When pride cometh, then cometh shame; but with

the lowly is wisdom.

-"BIBLE-PROVERBS 11."

Be humble if thou wouldst attain to wisdom,
Be humbler still when wisdom thou hast mastered.
"THE VOICE OF THE SILENCE."

From poison thou mayest take the food of life,
The purest gold from lumps of impure earth,
Examples of good conduct from a foe,
Sweet speech and gentleness e'en from a child,
Something from all; from men of low degree
Lessons of wisdom, if thou humble be.*

-MANU.

An humble man is like a good tree, the more full of fruit the branches are, the lower they bend themselves.

Lowliness is good, O God; then

will prevail.

no man's envy

By a great flood trees are carried away,
While the rushes there remain;

If the waves of the river come,

They bend low, and the waves pass over them.
Tukâ says,—“This is the fruit of falling low,
No man's strength will prevail against one."†

Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. "BIBLE-ST. MATTHEW 18."

* From Indian Wisdom by Monier Williams.

+ From Sir A, Grant's Translation in Fortnightly Review,

He that is down, needs fear no fall;
He that is low, no pride;

He that is humble ever shall

Have God to be his guide.

-BUNYAN.

Th' Almighty, from his throne, on earth surveys,
Nought greater, than an honest humble heart;
An humble heart, his residence! pronounc'd
His second seat; and rival to the skies.

-EDWARD YOUNG.

Pride, exclusiveness, self-glorification, have no place
Humility is the only credential

in the kingdom of God.

which can obtain for us an entrance there.

"Humble we must be, if to heaven we go;
High is the roof there, but the gate is low."

True merit, like the pearl inside an oyster, is content to remain quiet till it finds an opening.

- CHINESE PROVERB.

Smooth runs the water where the brook is deep.

A great river makes no noise.

-SHAKESPEARE,

-TURKISH PROVERB.

The true secret of living at peace with all the world is to have an humble opinion of ourselves.

In whatever concerns bodily wants and bodily comforts, it is our duty to compare our own lot with the

*From The Life of Christ, by F. W. Farrar.

lot of those who are worse off, and this will keep us thankful on the other hand, whenever we are tempted to set up our own wisdom or goodness, we must compare ourselves with those who are wiser and better, and that will keep us humble.

-HANNAH MORE.

Astronomy is the most humbling of sciences. Its very essence is humiliation for the proud thoughts of vain man. In other sciences, the more we know the greater we pride ourselves-the higher seems to rise our place in creation. But in astronomy advancing knowledge is but an increasing revelation of the vastness of the surrounding universe, and of the mighty existences for ever circling in shining courses through space compared with which earth is but as a tiny pebble among the bounders of the sea-shore. If this be, then, the case of Earth, what is man, her puny denizen, but as a mere dust-grain in the Universe, his presence or absence alike unnoted and uncared for by the host of vast worlds ever rolling through space in the shining circling courses ?

One part, one little part, we dimly scan

Through the dark medium of life's feverish dream;
Yet dare arraign the whole stupendous plan,

If but that little part incongruous seem.
Nor is that part perhaps what mortals deem;
Oft from apparent ill our blessings rise.
O, then, renounce that impious self-esteem,
That aims to trace the secrets of the skies:
For thou art but of dust; be humble, and be wise.
BEATTIE,

The most helpful and sacred work which can at present be done for humanity is to teach people (chiefly by example, as all best teaching must be done) not how "to better themselves," but how to "satisfy themselves." It is the curse of every evil nation and evil creature to eat, and not be satisfied. The words of blessing are, that they shall eat and be satisfied. and be satisfied. And as there is only one kind of water which quenches all thirst, so there is only one kind of bread which satisfies all hunger, the bread of justice or righteousness; which hungering after, man shall always be filled, that being the bread of Heaven.

And in order to teach men how to be satisfied, it is necessary fully to understand the art and joy of humble life, this, at present of all arts or sciences being the one most needing study. Humble life, that is to say, proposing to itself no future exaltation, but only a sweet continuance ; not excluding the idea of foresight, but wholly of foresorrow, and taking no troblous thought for coming days; so, also, not excluding the idea of providence or provision, but wholly of accumulation;-the life of domestic affection and domestic peace, full of sensitiveness to all elements of costless and kind pleasure ;-therefore, chiefly to the loveliness of the natural world.

-JOHN RUSKIN.

Agathocles, being from a mean fortune advanced to the royal dignity, would be served at table with earthenware, and being asked the reason, I hope, answered he, that the remembrance of my extraction from a potter will check that pride, which the vain pomp of pride may raise in me.

THE STORY OF THE FLAG AND THE

CURTAIN.

Listen to this story, to the effect that, in Baghdâd,
A dispute arose between a flag and a curtain.
The flag, on account of the hardship of the march,
and the dust of the stirrup,

Said to the curtain reproachfully,

"I and thou are both servants of a common master; "Are the slaves of the Sultân's royal court.

"I rest not a moment from duty;

"At all hours, in and out of season, I am on the

"Thou experiencest neither fatigue nor war,

march.

"Nor the desert, nor the march, nor the dust;

66

My foot is foremost in any arduous undertaking;

"Why then is thy proximity to royalty greater than

"Thou screenest beautiful slaves,

mine?

"Art the companion of jasmine-scented girls; "I am fallen into the hands of servants; "Foot-bound, on the march and fluttering above." The curtain said, "I place my head on the threshold, "And do not, like thee, raise my head on high.' He who lifts high his head with vain conceit, Hurls himself down headlong.

Sâdi is lowly, free from worldly cares;

No one makes war against the lowly.

* Translated by Platts.

-SADI'S GULISTÂN.*