work everything that will best help to promote the happiness and well-being of others; this will be alike the English girl's mission and her prayer. One has said that "Work is Worship," and that "there is one Liturgy which does remain for ever unexceptionable, that of Praying and Working." In endeavouring to define somewhat the place and power of every true English girl, we have dwelt much upon her work. Life and living are inseparable. Hence to be necessitates to do. And in both kind and proportion as the English girl is in her inner life, so will she be in the outward rendering of that life. Careless and indifferent in regard to higher aims and purposes, selfish and pleasure-seeking in her everyday thought, how can such a life, read and felt, and in a certain measure unconsciously imitated by others, be better than feeble and enervating, restless and unsatisfying? While, on the other hand, walking in that Spirit whose fruit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance, earnest to perform faithfully whatsoever the hand findeth to do, humble as concerning its own achievements, hopeful in regard to the struggles and efforts to do right of others, will not the influence of such a life be invigorating, noble, truth-inspiring, and in every sense blessed? Ready to do "great things," should occasion demand them of her, the English girl will nevertheless feel that the power of her life consists in the due estimation and faithful performance of little things, possibly in "gathering up the fragments" of work which others leave; and as she grows into the fulness of the life which is hers, so she will learn more and more the deep teaching of that "obedience" which is "better than sacrifice," and understand that often in the life. of silent service there is truer worship and more lasting praise, than in the performance of deeds which outwardly appear more largely gifted with nobility and worth. Very imperfectly and feebly have we drawn in outline a sketch of the English girl's place and power. It is for her to give life and reality to the picture, to turn into substantial fact that which may appear but a highly-coloured theory. We have had but one desire in thus attempting to define the English girl's position at Home, in Society, and in her Special Work-viz., to gather within her heart's thought the possibilities of her life. We have had but one purpose in seeking to enlarge upon her power, and that has been to open her eyes to the unlimited importance of her youthful influence. The right filling of this place, and the full exercise of this power, must ever depend upon the heart's response to the earnest persuasion of the Apostle :-"I beseech you, therefore, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." And the daily ingathering of strength to heart and life will come, not in lofty meditation upon what might be accomplished, not in day-dreams of great service called forth by great necessities, but in doing simply, hour by hour, moment by moment, with the full concentration of mind and purpose "the thing that comes next." We cannot, surely, give to the English girl a more helpful or beautiful motto for her life's service than that suggested by the lines : "And on through the hours The quiet words ring, Like a low inspiration— 'Doe the nexte thynge. Many a questioning, Many a fear, Many a doubt, Hath its guiding here. Moment by moment, Let down from Heaven, Oh, He would have thee Glad for His call, No turmoil need bring, His all thy future— 'Doe the nexte thynge.' Do it immediately, Do it with prayer; Do it reliantly, Casting all care. Do it with reverence, Tracing His hand Who has placed it before thee With earnest command. Stayed on Omnipotence, Safe 'neath His wing, Leave all resultings— Doe the nexte thynge." SYMPATHY, NOT PATRONAGE. THE title of this chapter suggests its purport. In a day when perhaps more than at any other time in our nation's history, a work for others, clear, definite, and of largest possibility, falls to the share of our English girls, it is as great a part of wisdom as of necessity to ascertain the nature and kind of power needful if not altogether indispensable to the success of this work. If this power depended upon a well-filled purse, if it gathered its force from courtly manners and condescending favours, the work of which we speak would be limited to those who laid claim to these possessions, while, however earnest in purpose, or gifted with desire others might be, failing in these attractions, they would be at once cut off from the success which all true work gathers to itself sooner or later. Let us say at once emphatically and without any mental reservation that it is sympathy not patronage that is the English girl's great power. |