The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1885-01-28
Fred's Diary.

Years morning, busily writing in his new
diary
1t had been Christmas gift from his
mother and he was very proud of his new
possession. 1t was pretty little book,
with crimson morocco covers, gilt edges,
and place for his pencil.
1t is the prettiest diary ever saw"
he said, admiringly, as he paused for a
moment in his writing to look at it. I
mean to write in it every day this year. ="
What are you going to write in it,
dear p asked Grandma, who was sitting
near him in her easy chair, busy with her
knitting.
40, mean to write everything in it, -
answered Fred. L mean to put down a
lot of new resolutions in the fret place,
and then every day l will write down
how many of them have kept 1 will
write about all the good times I have,
and all the places l go to, and every
time | get to the head of my class o, |
shall have lots to write, and | am sure |
never will get tired of writing in it,
Grandma smiled. I'm petuous Fred
was very apt to enter upon a new under
taking with great ardor, and then give it
would not be very long before the little
red book would lose It's charm and lie
neglected and untouched in Fred's desk
for days at a time.
And what about the broken resolu-
tons, dear ?" asked Grandma, gently.
&" Don't you mean to keep any record of
anything except your good times p
a don't mean to break any of my
good resolutions, though, answered Fred.
l can keep them if I try, am sure.
Let me read them to you, Grandma, so
you can see what excellent ones they
are.
Grandma laid down her knitting and
listened attentively, while Fred read her
a set of resolutions that, if kept, would
make him model boy in every way.
They are very good indeed, Fred, -
she said, when he had finished reading
them ; but my dear boy, 1 should have
more hope of your keeping them if you
added three little words at the end"
What words, Grandma p asked Fred,
in surprise. | am sure l can t imagine
what three words would help me in keep
ing my resolutions"
By Gods help" answered Grandma.
If you trust in your own strength to
keep these resolutions you will surely
fail, but if you ask for Gods help then
you will be strengthened to resist temp
tation, and although you may sometimes
fail, you will succeed far better than
when you trust to yourself. If your
diary is to be faithful record of your
life, Fred, you will have many broken
resolution, many failure to write in it.
And if you leave all these things out of
your little book you know there is anoth-
er book in which every action and every
word you utter is recorded. Although
you may fill this little diary only with
your good deeds faithful record of all
your wrong-doing will be kept in the
other book. You must try to keep those
pages pure and fair, as well as those of
your little diary"
Fred looked very sober. He rernem-
bered how often he had made good reso-
lutions and determined to keep them,
and how he had always failed. He had
been trusting in his own strength to keep
them, so it was not to be wondered at
that he had been unsuccessful.
He had never thought of this other
record before, in which the broken re-
solutions were recorded as we'll as those
which we're kept, and he began to feel
that he would, indeed, need a higher
strength than his own.
Very slowly and tboughtfully he wrote
the words, By Gods help" beneath his
carefully written resolutions, and in his
heart ne resolved that they should not
be mere empty words, but that every
day he would prayerfully seek the help
which God alone was able to give, and
without which his best efforts would be
Of no avail.-Presbyterjan.