Practice Book | Page 8

things growing!
I should like to live, whether I
smile or grieve,
Just to watch the happy life of my green things
growing.

Oh the fluttering and the pattering of those green things growing! How
they talk each to each, when none of us are knowing;
In the
wonderful white of the weird moonlight
Or the dim dreamy dawn
when the cocks are crowing.
I love, I love them so--my green things growing!
And I think that
they love me, without false showing;
For by many a tender touch,
they comfort me so much,
With the soft mute comfort of green things
growing.
And in the rich store of their blossoms glowing,
Ten for one I take
they're on me bestowing:
Oh, I should like to see, if God's will it may
be,
Many, many a summer of my green things growing!
But if I must be gathered for the angels' sowing,
Sleep out of sight a
while like the green things growing,
Though dust to dust return, I
think I'll scarcely mourn,
If I may change into green things growing.
DINAH MULOCK CRAIK.

THE TRUE USE OF WEALTH.
0. There is a saying which is in all good men's mouths; namely, that
they are stewards or ministers of whatever talents are entrusted to
them. Only, is it not a strange thing that while we more or less
accept the meaning of that saying, so long as it is considered
metaphorical, we never accept its meaning in its own terms? You
know the lesson is given us under the form of a story about
money. Money was given to the servants to make use of: the
unprofitable servant dug in the earth, and hid his Lord's money.
Well, we in our poetical and spiritual application of this, say that
of course money doesn't mean money--it means wit, it means
intellect, it means influence in high quarters, it means everything
in the world except itself.
0. And do you not see what a pretty and pleasant come-off there is for

most of us in this spiritual application? Of course, if we had wit,
we would use it for the good of our fellow-creatures; but we
haven't wit. Of course, if we had influence with the bishops, we
would use it for the good of the church; but we haven't any
influence with the bishops. Of course, if we had political power,
we would use it for the good of the nation; but we have no
political power; we have no talents entrusted to us of any sort or
kind. It is true, we have a little money, but the parable can't
possibly mean anything so vulgar as money; our money's our
own.
0. I believe, if you think seriously of this matter, you will feel that the
first and most literal application is just as necessary a one as any
other--that the story does very specially mean what it says--plain
money; and that the reason we don't at once believe it does so, is
a sort of tacit idea that while thought, wit and intellect, and all
power of birth and position, are indeed given to us, and, therefore,
to be laid out for the Giver,--our wealth has not been given to us;
but we have worked for it, and have a right to spend it as we
choose. I think you will find that is the real substance of our
understanding in this matter. Beauty, we say, is given by God--it
is a talent; strength is given by God--it is a talent; but money is
proper wages for our day's work--it is not a talent, it is a due. We
may justly spend it on ourselves, if we have worked for it.
0. And there would be some shadow of excuse for this, were it not that
the very power of making the money is itself only one of the
applications of that intellect or strength which we confess to be
talents. Why is one man richer than another? Because he is more
industrious, more persevering, and more sagacious. Well, who
made him more persevering and more sagacious than others?
That power of endurance, that quickness of apprehension, that
calmness of judgment, which enable him to seize opportunities
that others lose, and persist in the lines of conduct in which
others fail--are these not talents?--are they not, in the present
state of the world, among the most distinguished and influential
of mental gifts?
0. And is it not wonderful, that while we should be utterly ashamed to
use a superiority of body in order to thrust our weaker

companions aside from some place of advantage, we
unhesitatingly use our superiorities of mind to thrust them back
from whatever good that strength of mind can attain? You would
be indignant if you saw a strong man walk into a theatre or
lecture-room, and, calmly choosing the