GIRLS: FAULTS AND IDEALS. 

_A FAMILIAR TALK, WITH QUOTATIONS FROM LETTERS. _

BY

J. R. MILLER, D. D. 

NEW YORK 10 EAST FOURTEENTH ST. 

THOMAS V. CROWELL & CO. 

BOSTON: 100 PURCHASE STREET. GIRLS: FAULTS AND IDEALS. 

"Cleanse thou me from secret faults. " PSA. Xix, 12. "The King's daughteris all glorious within: her clothing is of wrought gold. "--PSA. Xiv. 13. 

The religion of Christ has something to say to every man, woman, andchild, in every relation, on every day, in every experience of life. It is not something for Sundays, and for prayer-meetings, and forsick-rooms, death-beds, and funerals: it is just as much for theschool-room, the play-ground, the store, the kitchen, the street. Wherever you may chance to be, if you listen you will hear a voicebehind you, whispering, "This is the way; walk ye in it. " The Bible isthe Word of God, our Father's will concerning his children; and it hassomething to say each day, at every point of experience, to every one ofus. I want to help the girls and young women, if I can, to hear a littleof what Christ has to say to them. 

It is good for us to see ourselves as others see us. Hence, I have askeda number of Christian young men to give me answers to certain questions, and from these I have quoted in this familiar talk. I take two of thesequestions, viz. ;

1. "What are some of the most common faults in young women of youracquaintance?"

2. "What are some of the essential elements of character in your idealof true young womanhood?"

We shall think then of common faults and of ideals. The first text Ihave chosen is a prayer for for the cleansing of faults. The second is adescription of the life that pleases God. 

"Cleanse thou me from secret faults. " Is there one of us who does not, from deepest heart pray this prayer? I pity that man or that woman whodoes not long to be cured of faults, whatever they are, however painfulor costly their removal may be. 

Some one says, --and the words are worthy of being written ingold, --"Count yourself richer that day you discover a new fault inyourself, --not richer because it is there, but richer because it is nolonger a hidden fault; and if you have not found all your faults, prayto have them revealed to you, even if the revelation must come in a waythat hurts your pride. " Mr. Ruskin has this word also for young women:"Make sure that however good you may be, you have faults; that howeverdull you may be, you can find out what they are; and that however slightthey may be, you had better make some patient effort to get rid ofthem.... Therefore see that no day passes in which you do not makeyourself a somewhat better creature; and in order to do that find outfirst what you are now.... If you do not dare to do this, find outwhy you do not dare, and try to get strength of heart enough to lookyourself fairly in the face, in mind as well as in body.... Always havetwo mirrors on your toilet table, and see that with proper care youdress both the mind and body before them daily. "

These words show us the importance of the prayer: "Cleanse thou me fromsecret faults. " We all have our faults, which mar the beauty of ourlives in the eyes of others. Every noble soul desires to grow out of allfaults, to have them corrected. The smallest fault mars the beauty ofthe character; and one who seeks to possess only "whatsoever thingsare lovely" will be eager to be rid of whatever is faulty. Ofttimes, however, we do not know our own faults: we are unconscious of them. We cannot see ourselves as others see us. The friend does us a truekindness who tells us of the things in our character, habits, manners, which appear as blemishes, although many people have too much vanity tobe told of their faults. They resent it as a personal insult whenone points out any blemish in them. But this is most foolishshort-sightedness. To learn of a fault is an opportunity to add a newline of beauty to the life. Our prayer each day should be that God wouldshow us our secret faults, whatever messenger he may send to point themout, and then give us grace to correct them. 

The young men who have replied to my question concerning the faults ofyoung women have done so in most kindly spirit, for to a noble soul itis always an unwelcome task to find fault; it is much easier to name thebeautiful things in those we love than the blemishes. 

Several writers have referred to the matter of _dress_. One says "Toomuch time is given by many young ladies to dressing. They scarcely thinkof anything else. " Another names, "The love of dress, the inordinatedesire to excel their companions in this particular, " as among thecommon faults in young women, adding that it has led many of themto ruin. Another says they like to make themselves attractive byconspicuous colors, and suggests that if they would spend less time inshopping and more in some elevating occupation, for example in makinghome brighter for brothers and parents, it would be better. 

"Following fashion to an extreme that is unbecoming and oftenextravagant; too great attention to outward adornment at the expense ofinner adornment, " another marks as a too prominent fault. We rememberthat St. Peter has a word about dressing: "Whose adorning, let it not bethat outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, orof putting on of apparel; but let it be the hidden man of the heart, inthat which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quitespirit. " Every young woman should dress well, that is, neatly, tastefully, modestly, whether she be rich or poor. Conspicuous dressingis vulgar. True refinement avoids anything showy and flashy: it neverdresses better than it can afford, and yet it is always well dressed, even in simple muslin or plain calico. 

Another fault mentioned is _the lack of moral earnestness_. "Frivolity, arising from want of purpose in life, " one names, "even the most sacredduties and relations being marred by this frivolousness. The best yearsof life are wasted in small talk and still smaller reading, tears andsighs being wasted over a novelist's creations, while God's creaturesdie for want of a word of sympathy. " Another names, "Frivolity, want ofdefiniteness of purpose. " Still another says: "The giving of so littletime to serious reflection and for preparation for the responsibleduties of life. In other words, frivolity of manner, shallowness ofthought, and, as a consequence, insipidity of speech are strongly markedfaults in some young ladies. " This writer pleads for deeper, intenserearnestness. "Young women will reach a high excellence of moralcharacter only as they prepare themselves for life by self-disciplineand culture. " Another puts it down as "A want of firm decision incharacter and action, " and says that too often, in times "when theyought to stand like a rock, they yield and fall;" and adds: "The youngladies of our land have power to mould the lives of the young men forgood or for evil. "

There is a caution in these words which every young woman should heed. Life is not play, for it has its solemn responsibilities, its sacredduties; and eternity lies beyond this little span. I call you toearnestness, moral earnestness. Determine to make the most and the bestof your life. Get an education to fit you for life's duties, even thoughit must be gotten in the little fragments of time that you can redeemfrom busy days. Life is too short to crowd everything into it. Somethingmust always be left out. Better leave out many of your amusements andrecreations, than grow up into womanhood ignorant and with undisciplinedintellectual powers. Train your mind to think. Set your ideal beforeyou, --rich, beautiful womanhood, --and bend all your energy to reach it. 

Some of these letters speak of the common _talk_ of girls as beinglargely idle gossip; criticisms of absent people; unkind words aboutpersons whom the ladies would meet with warm professions of friendshipand fervent kisses if they were to come in a minute later. 

Dear girls, I plead for sincerity in speech. "Do not yield to thepassion for miserable gossip which is so common. Talk about things, notpeople. Do not malign or backbite your absent friend. What is friendshipworth if the moment the person is out of sight the tongue that hasprofessed affection becomes a poisoned fang, and the lips which gavetheir warm kiss utter the word of ridicule, or sneer, or aspersion?Better be dumb than have the gift of speech to be used in the miserableidle words, insincerities, and backbitings too common in modern society. Surely something better can be found to talk about; if not, uttersilence is more heaven-like. A stupid girl who cannot talk at allis better far than a chattering girl who can talk of nothing good oruseful. 

 "Find thou always time to say some earnest word between the idle talk. "

One mentions "_want of reverence for sacred things_" as a sad fault insome young women. He has seen them whispering in the church and Sundayschool, during sermon and lesson, even during prayer, and has markedother acts of irreverence. It is to be hoped that this fault is indeedrare, unless it be in very young girls, who know no better. But as thefault has been pointed out by one who has been sorely pained by it, willnot the girls and young women think of it a moment? A girl's religionshould be full of joy and gladness. It should make her happy, fillher lips with song; but it should make her so reverent that, in thepresence of her God, in prayer, in worship, in the study of the Bible, her heart shall be silent with the silence of adoration. Dear girls, remember that in any religious service, you are standing or bowingbefore God, and let nothing for one instant tempt you to whisper, tosmile, to do aught that would grieve the Holy Spirit. Others speak of _awant of respect for the aged_, and especially for parents, as a faultof young women. "How often is the kind advice a father and mother setaside, just because it goes against some whim or fancy of their own!A desire on the part of a young lady to live in the fashion, to bewell-dressed at all hours and ready for callers--how much toil andsacrifice often fall to a good mother from such an ambition!" The writergives other illustrations of the same spirit in some girls. It is hopedthat there are but few who see their own face in this mirror. 

Not long since I stood by the coffin and grave of a young girl whomI had known for a dozen years. She received a fine education, havingfinished a course in one of the best colleges of the land. What did shedo with her education? Did she sit down as a lady of elegant leisure?Did she think her trained powers were too fine to be used in any commonwork? Did she look down from her lofty height upon her mother asold-fashioned, out of date? No: she came home from college at the end ofher course, and at once went into her home to lift the burden and carefrom the shoulders of the loving, patient mother who had toiled for herso long in order that she might receive her education and training. Whenthe beautiful girl was dead, the mother told me with loving gladness howGertrude had lifted one by one every burden from her during those years, until, at last, the child's own hands carried all the household care andresponsibility. She did not think her richly-furnished life too fineto be used in plain household duties, She remembered all her mother'sself-denials in her behalf in earlier days, and rejoiced that now shemight, in some measure, reward her. I have spoken of this one youngwoman's loving regard for her mother, and of the way she showed it, inthe hope that it may inspire in many another young girl's heart a spiritof noble helpfulness toward a tired mother. 

One writer notes as a fault in some young women, that they are _carelessof their good names_. "They are not careful enough as to theirassociates and companions. Some of them are seen with young men who areknown to be of questionable moral character. On the streets they talkloudly, so as unconsciously to attract attention to themselves. They actso that young men of the looser sort will stare at them and even dareto speak to them. " In these and other ways, certain young women, thiswriter says, imperil their own good name, and, I may add, imperil theirsouls. 

When will young girls learn that modesty and shrinking from public gazeare the invariable marks of true beauty in womanhood; and that anythingwhich is contrary to these is a mark of vulgarity and ill-breeding?Guard your name as the jewel of your life. Many a young woman withpure life has lived under shadows all her later years, because ofsome careless--only careless, not wrong--act in youth which had theappearance of evil. 

In one letter received from a thoughtful young man, mention is made ofa "disregard of health, " as a common fault in young women. Anothermentions but one fault, --"the lack of glad earnestness. " Anotherspecifies, "thoughtlessness, heedlessness, a disregard of the feelingsof others, " Another thinks some young women "so weak and dependentthat they incur the risk of becoming a living embodiment of the wickedproverb, 'So good that they are good for nothing. '" On the other hand, however, one writer deplores just the reverse of this, the tendencyin young women to be independent, self-reliant, appearing not to needprotection and shelter. 

Doubtless there is truth in both those criticisms: there are some youngwomen who are so dainty, so accomplished, so delicate, that they can beof little use in this world. When misfortune comes to such and theyare thrown out of the cosy nest, they are in a most pitiable conditionindeed. They can do nothing to provide for themselves. Then there areothers who so pride themselves on their independence, that one of thesweetest charms of womanhood is lost--the charm of gentle trustfulness. 

I have suggested enough faults for one lesson, --perhaps as many as youcan carry in your mind, certainly as many as you can correct, although Ihave not exhausted the list that I find in my correspondence. As I saidat the beginning, these faults are pointed out, not in the spirit ofcriticism, but in the spirit of kindness, of truest interest, and withdesire to help. Many of them may seem very trivial faults, but smallspecks stain the whiteness of a fair robe. "Little things makeperfection. " You cannot afford to keep the least discovered fault inyour character or conduct, for little blemishes are the beginnings ofgreater ones that by and by will destroy all the beauty of life. 

 "It is the little rift within the lute That by and by will make music mute, And, ever widening, slowly silence all-- The little rift within the lover's lute: Or little pitted speck in garnered fruit, That rotting inward, slowly moulders all. "

Will you not, then, pray this prayer: "Cleanse thou me from secretfaults"? Do not try to hide your faults--hiding them does not cure them. Every true woman wants to grow into perfect moral and spiritual beauty. In order to do this, she wants to know wherein she fails, what blemishesothers see in her, what blemishes God sees in her. Then, as quickly asshe discovers the faults, she wants to have them removed. The old artistApelles had for his motto: "_Nulla dies sine linea_"--"No day without aline. " Will you not take this motto for yours, and seek every day to getthe victory over some little blemish, to get some fault corrected, toget in your life a little more of the beauty of perfect womanhood?Cleanse thou me, O Lord, from secret faults. 

Now I turn your thoughts away from faults to ideals. The second questionwas: "What are some of the essential elements of character in your idealof true young womanhood?" Here also I can give only very few of theanswers received. 

Nearly every one emphasizes the element of _gentleness_. One says: "Ilike to see a young lady kind and agreeable to all, yet dignified. ""Gentle in speech, voice, and manner; full of love for her home, yetfirm and decided in her convictions, " says another. One sums up hisideal in these particulars: "An unspotted character, a cheerfuldisposition, a generous, untiring heart, and a brave will. " Nearly allput strength with gentleness, in some form. "All the firmness that doesnot exclude delicacy, and all the softness that does not imply weakness. Loving, helpful, and trusting, she must be able to soothe anxiety byher presence; charm and allay irritability by her sweetness of temper. "Another writes: "A beauty of spirit in which love, gentleness, andkindness are mingled. Patience and meekness, fortitude, a well-governedtemper, sympathy, and tenderness, " Says another: "Kind, courteous, humble, and affectionate to old and young, rich and poor, yet ambitiousto right limits. " One young man writes: "Loving and kind, a Christianin heart and arts; a character based on Christ and his teachings. " Thenfollows this noble tribute: "My own mother has lived and proved thisideal for me. "

Of this tenor are all the letters. Without gentleness no woman can betruly beautiful. Cruelty in a man is a sad disfigurement, but in a womanit is the marring of all her loveliness. 

_Purity_ is another element which, in many of the letters, isemphasized. I need not quote the words. I need only remind you thatpurity must have its home in the heart, if it is to be the glory of thelife. "Blessed are the pure in heart, " is the Master's beatitude. "Youare pure, you say; are your thoughts as white

 As the snow that falls with the midnight's hush? Could you see them blazoned in letters of light, For the world to read, and feel no blush?

 If you stood in the court of heaven, mid swift, Glad greetings of loved ones who know no wrong, Could you bare your heart to them all, and lift Unshrinking eyes to that spotless throng?"

_Faithfulness_ is named by many as another essential element in truewomanhood. One answers: "Courage to take a positive stand on all moralquestions ... Industry that consists in something more than playingmechanically a few pieces on the piano, or tracing grotesque figuresin wool or silk. " Here two elements of faithfulness areindicated--faithfulness in one's place in all one's work, and moralfaithfulness in following conscience. Other letters suggest practicallythe same essential quality. 

It is impossible to over-emphasise this element. The time has goneby forever when woman, in Christian lands, can be regarded as a mereornament, and can be shut out of active life. She is not a doll or atoy. She has her duties and responsibilities. She is not born merelyto be married as soon as possible, and from girlhood to consider herwedding as the goal of her life. Thousands of young women will never bemarried, and yet their life need not be a failure though their fingersare never circled by a wedding-ring. Women have immortal souls. Theirheaven does not depend upon being linked with a husband, as the Mormonsteach. Marriage is a good thing for a woman, if she marry well. I honormarriage as one of the holiest and most sacred of God's ordinances. 

But, here is the truth which I want to impress, that a young womanshould not begin her life with the thought that she must get a husband. Oh, the sad desecration of womanhood that such a purpose in lifeproduces! Every young girl should set for her great central aim in life, to be a woman, a true, noble, pure, holy woman, to seek ever the highestthings; to learn from her Master her whole duty and responsibility inthis world, and to do the one and fulfil the other, That should beher aim, --to realize in her character all the possibilities of herwomanhood, and to do all the work for her Master which he may give herto do. Then, if God shall call her to be a wife, let her still go onwith the same reverence, faith, and love, in whatever lines she maybe led. I call young women to faithfulness--that is all, simplefaithfulness, Accept your duty, and do it. Accept your responsibility, and meet it. Be true in every relation you are called to fill, Be braveenough to be loyal always to your womanhood. 

One letter refers to what a true and noble sister may be to her brother, especially of the better than angel guardianship of an older sisterover her younger brother. Evidently this young man writes with theconsciousness that he himself has had the benediction of such an oldersister. Volumes could be written concerning such ministries. Moses wasnot the only child by whose infancy's cradle an older sister has keptsacred watch. He was not the only great man who has owed much of hisgreatness to a faithful, self-denying Miriam. Many a man who is nowhonored in the world owes all his power and influence to a woman, perhaps too much forgotten now, perhaps worn and wrinkled, beauty gone, brightness faded, living alone and solitary, but who, in the days ofhis youth, was guardian angel to him, freely pouring out the best andrichest of her life for him, giving the very blood of her veins that hemight have more life; denying herself even needed comforts that he, herheart's pride, might be educated and might become a noble man among men. 

Men who have true-hearted, self-forgetful older sisters rarely everhonor them half enough for their sacrifices, their unselfishnesses, theinfluence of their gentle purity and their hallowed love. Many a sisterhas denied herself everything, and has worn out her very life, for abrother who in his wealth or fame too often altogether forgets her. 

There is a class of women in every community whom society flippantlydenominates "old maids. " The world needs yet to be told what uncrownedqueens many of these women are, what undecorated heroines, whatblessings to humanity, what builders of homes, what servants of othersand of Christ. In thousands of cases they remain unmarried for thesake of their families. Many of them have refused brilliant offers ofmarriage that they might remain at home to be the shield and comfort andstay of parents growing feeble and needing their gentle care. Hundredsmore there are who have hidden away their own heart-hunger that theydevote their lives to good deeds for Christ and for humanity. 

Florence Nightingale denied herself the joy and sweetness of weddedhappiness, and gave her life to service in army hospitals, carrying towounded and weary men the blessing of her kindly ministry, instead ofshutting it up within the walls of a home of her own. And "Sister Dora, "who wrought with such brave spirit in English perl-houses, "whosestory is as a helpful evangel, was the bride of the world's sorrowonly. " Every community has its own examples of those whose hands havenot felt the pressure of the wedding-ring because home loved ones seemedto need their affection and their service. We ought to honor theseunmarried women. Many of them are the true heroines, the real sistersof mercy, of the communities where they live. Those who sometimes speaklightly of them might better bow down before them in reverence and kissthe hands, wrinkled now and faded, which never have been clasped inmarriage. Some one, by the coffin of one of these unwedded queens, writes of the folded hands:

 "Roughened and worn with ceaseless toil and care, No perfumed grace, no dainty skill, had these! They earned for whiter hands a jewelled case, And kept the scars unlovely for their share. Patient and slow, they had the will to bear The whole world's burdens, but no power to seize The flying joys of life, the gifts that please, The gold and gems that others find so fair. Dear hands, where bridal jewel never shone, Whereon no lover's kiss was ever pressed, Crossed in unwonted quiet on the breast, I see through tears your glory, newly won, The golden circlet of life's work well done, Set with the shining pearl of perfect rest. "

Every writer speaks of _Christlikeness_ as the real crown andcompleteness of all womanly character. I have not space to quote thewords of any letter. I may say only that Christ is not merely the ideal, the pattern, for every young woman to model her life upon, but thatChrist is to be her Friend as well as her Saviour, her Master, herHelper. Mary, sitting at Christ's feet, is a loving picture which everyyoung girl ought to keep framed in her heart. One letter sums upthe ideal womanhood in these elements: "Trustfulness, hopefulness, joyfulness, peacefulness. " But Christ must be in your heart before youcan have these qualities in your life. 

Let me now turn your thoughts to the other Scripture test. "The King'sdaughter is all glorious within; her clothing is of wrought gold. " Asthe words read in our Common Version, they seem to describe the heartlife and the outer life, or conduct. "All glorious within, " with heartpure, beautiful, radiant, bearing the image of Christ. "Her clothing isof wrought gold, " woven of threads of gold; that is, her outward lifealso is pure, beautiful, radiant, Christ-like. This is the King'sDaughter's text; it is the motto which gives them the aim of all theirlife and activity. Let us look at it a few moments as containing theScriptural ideal for all young womanhood. _"All glorious within_. " Thatis the first thing to seek in your ideal of true young womanhood. Youmust have your heart right, and it must be kept right. An evil heartnever made a holy life. A dark heart never made a shining life. Aselfish heart never made an unselfish life. A sad heart never made aglad life. Says Faber: "There are souls in the world who have the giftof finding joy everywhere, and of leaving it behind them when they go. Joy gushes from under their fingers like jets of light. Their influenceis an inevitable gladdening of the heart. It seems as if a shadow ofGod's own gift had passed upon them. They give light without meaning toshine. These bright hearts have a great work to do for God. "

The reason these lives are such benedictions is because they areglorious within. I cannot press home this truth too earnestly. Everything depends upon the heart. The heart makes the life. A beautifulsoul will make even a homely face beautiful. Seek, dear girls, to be"all glorious within. "

There is only one way. Our natural hearts are not beautiful, not pure, not glorious. We must let Christ wash our souls till they are madewhiter than snow. We must let the Holy Spirit cleanse us and purify usand glorify our life within. Here is a little prayer for all who wouldhave their hearts transformed:

 "Holy Spirit, dwell with me; I myself would holy be; Separate from sin, I would Choose and cherish all things good; And whatever I can be, Give to him who gave me thee. "

"_Her clothing is of wrought gold_. " Not only is the inner life of theKing's daughter all glorious, but her outer life also is resplendent. Her character is beautiful. Her disposition is kindly. Her spirit isgentle. She does lovely things. The heart makes the life. A gloriouslight within shines out and transfigures all the being. It is wonderfulhow the whole life is brightened by a loving, joyful heart. So I counselthe young women to seek to have their very faces shine with the gloryof peace. Watch your life, your temper, your disposition, your conduct, your acts, your words. You are a daughter of the King; wear your royalgarments wherever you may go. Go continually on your King's errands. 

You know the morning prayer which each "King's Daughter" is requested tooffer: "Take me, Lord, and use me to-day as thou wilt. Whatever workthou has for me to do, give it into my hands. If there are those thouwouldst have me to help in any way, send them to me. Take my time anduse it, as thou wilt. Let me be a vessel close to thy hand and meet forthy service, to be employed only for thee and for ministry to others inthy name. "

It does not need great and conspicuous things to make a life golden andradiant in God's sight. Go out each day with this prayer of consecrationon your lips, and be a blessing to every one you meet. Be a blessing, first, in your own home, to those who love you most. Leave joy in theirhearts as you go forth, or as they go forth, for the day. Then go withbenedictions to every other life you meet or touch. 

We are told of Jesus that when persons touched even his garment's hem, virtue went out of him and healed them. We read of Peter that the peoplelaid their sick in the street, that the apostle's shadow as he passed bymight fall on them and heal them. It should be so, dear Christian youngpeople, with your lives. You should be so full of the Spirit of God thatat every touch of love or need or sorrow, virtue may flow out of you toheal and bless, and that the mere shadow of your presence may have abenediction for every one on whom it falls. Is there not some one whomyou know, perhaps some lowly one, whom it always does you good to meet?Seek to have your life such a reservoir of good, of blessing, of life, of peace, of joy, that no one can meet you without taking away someblessing. 

Some one may be discouraged by this setting forth of so high an ideal. "I can never reach it. I can never train my life into such beauty. I cannever be such a woman. I can never do the duties of a Christian in suchn perfect way. " No, never in your own strength. If no help came fromGod, if there were set for us all the lofty ideals of the Scriptures, and we were then left alone to work them out as best we could, unhelped, we might well despair. But, for every duty and requirement there is apromise of divine grace. 

Ruskin says: "He gives us always strength enough, and sense enough, forwhat he wants us to do. If we either tire ourselves or puzzle ourselves, it is our own fault. " This puts tersely, and in strong, homely phrase, the essence of such promises of the Scriptures as "My grace issufficient for thee;" "As thy days so shall thy strength be, " and manyothers, "Strength enough and sense enough. " The latter is a freshreading of the old assurance. We often say we shall get strength enough, but we do not always remember that we shall get sense enough for everyduty, every perplexity, every place where great delicacy of wisdom isrequired. Yet there is a promise to any one who knows that he lackswisdom and will ask for it. 

So the young girl need not be afraid to step out into life, if she haveChrist with her. He will show her the way. He will make her strong forduty. He will be in her, and will help her to grow into radiant beautyof life. He will give her wisdom for every place where wisdom isrequired. As you bow at his feet, Christ looks into your face with loveand yearning, eager to grant you a new blessing. Ask him for what youwant most, and will it not be for the blessing of simple goodness, thelove of Christ to fill your heart and pour out through all your life? Noother gift can be such a benediction to you; no other can make you sucha benediction to others. 

I cannot tell you how my heart yearns for the young people to whom thesewords are addressed; how I long and pray that they may be cleansed ofall hidden faults and made all glorious within, and that their garmentsmay shine as if woven of threads of gold. With all sincerity I can makefor each one who may read these pages this earnest, loving prayer:--Father, our children keep!

 We know not what is coming on the earth; Beneath the shadow of thy heavenly wing, Oh keep them, keep them, then who gav'st them birth. 

 Them in thy chambers hide! Oh hide them and preserve them calm and safe, Where sin abounds and error flows abroad, And Satan tempts, and human passions chafe!

 Oh keep them undefiled! Unspotted from a tempting world of sin; That, clothed in white, through the bright city gates They may with us in triumph enter in. "