September 27

“And so now and then in our lives, when we learn to love a sweet and noble character, we all feel happier and better for the goodness and charity which is not ours, and yet which seem to belong to us while we are near it. Just as some people and states of mind affect us uncomfortably, so we seem to be true to ourselves with a truthful person, generous-minded with a generous nature, the world seems less disappointing and self-seeking when we think of the just and sweet and unselfish spirits, moving untroubled among dinning and distracting influences. These are our friends in the best and noblest sense. We are happier for their existence – it is so much gain to us. They may have lived at some distant time, we may never have met face to face, or we may have known them and been blessed by their love; but in either case their light shines from afar; distant are their graves, green in some foreign land; their life is for us and with us – its generous example; their song is for our ears, and we hear it and love it still, though the singer may be lying dead.”

Miss THACKERAY

“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