A Perfect Gentleman. 125

Oh ! these truants from earth and from heaven,
They have made me more manly and mild,
And I know how Jesus could liken
The kingdom of God to a child.

“Seek not a life for the dear ones

All radiant, as others have done;

But that life may have just as much shadow
To temper the glare of the sun.

I would pray God to guard them from evil,
But my prayer would bound back to myself ;

Ah! seraph may pray for a sinner,
But a sinner must pray for himself.”

So let your life shine like that of the
righteous, “more and more, even unto the
perfect day.”

“ Whene’er a noble deed is wrought
‘Whene’er is spoken a noble thought,
Our hearts in glad surprise
To higher levels rise.

“ The tidal wave of deeper souls
Into our inmost being rolls,
And lifts us unawares
Out of all meaner cares.

«Honour to those whose words or deeds
Thus help us in our daily needs,
And by their overflow
Raise us from what is low.”

LoNGFELLOW.