DEDICATION.

TO THEE, MY FRIEND, BEFORE WHOSE GAZE
I BROUGHT MY CHOICE FLOWERS AS THEY GREW
IN SILENT BEAUTY, ONE BY ONE;—

THE STORE AND WEALTH OF MANY DAYS,

A WREATH OF VARIED TINT AND HUE

I OFFER, NOW THE WORK IS DONE.

"There are in this loud stunning tide

Of human care and crime,
With whom the melodies abide

Of th' everlasting chime;

Who carry music in their heart

:

Through dusky lane and wrangling mart,
Plying their daily task with busier feet

Because their secret souls a holy strain repeat."

And, surely, in these days of turmoil and unrest, when the temptation is more to over-eagerness in work than to idleness and indifference; when cares and duties crowd unceasingly, and times of repose are few and far between; there is much need to keep the heavenly music ringing in our hearts, and thus prevent our being deafened by the outward strife, so powerful to drown the strains to which our souls should move.

To have our thoughts constantly directed upwards would seem to be our great need; and whatever

furthers that end we may, without presumption, call help.

With the desire to supply, in some small measure, this want, the following pages have been arrangedone for each day. There are few of us who do not know the power of sacred poetry to haunt and soothe us when the mind is weary; and it has been thought that a few verses having reference to some text of Holy Scripture might prove of help and comfort to hearts variously tried in the great battle of life, which each one of us is daily waging. And for the quotations from the Word of God itself, it is sufficient for us to remember, with gladness and reverent hope, the promise" It shall not return unto Me void."

Of the many imperfections of the work no one can be more aware than the Editor. From a storehouse so rich in treasures as the Bible, the difficulty lies, not in lack of material, but of wisdom to select therefrom: and with regard to the verses, many beautiful poems have been, of necessity, omitted, because they would not bear curtailment, and thus were too long to accord with the design of the book.

Such as it is-each page uttering its voice of encouragement or peace-it is offered to all toilers in the Master's vineyard, wearied and burdened with the heat of the day; and to all watchers by the wayside, who are learning, through long waiting and quiet suffering, to let Patience have her perfect work-in the hope that to each and all it may have a mission, by awakening echoes of that divine music to which our hearts