XIII.

The Hope that Saves.

Yet I argue not

Against Heaven's hand or will, nor bate a jot
Of heart or hope; but still bear up and steer
Right onward.

To Cyriac Skinner.

Character.

JOHN MILTON.

The sun set, but set not his hope :
Stars rose; his faith was earlier up.

RALPH WALDO EMERSON.

THE HOPE THAT SAVES.

Prophetic Hope, thy fine discourse
Foretold not half life's good to me.
Thy painter, Fancy, hath not force
To show how sweet it is to be!
Thy witching dream, and pictured scheme
To match the fact still want the power;
Thy promise brave from birth to grave
Life's boon may beggar in an hour!

All's Well.

DAVID ATWOOD WASSON.

It's wiser being good than bad;
It's safer being meek than fierce;
It's fitter being sane than mad.

My own hope is, a sun will pierce
The thickest cloud earth ever stretched ;
That, after Last, returns the First,
Though a wide compass round be fetched;
That what began best can't end worst,
Nor what God blest once prove accurst.
ROBERT BROWNING.

Apparent Failure.

Life! we've been long together,

Through pleasant and through cloudy weather. 'Tis hard to part when friends are dear,Perhaps 'twill cost a sigh, a tear;

Then steal away, give little warning,

Choose thine own time;

Say not good-night, but in some brighter clime

Bid me good-morning.

ANNE LETITIA BARBAULD.

I go to prove my soul !
I see my way as birds their trackless way.
I shall arrive! what time, what circuit first,
I ask not: but unless God send his hail
Or blinding fireballs, sleet or stifling snow,
In some time, his good time, I shall arrive:
He guides me and the bird. In his good time!

If I stoop

Into a dark tremendous sea of cloud,

It is but for a time; I press God's lamp
Close to my breast; its splendor, soon or late,
Will pierce the gloom: I shall emerge one day.

Paracelsus.

Longing.

ROBERT BROWNING.

Ah! let us hope that to our praise
Good God not only reckons
The moments when we tread his ways,
But when the spirit beckons, —
That some slight good is also wrought
Beyond self-satisfaction,

When we are simply good in thought,
Howe'er we fail in action.

JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL.

XIV.

The Love that Endures.

For life, with all it yields of joy and woe,
And hope and fear,- believe the aged friend,-
Is just our chance o' the prize of learning love,
How love might be, hath been, indeed, and is!
ROBERT BROWNING.

A Death in the Desert.