even to his exquisite sensibility, was perfect. It bore an unearthly sweetness that was to him, too truly, a warning of his future and fast-coming doom.
All our life work is, in a way, a preparation
for death.
(2484)
PREPARATION SUCCEEDS
A life sketch of Richard Mansfield, the great actor, contains the following account of his first success on the stage:
A noted actor had been offered the part
but shrank from it, and finally absolutely
refused to take it. Mansfield saw its possibilities
and was in a fever of eagerness to
get it. In the distress and pressure of the
situation the manager reluctantly gave it to
him. Then the young man began to prepare
for the part. He studied everything which
would throw light on the character. He interviewed
people, visited the haunts of such
men as the character represented, and he
rehearsed and rehearsed until his eyes
gleamed and his whole being was on fire.
When he came on the stage for his first
act the people were indifferent, not even
paying attention to the play, but talking and
laughing. Soon a hush fell upon them. They
were spellbound. When the curtain fell
there was a roar of applause which shook
the building, and at the close of the play
the audience went out dazed. Richard Mansfield
was never to go hungry again. At a
bound he had leapt from the dust to the top
of the ladder. It makes one's heart leap
just to read about it.
(2485)
Preparation, Thorough—See Thoroughness in Preparation.
PRESENCE OF GOD
One day a poor leper came to Dr. Pauline
Root's dispensary, in Madura, India, with a
small, dirty cloth about his waist. He
begged a new garment. It was given and
was the cause of great delight. Two weeks
later he appeared again, making the same
request. Dr. Root asked him, "Where is the
cloth I gave you?" "I have it," the old man
replied, "but I am old, and will not live long,
and some morning it is probable that the people
in passing by my little mud hut to the
river will look in and see me lying there
dead. When I go into God's presence I want
to be nice. All day long I go about for my
food and I am very dirty and very tired,
but when I go home I wash myself and I
have kept that beautiful long piece of cloth
to wrap myself in when I lie down. I commit
myself to God thinking that perhaps the
next morning I shall have gone into His
presence. (Text.)
(2486)
Beneath the shadow of the Great Protection,
The soul sits, hushed and calm.
Bathed in the peace of that divine affection,
No fever-heats of life or dull dejection
Can work the spirit harm.
Diviner heavens above
Look down on it in love.
And, as the varying winds move where they will,
In whispers soft, through trackless fields of air,
So comes the Spirit's breath, serene and still,
Its tender messages of love to bear,
From men of every race and speech and zone,
Making the whole world one,
Till every sword shall to a sickle bend,
And the long, weary strifes of earth shall end.
—James Freeman Clarke.
(2487)
This metrical prayer is from the New York Christian Advocate:
Stay with me, Lord; the evening sun declineth,
And I am weary of this rugged way.
To find repose my fainting spirit pineth—
O Lord, be Thou my comfort and my stay!
Tremble my steps with age, my hair is gray,
And earth-born hopes allure me now no more.
But Thou, my Savior, cast me not away.
O lead me gently till, my journey o'er,
I reach my Father's house, safe sheltered evermore.
Stay with me, Lord; even now to the dark valley
My step descendeth, and the chilling gloom
Is gathering o'er my pathway deep and dreary—
Dread shadows of the ay mysterious tomb.
Now may Thy lamp this fearful vale illume;
Its light alone these terrors can dispel.
Where Thou, my Lord, art guide, no ill can come.
Thou mighty Conqueror of death and hell,
To Thee I trust my soul and know that all is well.
(2488)
