When I consider how my light is spent

Ere half my days in this dark world and wide,
And that one talent, which is death to hide,

Lodged with me, useless, though my soul were bent
To serve therewith my Maker, and present
My true account, lest he, returning, chide.
"Doth God exact day-labor, light denied?"
I fondly ask. But Patience, to prevent

That murmur, soon replies: "God doth not need
Either man's work, or his own gifts.

Who best

Bear his mild yoke, they serve him best. His state
Is kingly; thousands at his bidding speed,

And post o'er land and ocean without rest;

They also serve who only stand and wait."-Milton.

Bird of the wilderness,

Blithesome and cumberless,

Sweet be thy matin o'er moorland and lea!
Emblem of happiness,

Blest is thy dwelling-place;

Oh, to abide in the desert with thee!

Wild is thy lay, and loud,

Far in the downy cloud

Love gives it energy; love gave it birth.
Where, on thy dewy wing,

Where art thou journeying?

Thy lay is in heaven; thy love is on earth.
O'er fell and fountain sheen,

O'er moor and mountain green,

O'er the red streamer that heralds the day;
Over the cloudlet dim,

Over the rainbow's rim,

Musical cherub, soar, singing, away!

Then when the gloaming comes,

Low in the heather blooms,

Sweet will thy welcome and bed of love be!
Emblem of happiness,

Blest is thy dwelling-place;

Oh, to abide in the desert with thee!-James Hogg.

So live, that when thy summons comes to join
The innumerable caravan, that moves

To the pale realms of shade, where each shall take
His chamber in the silent halls of death,

Thou go not, like the quarry-slave at night,

Scourged to his dungeon; but, sustained and soothed
By an unfaltering trust, approach thy grave

Like one who wraps the drapery of his couch

About him, and lies down to pleasant dreams.-Bryant.

LESSON XXXI.

Actions of the Hand.

The actions of the arm are what are usually known as gestures. Although, as we have seen, gestures may be made elsewhere, the arm has almost a monopoly of them. The arm is divided into upper arm, forearm, and hand. We begin with the hand.

I.-Simple Indication. (Fig. 17.)

Point with the forefinger of either hand toward some object; be sure that the movement is from the wristthat is, that the hand alone and

not the forearm moves. Have

I

the arm near the body in an easy and natural attitude. The other fingers of the hand should not shut tightly, but be allowed to fall easily into a curved position. The forefinger here is active, the other fingers are passive. The thumb should not fall lifelessly inward, but should have a degree of activity, being expanded outward and upward in proportion to the activity of the forefinger.

The thumb is always more or less active in all animated, healthy conditions of mind and body. A relaxed thumb indicates either lack of vitality, indifference or passivity of mind, or weakness of intellect. Of course, in rest and sleep, the thumb, like the other parts of the body, is passive, and in portraying sleep, fatigue, or death, the thumb should be relaxed.

Point upward, downward, forward, outward, at the side, and inward across the body, with the arm in various attitudes. Use expressions like "Look at this table!" In carrying the hand outward at the side be careful that the outward movement is edgewise, or, as we say, that the edge of the hand leads.

A graceful gesture is always made in the easiest manner. The edge of the hand, like the bow of a boat, passes through the air with the least resistance; the palm, on the contrary, seems to push away the air by sheer force. It is plain that the edgewise movement will appear more graceful and easy to the eye of the beholder, while the palm leading gives an impression of greater strength because seeming to overcome

greater resistance, or, at least, being capable of overcoming it if it were present.

The back of the hand is the weakest as the palm is the strongest side of the hand, and all gestures in which the back of the hand leads seem weak and ineffective. Avoid, therefore, leading with the back of the hand, unless you intend to give an impression of weakness.

II.-Beckoning.

Beckon with the hand, that is, indicate yourself. "I myself;" "come here!"

III.-Admiration.

Lift the hand, palm outward, with gentle activity of the fingers, much as if you would caress something before you, or, more strongly, as if to exhibit something on your palm. This expresses admiration, pleasure in something before you in reality or in imagination; with very gentle action it shows a wish to caress the object. "It was magnificent!" "How beautiful she is!" "How soft and warm!"

IV.-Repulsion.

Raise the hand, palm outward, with all the fingers active and spread apart, as if to ward off something from the body.

This is the attitude of sudden surprise or fear, or whenever there is a feeling of repulsion or desire to

Now, in building of chaises, I tell you what,
There is always somewhere a weakest spot;

And that's the reason, beyond a doubt,

A chaise breaks down, but doesn't wear out.-Holmes.

Flower in the crannied wall,

I pluck you out of the crannies;-
Hold you here, root and all, in my hand,
Little flower;—but if I could understand

What you are, root and all, and all in all,

I should know what God and man is.-Tennyson.

Beneath a rose, as morning broke,

An angel from his sleep awoke.

Pleased with the flower above his head,

So fair and beautiful, he said:

"Thy fragrance and thy cooling shade
Have doubly sweet my slumbers made.

"Fairest of flowers on earth that grow,
Ask what you will, and I'll bestow."

Grant, then," it cried, "I'll ask no more,

Some charm no flower has known before!"

The angel first seemed at a loss,

Then clothed the bush in simple moss.

And lo! the moss rose stood confessed,
A lovelier flower than all the rest.

-"The Moss Rose."