other, let us reach down for our brother and help him to stand beside us.

"Ah! how many need help in this world-poor, afflicted ones; poor, sorrowing ones; poor, tempted ones, who have become overcome, who have been struggling, not quite able to get up the step; trying, falling; trying, falling; trying, desponding; trying, and almost despairing! Oh, give such a one help, a little kindly aid, and the step may be taken, and another step may then be taken; and instead of dying in wretchedness at the base, he may, by a brother's hand, be raised to safety, and finally to glory."

It has been said by another writer: "Many a man of real mark in the world was helped toward power and fame by a stimulating or sympathizing word in some critical hour; a word, too, from one who never had power or fame himself, but who had the ability to perceive the signs of nobleness, and the readiness to express his sense of it. This thought ought to encourage many of us as to our possibilities of important service in life. Although it may not be for us to be great in the world, it may be for us to recognize greatness in others, and even to promote greatness by our hearty and unselfish praise of it."

Canon Farrar emphasizes the same truth in these apt words: "Next only to the man who achieves the greatest and most blessed deeds is he who, perhaps himself wholly incapable of such high work, is yet the first to help and encourage the genius of others. We often

do more good by our sympathy than by our labors, and render to the world a more lasting service by absence of jealousy, and recognition of merit, than we could ever render by the straining efforts of personal ambition."

The noble man who rescued the late John B. Gough from a drunkard's career by plucking him again and again from the gutter, taking him into his own home and persevering until his weak will became strong enough to resist temptation, did a service for humanity, only to be measured by that of Gough himself.

The young lady who, becoming interested in a bright little urchin -a waif on the streets- urged him to attend her Sunday school class, searching for and bringing him back when he wandered away, did a work of inestimable value in saving to a life of usefulness Robert Morrison, who became in later years the noble missionary, and translator of the Bible to the Chinese; thus unfolding to benighted millions the glorious truths of the Christian religion.

How truly has it been said: "Kind looks, kind words, kind acts, and warm hand-shakes, are secondary means of grace, when men are in trouble and are fighting their unseen battles."

If we have not the ability ourselves to do valiant service for the right, let us sympathize with, and encourage those who have, and so keep our hearts tender and responsive to the needs of those around us. Let us not forget that " every heart knows its own

bitterness" and at times cries out for words of sym

pathy.

What a touching wail of loneliness, and longing for sympathy, was that which came from John Howard Payne, the author of "Home, Sweet Home."

"How often," he said, "have I been in the heart of the cities of Paris, Berlin, London, or some other city, and have heard persons singing, or hand-organs playing, "Home, Sweet Home," without having a shilling to buy myself the next meal, or a place to lay my head! The world has literally sung my song till every heart is familiar with its melody; yet I have been a wanderer from my boyhood, and in my old age have to submit to humiliation for my bread." No wonder he died, a poor, heart-broken wanderer in a foreign land.

When we reflect that we all belong to the same brotherhood of humanity, and that we are each our brother's keeper, how keen and ready should be our sympathy for all the suffering and unfortunate members of our race.

Daniel Webster, in his famous Plymouth Rock oration, uttered a lofty sentiment when he said, speaking of how the whole human race are bound together: "It is not a vain and false, but an exalted and religious imagination, which leads us to the contemplation of a myriad of fellow beings with which God's goodness has peopled eternal space. So, also, it is neither false nor vain to consider ourselves interested in, and con

nected with, our whole race through all time; allied to our ancestors; allied to our posterity; closely compacted on all sides with others, ourselves but links in the great chain of being, which begins with the origin of our race, runs onward through its successive generations, binding together the past, the present, the future, and terminating at last, with the consummation of all things earthly, at the throne of God."

If this be true, then our sympathies should extend, not alone to those immediately about us, but as far and outreaching as the needs of our race. And not

only shall we then be a blessing to others, but our own hearts will be enriched, and prevented from growing hardened by the cares and turmoil of our daily lives.

A thoughtful observer gives this testimony from his own experience: "The longer I live, the more expedient I find it to endeavor more and more to extend my sympathies and affections. I do not mean that I wish to form a new friendship every day, to increase my circle of intimates,―these are very different affairs. But I find that it conduces to my mental health and happiness to find out all I can that is amiable and lovable in those I come in contact with, and to make the most of it."

Let us, then, have a heart full of tender regard and sympathy for all suffering ones, and a Christ-like charity for the mistakes and failings of those who are fighting their unseen battles with temptation and sin.

THE HEROISM OF COMMON LIFE.

HE world loves heroes and heroism. The battlefields of history are resplendent with the martial figures who have made them immortal by their deeds of valor. How much of the world's history is a record of the achievements of its heroes. But it must not be forgotten, that in obscure places, and in the quiet walks of life, there are constantly being enacted deeds of heroism, as sublime and as worthy of our admiration as any which ever transpired on bloody fields of conflict. It is natural to measure the fame of a hero by the magnitude of his deeds and the results which have proceeded from them, rather than by the spirit and quality of the heroism which inspired them. But there are heroes worthy of immortal renown, who are associated with deeds, that did not inspire vast armies, or turn the tide of battles, or save an imperiled country, but which were obscure and will soon be forgotten.

Grant and Garfield, when on their sick beds, valiantly meeting their last foe with cheerfulness and resignation, displayed greater heroism than on the battlefield. And there have been thousands of others unknown to fame, who have met death as heroically.