August 5

“Freely we serve
Because we freely love.”

MILTON

“Be sure no earnest work
Of any honest creature, howbeit weak,
Imperfect, ill-adapted, fails so much,
It is not gathered as a grain of sand
To enlarge the sum of human action used
For carrying out God’s ends. No creature works
So ill, observe, that therefore he’s cashiered.
The honest man must stand and work,
The woman also – otherwise she drops
At once below the dignity of man,
Accepting serfdom. Free men freely work.
Whoever fears God, fears to sit at ease.”

ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING

August 1

“It is the business of anybody who can, to set right what anybody has set wrong.”

“What, in a world where cries for help
Must ever sound till sin shall cease,
Can be a goodlier work than this, -
Griefs to assuage, joys to increase?

“To cheer the oppressed, with righteous words
And aid them with a labouring arm;
The slaves of tyrant ignorance
To rescue, and then shield from harm;

“To offer cups of water pure
From rocky truth’s coll, plenteous well,
To souls confused with feverish woes
Unspoken and unspeakable.

“O, if no partner in the pains
By which love labours for my race,
Death, that takes home and crowns the brave,
Can but insure my long disgrace.”

LYNCH