The Optimist's Good Morning.

by Florence Hobart Perin.

Preface

Once family devotions were general, now they are rare. There are reasons for the change. One reason is that the simplicity of the old family life is gone. It is not easy to get all the members of the family together at any one time in the day. A part of this is due to less leisure now than formerly. Men must catch trains in the morning. In the evening they are distracted by manifold social engagements.

Yet the need of spiritual adjustment is ever the same. Rapid transit, the telephone, the telegraph, do not take the place of G.o.d. Indeed the more rapid pace involved in these modern pace-makers, renders the more necessary some pause in the day for prayer, some upward look, when for a moment the soul may find an open way between itself and G.o.d. But how and when? Why not the breakfast table? Surely one or two minutes may be spared. Thirty seconds of silence, then the reading of a n.o.ble sentiment from some one who has been thinking for us,--another pause,--and a few words of prayer, framed by some one with more leisure than we have, but who puts us in the mood of prayer and so starts us right upon the duties of the day,--this will bring the needed readjustment.

Such is the plan and purpose of this little book. It is made for busy men and women, who _need_ to begin the day with G.o.d. The quotations for each day are brief, but they are gleaned from the great Masters of thought. The prayers are from devout men of all the denominations.

As the t.i.tle will have suggested, both quotations and prayers are generally in the spirit of a truly optimistic faith. However life may look in the middle of the night, it is a good thing to start out to do the work of the day with hope and courage. I shall be glad if I can feel that this little book has helped some busy people to begin the day in this spirit. I shall be particularly glad if I can feel that it has helped a little to keep the candles lighted on the family altar.

FLORENCE HOBART PERIN.

The Optimist's Good Morning

January 1

_Throughout the year, why not keep sweet? No frown ever made a heart glad; no complaint ever made a dark day bright; no bitter word ever lightened a burden or made a rough road smooth; no grumbling ever introduced sunshine into a home. What the world needs is the resolute step, the look of cheer, the smiling countenance, and the kindly word. Keep sweet!_

GEORGE L. PERIN.

G.o.d of the years, our Heavenly Father, whatever the message of the old year may have been, whether of darkness or light, joy or sorrow,--we stand this morning waiting expectantly and confidently for some message with glad tidings. May we therefore enter upon the New Year in the mood of hope and good cheer,--brushing from our faces every sign of care, let us go forth into the New Year with the spirit of a child who puts his hand into the hand of a Father to be led into a field where the flowers blossom and the birds sing. Not for to-day only do we pray for sweetness and light, but let us be glad and happy every day. Thou art with us today,--Thou wilt be with us through all the journey of the year. May our own daily gladness be born of the conviction that Thou art always near. Amen.

GEORGE L. PERIN.

January 2

_To keep my health!

To do my work!

To live!

To see to it I grow and gain and give!

Never to look behind me for an hour!

To wait in weakness and to walk in power But always fronting forward to the light, Always, and always facing toward the right.

Robbed, starved, defeated, fallen, wide astray-- On, with what strength I have!

Back to the way!_

CHARLOTTE PERKINS GILMAN.

With this new day, O G.o.d, let some new strength be mine, to walk in patience, the way appointed for me. Let me be strong to battle with the ills that shall beset me, to toil with faith and honest heart, to keep myself untainted and make my life helpful to my fellowmen. Help me to be forgetful of myself, but thoughtful to do no evil to any man. Thy hand is strong and mine is weak. I need Thy guidance, let Thy strength be mine, that though I stumble I may not fall nor fail. And when the day is done, may happy memories be mine. Amen.

ALMON GUNNISON.

January 3

_Build on resolve, and not upon regret, The structure of Thy future. Do not grope Among the shadows of old sins, but let Thine own soul's light shine on the path of hope And dissipate the darkness. Waste no tears Upon the blotted record of lost years, But turn the leaf, and smile, oh, smile, to see The fair white pages that remain to thee._

ELLA WHEELER WILc.o.x.

O Thou All-persuasive G.o.d, who dost speak within the souls of men in language which the heart interprets as its own! enlarge our trust in that better self which beckons us, that we may be led out of the lingering darkness of regret, out of the shadow of embittered memory into the brightness of a new resolve where we may see Thy face. Smile upon us in the smiling day; in the joy of strength renewed, and opportunity reborn; in the beauty of the promise each hour whispers to us as it pa.s.ses by. So fill us with Thyself that each new day shall mean new life led by the glory of those hopes which do not fade at evening.

Amen.

CHARLES A. KNICKERBOCKER.

January 4

_We of our age are part, and every thrill that wakes The tremulous air of Life its motion in us makes._

_The imitative ma.s.s mere empty echo gives As walls and rocks return the sound that they receive._

_But as the bell, that high in some cathedral swings, Stirred by whatever thrill, with its own music rings,_

_So finer souls give forth, to each vibrating tone Impinging on their life, a music of their own._

W. W. STORY.

O living and loving One, brighter than the morning and fairer than the day, from Thee we come, to Thee we turn, who art more than Father and Mother to us all. Our times are in Thy hand. Thou, who hast set the sun and stars in the sky, hast appointed our place and part in this human world. May Thy light lead and Thy love win us into the harmonies of law and grace, that we may become responsive to every touch of nature, every whisper of truth, every appeal of humanity. So prepare us to serve our generation in the spirit of Him who has taught us to do Thy will on earth as it is done in heaven. Amen.

CHARLES G. AMES.

January 5

_All such as worked for love, not wages--some Who, painting for a perfect tint did drain Their hearts, or some to save their country slain, Or many who for truth braved martyrdom, Or more who, in what common days may come, Have toiled in hope, beyond the hope of gain, Of doing something well,--all such would fain Speak thus: These gifts more free than flowers from The earth are given. Good world, if to our need Ye offer bread and shelt'ring roof unsought, As guests our thanks we give, but not for greed, As if our gifts were bartered for and bought; And if, perchance, good world, ye offer nought, Ah, well, that were of life the lesser meed._

J. S. JACKSON.

Father in Heaven, we thank Thee, as we enter upon another day, for strength with which to work. We thank Thee for our tasks; for our opportunities to work for Thee and for those we love, we thank Thee. May we know the joy, when night shall come, of having accomplished something worthy. Help us to see in that satisfaction a part of our pay. Make each of us faithful in his place; and help the humblest worker to understand that consecration and not rank is the all-important thing. Above all, may we not forget that living is giving, and may our desire either for rest or gain keep us from no helpful act. May we follow Him who came to minister, and live as sons and daughters of G.o.d. Amen.

FRANK W. WHIPPEN.

January 6

_The sculptor moulds his clay with reverent hand, That clay thro' which his fancy flashes free-- Quick with an answer to his soul's demand, And pliant to his fingers' minstrelsy!

Could ever bronze or marble so respond In wordless echo of the being's will?

Naught but the clay, as to a rapture fond Could he with fire of genius thus infill!

And so the common people are the clay, Swift moulded by Divine Deific hand, Until transfigured, in the glorious day, The statue of humanity shall stand!