"A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.' (Prov. 25 :11.)

Only a word! It was breathed in a whisper,
For the sweet story was tremblingly told,
But in the deep hidden life of the listener
It was embedded like apples of gold.

Fain would we utter "a word fitly spoken,''
We cannot tell what it yet may unfold;
But are our lives like the "pictures of silver,''
Needed to grace the bright apples of gold ?

Many around us have heard of the Saviour,
Yet to His love they are lifeless and cold;
Still, as we meet them, we'd joyfully greet them
With His own life-giving apples of gold.

But let our souls be so " filled with the Spirit,"
That we shall neither be bashful nor bold:
Then with a life that is calm and consistent,
We shall be " framing " our apples of gold.

Though to some friends we can say but a little,
They will believe what their eyes can behold,
And while preserving the pictures of silver,
May we not watch for the apples of gold ?

Have we just found in the mine of hid treasure,
Some precious promise that never grows old ?
Priceless it is ! Might not some fellow-searcher
Welcome it too, as God's apples of gold ?

Oft it may seem we have foolishly wasted
Words that we thought were too good to withhold,
Yet we may find that some mute overhearer
Seized with delight the choice apples of gold!

Lord, we would speak of Thy grace and Thy glory,
More is to tell than has ever been told:
Oh, may our lives be kept blameless and holy-
Pictures of silver for apples of gold !

J. M. G.