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lor-were born before 1825. He has sought an explanation in the decline of a national spirit caused by immigration. Doubtless immigration has been hostile to the growth of literature. But literature-certainly that of poetry, romance, oratory, philosophy-is a child of nature. It must breathe pure air; that of the mart stifles it. Wall street furnishes no inspiration to the poet. Poetry and spirituality are freeborn. They bear their own reward. Goethe has beautifully expressed the thought in his poem, "The Bard." The bard, who has just sung his most soulful melody in presence of king and courtier, refuses the chain of gold offered by the king. Handing back the precious gift he exclaims:

"I sing as sings the bird

That in the branches dwelleth,
The song itself, its own reward,
From deepest soul it welleth."

No nation can afford to lose its ideals. Our republic was born of a noble thought, was cradled in an atmosphere of liberty and religion, gained the strength of youth through deeds of self-sacrifice. The best heritage of our people is its love of truth. Truth sits enthroned in man and nature; back of both is the Divine. Science, literature, music, sculpture, painting, are the outward expression of an inner soul. In touch with the Divine man grows divine. Our best gifts are intellect and soul-both divine. If we cultivate them, we receive the best rewards. The æsthetic grows only in contact with nature, the intellectual in contact with men of thought and books of thought, the spiritual in contact with God.

To barter the music and poetry of the soul for a chain of gold is ignoble. The chain will fetter to earth. Mammon is a mundane spirit. Listen to the poet:

"Mammon, the least erected spirit that fell

From heaven; for even in heaven his look and thoughts

Were always downward bent, admiring more

The riches of heaven's pavement, trodden gold,

Than aught divine or holy else enjoyed

In vision beatific."

Neither intellectual, emotional, nor spiritual enjoyment has any cash value. The great danger of wealth is that it tends to dry up the springs of pure enjoyment. The stagnation or deterioration is gradual and insidious as is the loss of physical power. The intellect starves, the emotions wither, the spiritual nature dies. The possible giant becomes a pigmy. Awakening -there is none; the dead emotions are never resurrected. The immortal has put on mortality.

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Giving Enriches the Giver.

T

A. M. HAGGARD, A.M., Ex-President Oskaloosa College, Iowa.

WENTY years ago, in a Wisconsin town, two boys were schoolmates. One was from a poor family; the other

from a family more fortunate. The principal of the academy had suggested the organization of a cricket club. Both boys were very active in the various committees of preparation. In due time the first game was called, the captains were "choosing up." Frank chose Fred, who had not signed the constitution because he was unable to pay the prescribed fee. Frank had paid his dues, and entered his name as a member, but Fred would not believe it until the book was shown him. The boys are now men. Fred declares that nothing in all his life ever made a deeper impression on his heart. What will he not do for Frank? He would cross the continent at his call. He would risk health and life itself for his friend. would do for Frank's children what David did for the son of Jonathan, his deceased friend. What has Frank gained? In Fred he has an account upon which he can draw unlimited drafts; a bank where no draft will be dishonored; a balance which can never be overdrawn.

He

How poor and barren Strike out the gain of

This is but one incident from one life. most lives would be without such deeds! giving, and you destroy the core of history, the soul of oratory, the beauties of literature, the glories of poetry and song, the heroism of patriotism, the divinity of religion, and the hope of eternity.

He who wins the choicest gains of life must give. This is THE LAW. It is written upon the face of a world of dead mat

ter. The crude, unsightly carbon must give itself upon the rack of nature's secret inquisition, if it would shine in diamond beauty, or adorn a royal crown. It is written upon the pages of living matter. The seed cannot refuse the darkness and decay of its field sepulcher and yet receive the enrichment of a glorious harvest. We cannot avoid the cross and yet wear

the crown.

It is written in God's Word, "Give and it shall be given unto you, good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over." God himself honors this law by filling it full. He is the giver of that "unspeakable gift"; the giver of all good; the giver of all givers. All across the wide, wide sweep from the dust of the ground to the throne and heart of God, this law reads always the same, Giving is gain.

Is it right for the giver to think of his gains through giving? Does not such thought color his giving with selfishness? Jesus of Nazareth not only harbored such thoughts but was borne up thereon as by eagle's wings. "For the joy set before him he endured the cross and despised the shame." It is not wrong; it is not selfish. "God loveth a cheerful giver," and it is good to think on that love. It is good to know that "whosoever shall give to drink a cup of cold water only in the name shall in no wise lose his reward."

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of a disciple * Unselfish Giving is not a giving devoid of self. To eliminate self from giving is as impossible as to eliminate the glory of God from the universe he has made. What then is selfish giving? It is the wrong adjustment of self. It may be so placed as to help, or destroy. Make the centripetal force predominant and you destroy not only the orbits but the planets themselves. Subordinate this force and you lay the foundations of the starry dome, and fill the universe with order and law. In like manner, self made predominant renders true giving impossible. Self subordinated is incense upon glowing coals. The gift without the giver never filled the temple of the soul with the precious aroma of love. No holy place, no high priest in royal robes, no golden censer though enriched with diamonds, can atone for

the absence of incense, and that incense is self rightly placed self subordinated or sacrificed.

"He gives no gift who gives to me
Things rich and rare,

Unless within the gift he give

Of self some share.

"He gives no gift who gives to me
Silver or gold,

If but to make his own heart glad;
Such gift is cold.

"He gives me gifts most rich and rare
Who gives to me,

Out of the riches of his heart,
True sympathy.

"He gives best gifts who, giving naught

Of worldly store,

Gives me his friendship, love, and trust.

I ask no more."

—Laura Harvey in Demorest's.

In giving the benefit may be transferred in many appropriate forms. That form which first recurs to most minds is money or property. At present there is manifest a wave of benevolence. The endowment of educational institutions, the furthering of benevolent enterprises, and the enlarging of missionary undertakings is characteristic of this quarter of our century. Our multi-millionaires are doing themselves credit in these fields. A host of men and women of smaller means are adopting the ten per cent. rule in their giving. Personal inquiry, well directed, will surprise many readers; first, at the number voluntarily practicing this method; and, next, at the wide range of condition covered by these givers, some being very limited in means; and, in the third place, at their testimony in answer to our proposition, "Does giving enrich the giver?" If you have never had communion with these witnesses, gain it at Or, better yet, try the method for yourself. It is an inspiration to meet a nineteenth century business man who

once.

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