers of the ^'ou?, that bloom and diffuse their fragrance only in an : t ■1 tt 120 IN TlIK PATHS OF TKACK atmosplicre of H«rlit and warmth. It is impossihlo tc ?eo or know, at his or her best, a follow-crcaturc with whom one docs uot sympathise. "When we assume a censorious or fault-findinir attitude towards othcr«, we instantly raise barriers between them and ourselves, which make mutual aprcciatioii impossible. What is the secret of the happiness of lovers if it is not their fond,^ unshakable belief in one another's good and pleasing qualities, and their persistent and loyal refusal to believe ill of one another. Could we be eciually generous with our friends and relatives, the world would indeed be converted into a paradise for all. There is no more powerful stimulant to self-improve- ment than tlie knowledge that those who live with ns have formed high expectations in regard to us ; but the cotiviction that our best efforts Avill remain unap- preciated is a profound source of discouragement and a frequent Cf^nse of failure. - In many large families there is a regrettable tend- ency to poke fun at its individual members avIio make efforts at self-improvement. By mimicry, satirical com- ments, or openly nnkind allusions the aspirations of the growing girl or boy towards something better than the existing standard of manners and attainments in the home are often rudely checked, if not altogether cupprossed. In the former case, the foundation is laid for antag- onisms that must graduall.\ increase, and that will eventually undermine the affection that binds together even the most closely nnited families. In the latter case a spiritual murder is committed, for which an account must one day be rendered before the judgment seat. If tlic cliild who is sulky or nnruly at home is happy and Avell-liehaA-ed among strangers ; if the silent, reserved son or datighter is invnrinbly agreeable and '•'>•'" Hi; A(.;kmkNT ll>7 to dis,.over in thrw ^ "' , ''^ '''•^^""^' ''"ther the cause whicl prevc L T^'if '"^ surroundings from blossomint into S-^." "' -^ "'""'' ^'^^"^^^^'^^ the retarding S^^^^t^^^ '' '''''' '^^^ ^^^- oi^!;:i^^Z%^^ -" fi"^ the canker worn. ing at thc'^JooIf: S;'ctSr r"^.*->— ^ ^aw- forn.ation. Perhaps fi't ^'^ '' ^^ P^^^^^s of frank enon^^h to ow^'if iM " "'' ''"'"^''^ ^"'^"^li and blame for the state of iv ^r' ^'''"'^''^^^' ^^'^'^ ^''^^ ^^ anee Changel-^rL^r.^tl^^^^^^ spoech, slower to find fault swifelv '-' ^'^^' "^ courage, Ie«s rpn.lv J •, ^^^"^'^ to praise and en- ..m4<'t :S„ts voS7*^ "f '■^■^' "- ■ Miracles can oe wroiiffirfn ti ™ '" ""= "»ng- seem a l.ar-i ZTlTt, • T"^' ""<• "'»"Kh !' may I M ^^rtvi^" ■^ '•m;^^- 1 1 SYMPATHY IN JOY. Grief can take care of itself, hut to get the full value of joy you must have somebody to divide it with. — Mark Twain. [HE truest test of a generous nature is its capacity for sharing the joys of others. It requires little or no effort to sympathize by word or act with sad or suffering humanity: Even when the' heart is not deeply stirred, the lips are ready enough to utter con- ventional expressions of condolence. But it is quite otherwise when sympathy is claimed in the hour of success. Too often, then, the demon of envy and jealousy takes possession of the heart, making sincere participation in the happiness of others impossible. We have all experienced the chilling effect of a curt "Eeally," or "Oh, indeed!" following the announce- ment of some piece of good fortune that has come our way, and this even from old friends or near relatives to whom we naturally looked for the warmest sympathy. The ungenerous attitude which thus throws one back on one's self, forbidding the anticipated pleasant discus- sion of the various aspects of a joyful event, hurts far more cruelly than a manifestation of indifference in the hour of bereavement. In the latter case, a sensitive nature craves solitude, and scarcely misses the word or token of kindly sympathy withheld from any quarter. SYMPATHY IN JOY J29 nns'hS" ""^'^"'' "■"' '°'^' '«'« i'^ «'«tnes, when sorrow, ^fJu' ^ convinced that we pity the nation o?the M^^XTSow'^Atr '"^'^ "T^ ::trwt:trh^^^ let h Veier^Jh^ T ^"''" .'"™P''^? Dote -lightly, even con* ity°S°J ™ -'°' '""'f'-- which we fear mav rf„,„i'f ^^ " Prominence fullT must we admit th»t TlTr ! •^;- '^"'^ "■oR^ot- sirter, or even a^o,h„ """', '""""'^ ^"oid, » upon 'for ^:i:LX^:rz:^^^ ,'''"' f'. .0 complete one. happiness .n"Thrhr ^f' tc™:'':^ .'f^ . I I m C£%-.^ 130 IN THE PATHS OF I'KACB triumph. "Were all known, the history of many fami- lies would reveal sad stories of bright prospects marred and fond hopes blighted by just this defect of sympathy on the part of near and dear ones. The opportunity that to one, would have been the turning-point leading to love or distinction, was, by the selfishness of another, cruelly denied or appropriated to other uses. Such selfishness is indefensible. A proper sense of dignity and independence should preserve us from coveting pleasures and advantages which we have not personally earned or otherwise secured by our own unaided efforts. "We should be generous enough to let every one else be happy in his or her own way, and if we cannot actually hasten the process, at least we should scorn to take a shabby advantage of our propin- quity or kinship to frustrate the kind intentions of more liberal-minded persons. Let us then beware of a too complacent belief in the tenderness of our hearts until we have indisjiutably proven ourselves sincerely sympathetic towards our family and friends, not only in time of sickness and sorrow, but more particularly when success, fortune, or preferment has lifted them a degree or two above our own level. y^i/ ^*fc "■* LI HIDDEN BEAUTY. Things looked at mtienthi f^^ another, qenerall,, .J T 1 '"'''' ''"' *'^« «//"'• heantiful '^ '"^ *^' ^/^o»...^ a side that is Iv. L. Stevenson. ting themselves to definite^ extension 7 ''"^"^*- regarding matters coanin^. within H?.? ""P^"^^" od as peculiarly their owS. ^ 1 tetrreri^rT^'^ or circumstances are presented fnlV f ' ^'^^J^^tions must be carefullv wpEr V ^'" ^'''" ^-^amination, factor, concSnTan't ;el:r^^^^^ "^f""'' ^ ^^^^^'- mind, impatient oi Jnl '^^'''' \®^: ^"^ the untrained absurdly sX;;fil^^^"to';;J-;"^^ -P^^^^^'-' -^ value of indisputable JnT J '* ^-^ipressions the allv on theSnes orTl k"";^ Pronounces dictatori- ^'giiness, the worth or tl^' i""'"'' '^' ^^'^"^.^' °^ the or^erso^ahder.^ n ;£T.^^^^^^^^^ '\''''^T' ''^^ moments been lightV Wsed Sn J"" ^T ^'' ' ^^^" of course hav« focussed. feuch rash utterances fhe Zwt'of rivi^: Z«'"."'"' "™«"g P«»ns, b„ able iW^r/to he LrnT''"" .'° ,""'."' '"""-^ ™''»'<-"l- habit of ,1% I ^ °"' "■''"'> ""ev proMm] The "M of ..reful observation, the faculty for seriom •i fi 132 IN TlIK PATHS OF PEACE criticism, are of course, incompatible witli this grave defect of superficiality, to all who may be accused of which, the fountains of true knowledge must remain forever sealed. Perhaps nowhere is the truth of the lines quoted above more strikingly illustrated, as regards material objects, than in the studio. To the eye of an artist, beauty appears in a thousand shapes that elude the observation o an ordinary spectator. Forni and colour, light and shadow, arrangement and expression in their innumerable variations and gradations offer well-nigh inexhaustible sources of enjoyment to one who perceives their artistic value or possibilities. Such ])ower of per- ception may be inherent tp some, but it is susceptible of cultivation in all. A course of serious study at an art school wonderfully dcvclo))s in an apt pupil the faculty of recogiviziug beauty in the m'uht of tlio most connnon-place surroundings. It teaches him that whai at first sight appear to be uninteresting features are in reality so expressive of ])ower, pathos, or sweetness as to ji..