DUTY AND BLESSING. 

Longfellow recalls "The Legend Beautiful," with its story of the old monastery, the monk in an agony of prayer on its cold stone floor, the sudden vision of the Christ that came to him there, and how just in the midst of his joy at the heavenly sight the bell pealed forth its message calling him to feed the poor beggars at the convent-gate. If he did not go the poor would suffer; but to go meant to leave the vision he had been longing for all his life. Says the poet: 

Then a voice within his breast whispered, audible and clear, As if to the outward ear

"Do thy duty; that is best; Leave unto thy Lord the rest.”

The monk heeded it as the message of God, and went away to his task of service ; and when he came back, to his great delight, his Lord was still there, and with smiling lips he said, 

“Hadst thou stayed, I must have fled.” 

Blessing always comes through duty, and the heavenly vision can never be kept through self-indulgence.