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E THANK Thee, our Heavenly Father, for another bright day in this wonderful world that Thou hast given to us. We pray Thee that we may not darken the day by any self-made gloom or discontent on our part, but help us cheerfully to concentrate all our energies, and to devote ourselves wholly to the tasks of the immediate present. Help us to feel that the future for us depends upon today and that every day brought to a successful close will ensure a better day to follow. While we pray for ourselves, and that we may have the good sense to fit ourselves for a useful future, we would pray also for this great nation of ours, that it may take its place among the nations of the earth in a manner befitting its power, its wealth, and its ideals, and that it may live up to its duty in service for mankind. This we ask in the name of Christ.

AMEN.

Thos. B. Bronson

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LMIGHTY and most merciful Father, we begin the day conscious of our helplessness, and of Thy supreme and sovereign power. As Thou didst give us life, so we implore Thee to sustain it and to make us ready and fit for our larger service. For Thy care and protection through the night we praise Thee; the day and the night to Thee are both alike. As Thou hast watched about our beds, so we believe Thou knowest and plannest all our ways. Do Thou fit us for all that Thou art preparing for us. If perchance we should fail in our fulfillment of Thy plan concerning us, do Thou gently correct us and restore us to Thy love and favor. If disappointments or sorrows should attend us, make us strong to bear our burdens, and enrich us with Thy sustaining grace. Make us ever faithful in each particular duty; loyal to every high claim, responsive to every obligation to Thee and to those about us. Give us to know the way that leadeth unto life eternal, and fill us with the peace that passeth understanding. May the shadows and the sunshine alike develop and ennoble our characters. Bind us as a household with the ties of a sacred love, and make

us worthy of Thy continuing care and favor. May we live this day as heirs of eternal life, and rise ever more and more unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Him who for our sakes became poor, that we through His poverty might be made rich Thy Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. AMEN.

J. E. Freeman

HE day returns and brings us the petty round of irritating concerns and duties. Help us to play the man, help us to perform them with laughter and kind faces, let cheerfulness abound with industry. Give us to go blithly on our business all this day, bring us to our resting beds weary and content and undishonored, and grant us in the end the gift of sleep. AMEN.

Robert Louis Stevenson

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GOD, who hast ordained that whatever is to be desired, should be sought by labor, and who, by Thy blessing, bringest honest labor to good effect; look with mercy upon my studies and endeavors. Grant me, O Lord, to design only what is lawful and right; and afford me calmness of mind, and steadiness of purpose, that I may so do Thy will in this short life, as to obtain happiness in the world to come, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN.

Samuel Johnson