Chicken, Feta Cheese, and Sun-Dried Tomato Wraps

Ingredients

2 (4 ounce) skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
1/4 cup sun-dried tomato dressing
8 sun-dried tomatoes (not oil packed)
1 cup boiling water
1/3 cup crumbled feta cheese
4 cups loosely packed torn fresh spinach
4 (10 inch) whole wheat tortillas
1/4 cup sun-dried tomato dressing


Directions:-

In a large resealable plastic bag, combine chicken breasts and 1/4 cup dressing. Seal, and refrigerate for several hours.
Preheat grill for high heat. Combine sun-dried tomatoes and hot water in a small bowl. Set aside for 10 minutes, drain, and cut tomatoes into thin slices.
Lightly oil grill grate. Discard marinade, and place chicken on grill. Cook for 12 to 15 minutes, turning once, or until done.
Cut chicken into strips, and place in a medium bowl with sliced tomatoes, feta, and spinach. Toss with remaining 1/4 cup dressing. Distribute mixture between the four tortillas, and wrap. Either cut in half and enjoy cold, or place briefly back on grill until the tortilla turns warm and crisp

Prep Time:15 Min Cook Time:30 Min Ready In:3 Hrs 45 Min

SERVES 4

Roasted Mediterranean Chicken

Ingredients

cooking spray
8 small red potatoes, halved
1 (16 ounce) jar four cheese Alfredo sauce
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breast halves, cut into large chunks
4 Roma (plum) tomatoes, quartered
4 cloves garlic, peeled
1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary
12 pitted kalamata olives, cut in half
Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Spray a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
Place potatoes into a microwave-safe bowl, and cook in microwave oven on High setting for 2 minutes; turn potatoes over (watch for steam) and cook 2 more minutes on High. Set potatoes aside.
Mix together the Alfredo sauce, lemon juice, olive oil, salt, black pepper, and garlic in a bowl. Place the chicken pieces into the prepared baking dish, and generously brush chicken with about 1 cup of the mixture. Arrange the potatoes, tomatoes, and garlic cloves around the chicken. Brush the vegetables with the remaining sauce mixture. Sprinkle the chicken and vegetables with rosemary and olives.
Bake in the preheated oven until the chicken is cooked through and the potatoes are tender, about 25 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the chicken should read at least 160 degrees F (70 degrees C

Prep Time:25 Min Cook Time:30 Min Ready In:55 Min

SERVES 6

Chinese Roasted Chicken

Ingredients

1 (4 pound) fresh or thawed whole roasting chicken
2 tablespoons Kikkoman Lite Soy Sauce
2 teaspoons dry sherry
1 teaspoon vegetable oil
1 large clove garlic, pressed
1/2 teaspoon fennel seed, crushed
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon sugar
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
Directions

Remove and discard giblets and neck from chicken. Rinse chicken under cold running water; drain well and pat dry with paper towels. Pierce chicken thoroughly with fork. Place chicken, breast side up, in shallow, foil-lined roasting pan.
Combine lite soy sauce, sherry, oil, garlic, fennel, ginger, sugar and cloves. Brush cavity and skin thoroughly with sauce mixture.
Roast in 325 degrees F. oven 1 hour and 45 minutes, or until meat thermometer inserted into thigh registers 180, brushing chicken occasionally with remaining sauce mixture during last 40 minutes of roasting time.
Remove chicken from oven and let stand 10 minutes before carving.

SERVES 4

Beer Roasted Lime Chicken

Ingredients

1 (4 pound) whole chicken
1 tablespoon salt, or to taste
1 tablespoon ground black pepper, or to taste
1 lime, halved
1/2 (12 fluid ounce) can beer
1 cup water
Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Season the chicken inside and out with salt and pepper. Squeeze the juice from the lime over the whole chicken, then place the halves into the cavity of the chicken. Set the half full beer can in the center of a roasting pan or baking dish, and place the chicken over it in an upright position with the beer inserted into the cavity. Pour water into the bottom of the pan. Cover the chicken with aluminum foil, and place roasting pan and all into the oven.
Roast the chicken for about 1 1/2 hours in the preheated oven, removing foil during the last 20 minutes. Baste occasionally with the drippings. When finished, the internal temperature of the chicken should be 180 degrees F (80 degrees C) when taken in the meatiest part of the thigh. Let the chicken rest for about 10 minutes before serving.

Prep Time:15 Min Cook Time:2 Hrs Ready In:2 Hrs 15 Min

SERVES 6

Strawberry Balsamic Chicken

Ingredients

4 (8 ounce) containers strawberry yogurt
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon white sugar
1 tablespoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon kosher salt
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon lemon juice
4 large strawberries
2 teaspoons minced fresh parsley
1 teaspoon minced fresh mint leaves
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar (optional)
Directions

In a medium bowl, stir together the yogurt, 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar, sugar, pepper, cinnamon and salt. Place chicken breast halves in a shallow baking dish, and pour the sauce over them. Refrigerate for 1 hour, turning chicken over half way through.
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Scrape the marinade off of the chicken breasts, and place them into the hot oil. Quickly brown the chicken on both sides, then reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and cook until chicken is no longer pink and juices run clear, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat, and let rest for 3 minutes.
While the chicken is cooking, transfer the marinade to a saucepan. Bring to a low simmer over medium heat. Remove stems from strawberries, and slice thinly so they will fan nicely. Set aside.
Slice chicken breasts on the diagonal into 1/2 inch thick slices. Place on serving plates, and sprinkle with lemon juice. Spoon about 2 tablespoons of the marinade over each chicken breast, and fan one sliced strawberry over the top. Garnish with a sprinkle of fresh mint and parsley. If you really love balsamic vinegar, finish the dish off with an artful drizzle.

Prep Time:1 Hr Cook Time:20 Min Ready In:1 Hr 20 Min

Serves 4

Macaroni with White Sauce

Ingredients

1 1/2 (16 ounce) packages uncooked elbow macaroni
2 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided
2 cubes chicken bouillon
1 large onion, chopped
1 3/4 pounds ground beef
4 tablespoons tomato paste
salt to taste
ground black pepper to taste

1/4 cup vegetable oil
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
3 cups milk
1/2 teaspoon ground white pepper
3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Directions:-

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta, 1 tablespoon oil and bouillon cubes, and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet. Saute onion until golden and add ground beef. Cook over medium heat until evenly brown. Stir in tomato paste, salt and pepper; simmer over low heat until heated through.
Heat 1/4 cup oil in a deep saucepan; stir in flour, then milk. Cook over medium-low heat until sauce thickens; stir in salt and white pepper. Pour half of the sauce over the cooked macaroni and stir in mozzarella cheese. Spoon half of the macaroni into prepared dish and top with ground beef mixture. Spoon the remaining macaroni over the ground beef, and top with remaining white sauce.
Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until golden brown.


Prep Time:45 Min Cook Time:30 Min Ready In:1 Hr 15 Min

SERVES 4

Chicken Marsala

Ingredients

1/4 cup all-purpose flour for coating
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - pounded 1/4 inch thick
4 tablespoons butter
4 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup sliced mushrooms
1/2 cup Marsala wine
1/4 cup cooking sherry

Directions :-

In a shallow dish or bowl, mix together the flour, salt, pepper and oregano. Coat chicken pieces in flour mixture.
In a large skillet, melt butter in oil over medium heat. Place chicken in the pan, and lightly brown. Turn over chicken pieces, and add mushrooms. Pour in wine and sherry. Cover skillet; simmer chicken 10 minutes, turning once, until no longer pink and juices run clear.

Prep Time:10 Min Cook Time:20 Min Ready In:30 Min

SERVES 4

Honey Mustard Grilled Chicken

Ingredients

1/3 cup mustard
1/4 cup honey
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 teaspoon steak sauce
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves

Directions:-

Preheat the grill for medium heat.
In a shallow bowl, mix the mustard, honey, mayonnaise, and steak sauce. Set aside a small amount of the honey mustard sauce for basting, and dip the chicken into the remaining sauce to coat.
Lightly oil the grill grate. Grill chicken over indirect heat for 18 to 20 minutes, turning occasionally, or until juices run clear. Baste occasionally with the reserved sauce during the last 10 minutes. Watch carefully to prevent burning!

Prep Time:15 Min Cook Time:20 Min Ready In:35 Min

SERVES 4

Grilled Chicken Salad with Seasonal Fruit

Ingredients

1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
1/2 cup pecans
1/3 cup red wine vinegar
1/2 cup white sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
1/2 onion, minced
1 teaspoon ground mustard
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper
2 heads Bibb lettuce - rinsed, dried and torn
1 cup sliced fresh strawberries

Directions:-

Preheat the grill for high heat.
Lightly oil the grill grate. Grill chicken 8 minutes on each side, or until juices run clear. Remove from heat, cool, and slice.
Meanwhile, place pecans in a dry skillet over medium-high heat. Cook pecans until fragrant, stirring frequently, about 8 minutes. Remove from heat, and set aside.
In a blender, combine the red wine vinegar, sugar, vegetable oil, onion, mustard, salt, and pepper. Process until smooth.
Arrange lettuce on serving plates. Top with grilled chicken slices, strawberries, and pecans. Drizzle with the dressing to serve.

Prep Time:15 Min Cook Time:20 Min Ready In:35 Min

Serves 6

Grilled Sesame Chicken

Ingredients

1 cup olive oil or vegetable oil
1 cup white grape juice
1 cup soy sauce
1 cup chopped green onions
1/3 cup sesame seeds, toasted
2 tablespoons ground mustard
1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
2 teaspoons pepper
8 cloves garlic, minced
12 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
Directions

In a large resealable plastic bag, combine the first nine ingredients. Remove 1/2 cup for basting; cover and refrigerate. Add chicken to the bag; seal and turn to coat. Refrigerate for 6-8 hours.
Drain and discard marinade from chicken. Grill, covered, over medium heat for 6 minutes. Turn and cook 6-8 minutes longer or until met juices run clear, basting occasionally with the reserved marinade.

Prep Time:10 Min Cook Time:15 Min Ready In:25 Min

Serves 10

Grilled Chicken Kabob

Ingredients

1/2 cup olive or vegetable oil
1/4 cup lemon juice
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 teaspoons honey
1 1/2 teaspoons dried thyme
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon salt
4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
Directions

In a small bowl, combine oil, lemon juice, garlic, honey, thyme, red pepper flakes, pepper and salt if desired. Reserve half of marinade for basting; cover. Cut chicken into 1-in. wide strips; weave on skewers. Place in an 11-in. x 7-in. x 2-in. glass baking dish. Pour remaining marinade over chicken. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours. Drain, discarding marinade. Place skewers on grill over medium-low coals. Grill, turning and basting with reserved marinade, for 12 minutes or until juices run clear.

Prep Time:5 Min Cook Time:15 Min Ready In:20 Min

Serves 4

Garlic Chicken Kabobs

Ingredients

8 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup minced fresh cilantro
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1/2 cup reduced-fat plain yogurt
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 1/2 teaspoons olive oil
2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes
GARLIC DIPPING SAUCE:
4 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup reduced-fat plain yogurt
Directions

Place garlic and salt in a small bowl; crush with the back of a sturdy spoon. Add cilantro and coriander; crush together. Add the yogurt, lemon juice and oil; mix well. Pour into a large resealable plastic bag; add the chicken. Seal bag and turn to coat; refrigerate for 2 hours.
For dipping sauce, place garlic and salt in a small bowl; crush with the back of a sturdy spoon. Mix in oil. Stir in yogurt. Cover and refrigerate until serving.
Coat grill rack with nonstick cooking spray before starting the grill. Drain and discard marinade. Thread chicken on eight metal or soaked wooden skewers. Grill kabobs, covered, over medium heat for 3-4 minutes on each side or until juices run clear, turning once. Serve with dipping sauce.


Prep Time:10 Min Cook Time:10 Min Ready In:20 Min

Serves 4

Chili-Lime Chicken Kabobs

Ingredients

3 tablespoons olive oil
1 1/2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 lime, juiced
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
cayenne pepper to taste
salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cut into 1 1/2 inch pieces
skewers

Directions:-

In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, vinegar, and lime juice. Season with chili powder, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper. Place the chicken in a shallow baking dish with the sauce, and stir to coat. Cover, and marinate in the refrigerator at least 1 hour.
Preheat the grill for medium-high heat. Thread chicken onto skewers, and discard marinade.
Lightly oil the grill grate. Grill skewers for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the chicken juices run clear.

Prep Time:15 Min Cook Time:15 Min Ready In:1 Hr 30 Min

Serves 4

Honey Chicken Kabobs

Ingredients

1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/3 cup honey
1/3 cup soy sauce
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
8 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cut into 1 inch cubes
2 cloves garlic
5 small onions, cut into 2 inch pieces
2 red bell peppers, cut into 2 inch pieces

Directions :-

In a large bowl, whisk together oil, honey, soy sauce, and pepper. Before adding chicken, reserve a small amount of marinade to brush onto kabobs while cooking. Place the chicken, garlic, onions and peppers in the bowl, and marinate in the refrigerator at least 2 hours (the longer the better).
Preheat the grill for high heat.
Drain marinade from the chicken and vegetables, and discard marinade. Thread chicken and vegetables alternately onto the skewers.
Lightly oil the grill grate. Place the skewers on the grill. Cook for 12 to 15 minutes, until chicken juices run clear. Turn and brush with reserved marinade frequently.

Prep Time:15 Min, Cook Time:15 Min, Ready In:2 Hrs 30 Min
Serves 12

Southwestern Chicken and rice casserole

Ingredients

1 (10.75 ounce) Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup (Regular or 98% Fat Free)
1 cup water
1 cup Pace® Thick & Chunky Salsa
3/4 cup uncooked regular long-grain white rice
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1 cup frozen whole kernel corn, thawed
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
1/2 cup shredded Mexican cheese blend
Directions

Stir soup, water, salsa, rice, onion powder and corn in 12x8-inch shallow baking dish.
Top with chicken. Season chicken as desired. Cover.
Bake at 375 degrees F for 45 minutes or until chicken and rice are done. Top with cheese.
serves 4

Prep Time:5 Min Cook Time:45 Min Ready In:50 Min

Teriyaki Chicken Casserole

Ingredients

1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces
2 stalks celery, thinly sliced
1/2 cup chopped yellow onions
1/2 cup chopped red peppers
1/4 cup teriyaki sauce, divided
1 (10 ounce )Original Cooking Creme
2 cups hot cooked long-grain white rice
1 (8 ounce) can pineapple tidbits, well drained
1/2 cup chow mein noodles
3 green onions, thinly sliced
Directions :-

Heat oven to 375 degrees F.
Cook and stir chicken, celery, yellow onions, peppers and 2 Tbsp. teriyaki sauce in large nonstick skillet on medium heat 5 to 6 min. or until chicken is evenly browned and vegetables are crisp-tender. Stir in cooking creme, remaining teriyaki sauce, rice and pineapple.
Spoon into 2-qt. casserole sprayed with cooking spray.
Bake 15 to 20 min. or until heated through; top with noodles and green onions.
Serves 6

Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups chopped cooked chicken
1 (10 ounce) Original Cooking Creme
1/2 pound fresh asparagus spears, cut into 1-inch lengths
4 ounces Slow Cooked Ham, chopped
1 cup Shredded Swiss Cheese, divided
10 pc cashew nuts, crushed
2 cups hot cooked wild rice

Directions :


Heat oven to 375 degrees F.
Combine first 4 ingredients and 1/2 cup Swiss cheese; spoon into 1-1/2-qt. casserole sprayed with cooking spray. Top with remaining Swiss cheese; cover.
Bake 45 min. or until heated through, uncovering and topping with cracker crumbs after 30 min.
Serve over rice.

Prep Time:
15 Min Ready In:1 Hr
Serves 4

ILLUSTRATIONS

Illustrations,like windows,let light into the chambers of the mind. Mere bald statements are soon forgotten, but an apt illustration sticks in the soul like a hook in a fish's mouth

IMITATION

I recently read of one of Australia's sweetest birds of song being located near a sawmill,where it picked up the sound of the filing of saws and intermingled its splendid music with the most distressing discords.On the contrary,an English naturalist declares that he has known sparrows to imitate the nightingale's song.The Orientals say,"Grapes become purple by looking at one another," and in close fellowship pious people ripen one another.

MATRIMONIAL INCIDENT

PARSON " Do you take this man for better or worse ?"

MANDY " He can't be no worse, and dey is no hopes of his gettin' any better, so I takes him 'as is.' "

MATRIMONIAL PROPOSAL

He : "You know I love you. Will you marry me ?"

SHE: " But, my dear boy, I refused you only a week ago."

HE : "Oh ! Was that YOU "

MATRIMONY

The Archbishop had preached a fine sermon on the beauties of married life.Two Irshwomen coming out of church were heard commenting upon his address.
"'Tis a fine sermon His Reverence would be after givin' us," said Bridget.
"It is indade," replied Maggie,"and I wish I knew as little about the matter as he does."

ILLUSTRATIONS & EXPERIENCES IN LIFE WITH A LAUGHTER

ABSENT-MINDEDNESS

The professor, engrossed in his work late at night,left his study to get
a book in a neighboring room .His dog improved the opportunity to leave his place by the register and make himself comfortable in the professor's chair.

"Dear me!" said the perplexed man when he returned,"Can I have been sitting on that poor dog the whole evening?"

**********************


Maid(to absent-minded professor):"Here's the doctor,sir."
Professor:"I' not receiving visitors today. Tell him I'm sick."

*********************

The professor was deep in his work when his wife called:"Harry,baby has swallowed the ink! What shall I do?"
"Write with a pencil," was the dreamy reply.

CRY FOR JUSTICE

An elderly lady was found lying on her husband's grave...waiting for DEATH to come.
It sounds dramatic but in reality it is very tragic and heart breaking to know how grown up children leave their old parents to fend for themselves.This lady struggled to bring up her three sons- giving them all she and her husband could within their limited means.She even built a house where all of them lived together- the three sons got married - held good jobs - and should have lived happily - but that was not to be - the wives did not agree with the old lady and her husband and ill-treated them .The old man died in grief - then started the lady's plight- the sons threw her of the house on one rainy night - no where to go - she went to the graveyard and lay there- not knowing what to do- she lay there for three days and three nights without food or water.She was spotted by her neighbour who informed the cops.The neighbour moved court. The verdict came after three years. The three sons were sentenced for three years of imprisonment-and the court took control over the house and returned it to the old lady - what was really heart breaking was when the lady heard of the sentence she broke down and cried for the forgivness of her children -which was not to be!
I WONDER HOW CAN CHILDREN TREAT THEIR PARENTS IN THIS MANNER- HOW CAN THEY FORGET that they too have children -what if they be treated likewise? For History repeats itself--friends your views on this ........?

A blotted life is not necessarily a useless life

A friend once showed John Ruskin a costly handkerchief on which a blot of ink had been made."Nothing can be done with it now,"said the owner;"it is absolutely worthless!"Ruskin made no remark,but took the handkerchief with him.After a time he sent it back,to the great surprise of his friend,who could scarely recognize it.Ruskin had made a design in India ink using the blot as a basis and making the handkerchief more valuable than ever.
Likewise. a blotted life is not necessarily a useless life.Mistakes are made in life-but can be rectified if given the opportunity-your views on this,please.

Can you resist or do you yeild to temptation?

If you apply a magnet to the end of a needle that moves freely on its pivot,the needle affected by the strong attraction,approaches the magnet as if it loved it.Reverse the order,apply the magnet now to the other pole and the magnet and the needle shrinks away trembling as if it did not love but hated it.So it is with temptation.

One man rushes into the arms of vice another recoils from it in horror.According to the nature it addresses is holy or unholy,temptation attracts or repels,is loved or hated.
What do you do when you are tempted?

Look back..into that dark cave!

It is God's way to begin "small".He once started to save the world.We might have supposed that in revealing the terror of His majesty and the beauty of His love He would rend the heavens and so astonish the world that they would only be beginning to forget about it now after two thousand years but He did not.He started with a Baby in a cow-stable.He could scarcely have made a smaller beginning.Lookback.Look into that dark cave.A flickering torch casts huge shadows of long-horned oxen on the rough-hewn walls.There is no sound but the low crunching of the cattle as they munch their hay.
There in the midst of them is the young mother,forgetting for the moment her discouragement and discomfort and sickness.For there in her arms lies the Babe,her baby boy and about his face still plays the light of heaven,from which he came and the unclouded purity of its skies still lingers in his eyes.
O little Babe of the stable,who would dream that thou art a King?Who would imagine that from that throne of thy sweet mother's arms thy power would reach down along the ages,overturning kingdoms,establishing empires,changing the world and even today so many proud nations should own thee as their supreme Lord and King-that thou,O gracious Babe,shouldst be enthroned in so many faithful hearts,who would gladly lay down their lives and all they hold most dear for thy name's sake?Friends, who can say that He or His Father did not exist?

God begins with a Babe............

God begins with a Babe.More than a century ago men were following with bated breath the march of Napoleon and waiting with feverish impatience for the latest news of the wars.And all the while in their own homes babies were being born.But who could think about "babies"?Everybody was thinking about" battles ." In one year lying midway between
Trafalgar and Waterloo there stole into the world a host of heroes! During that one year Gladstone was born in Liverpool,Alfred Tennyson was born at the Somersby Rectory
and Oliver Holmes made his first appearance in Massachusetts. On the very day of that same year Charles Darwin made his debut at Shrewbury and Abraham Lincoln drew his first breath in Old Kentucky.Music was enriched by the advent of Felix Mendelssohn at Hamburg,while within the same year Samuel Morley was born at Homerton,Edward FitzGerald in Woodbridge and Frances Kemble in London.
We fancy that God can only manage His world by big battalions abroad,when all the while He is doing it by little babies at home.When a wrong wants righting,or a truth wants presenting or a continent wants an opening,God sends a baby into the world to do it.That was why,long,long ago,a Babe was born at Bethlehem.How Great is He ...isnt He?

CRITICISM ---HOW TO AVOID

On reaching home one evening,tired and somewhat dispirited,my little girl brouhgt me her copy-book which she had just completed. It ws her first and the young face reddened with a beautiful and honest flush,for she knew as she turned over the pages some little word of praise and cheer would reward her hard attempt.
The pages were very neatly written and I told her what pleasure it was to see how careful she had been. Presently we came to a page on which were two small blots. As she turned the page the little hand was laid upon them and looking up into my face with an artlessness that was beautiful,she said, " Papa, don't see the blots!"Ofcourse I did't see them,but I bent down and kissed the little forehead and was thankful for the lesson I had learned.

How precious it would be if, amid all the nameless strifes and discords that so fret and chafe us, we could just lay the finger on the sullied page of human lives and not "see the blots "!

When littlenesses and meannesses and petty oppositions annoy and vex us, if we would only look away from these to some brighter pages !

HIS HANDIWORK

I have a little sheet of paper in my house on which there is a faint representation of a hyacinth.I have many other pictures far more beautiful,but I regard this as the most exquisite of them all.My mother had painted it.I never see it but I think and feel her hand rested on it.
Suppose you had such aconception of God that you never saw a flower,or a tree,that you did not think,"My Father made it,"What a beautiful world this would seem to you!"
God Revealed in His Handiwork-don't you think so?

INSPIRATION OF LOVE

A father who was blind always attended the cricket matches of the school in which his son played.The boy was a first rate batsman and was the captain of the school and although the father never saw his son play,he seemed to gain pleasure at being present.Suddenly the father died and the day after his funeral an important cricket match took place at school.
Owing to the father's recent bereavement,it was thought that the son would not choose to play.But he did, to the astonishment of all and he was seen to bat with the greatest eagerness and with an unwonted seriousness of purpose. Being asked by one of his copanions,when the match was over,why he played with such care and why he played at all,he answered, " You see this is the first time that my father would see me play and I wanted to do my best, because I was concious that his eyes were on me."

LOVE SHOULD BE EXPRESSED

I WENT INTO A FLOWER SHOP AND SELECTED A FEW FLOWERS,SAYING, " THEY ARE MY WIFE'S FAVOURITES." THE LADY AT THE COUNTER EXPRESSED SYMPATHY AT THE ILLNESS OF MY WIFE.
" ILL !" I EXCLAIMED. " MY WIFE IS AS WELL AS YOU ARE."
THE LADY APOLOGIZED,SAYING: " I BEG YOUR PARDON FOR MY MISTAKE; BUT, TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH,HUSBANDS DON'T USUALLY BUY FLOWERS FOR THEIR WIVES UNLESS THE WIVES ARE ILL OR DEAD."
GRATITUDE LIKE LOVE,OUGHT TO EXPRESS ITSELF MORE FREQUENTLY.

SUFFERINGS OF THE ENVIOUS

An incident is related in Greek history of a young man who so distinguised himself in sports that his fellow citizens raised a statue of him to perpetutate his victory.This statue so excited the spirit of envy in the heart of another young man who was defeated ,that one night this man went out under the cover of darkness to destroy it.After prolonged effort he succeeded in moving it from its pedestal,but in the process it fell on him and crushed him to death.
This is the effect of envy and indeed of all sins,upon the sinner.By envy and malevolence we may wound others,but in the process we slay ourselves. Socrates taught that no evil man can harm a good man;that all mortal wounds to charecter are self-inflicted.We may suffer,being innocent but the suffering will not affect the soul unless we allow the poison of hate to corrupt us

LOVE SHOULD BE EXPRESSED

I WENT INTO A FLOWER SHOP AND SELECTED A FEW FLOWERS,SAYING, " THEY ARE MY WIFE'S FAVOURITES." THE LADY AT THE COUNTER EXPRESSED SYMPATHY AT THE ILLNESS OF MY WIFE.
" ILL !" I EXCLAIMED. " MY WIFE IS AS WELL AS YOU ARE."
THE LADY APOLOGIZED,SAYING: " I BEG YOUR PARDON FOR MY MISTAKE; BUT, TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH,HUSBANDS DON'T USUALLY BUY FLOWERS FOR THEIR WIVES UNLESS THE WIVES ARE ILL OR DEAD."
GRATITUDE LIKE LOVE,OUGHT TO EXPRESS ITSELF MORE FREQUENTLY.

RESIST THE BEGINNINGS OF EVIL

Once a prince was eating,a fly came in through the window and alighted on his food. He could have killed the fly easily,but instead idly watched it and admired its iridescent wings.The next day it came again,this time as a large as a butterfly. " Do not harm it," the prince said to his courtiers; " there is enough food for both of us and see how beautiful its wings have become! " The third day it had grown as large as a bat and the prince became alarmed as he saw it take all his drink. He ordered all windows and doors to be closed so that it might not enter again. The fourth day,it was the size of a hawk; it broke through a window and entered as before,and this time it devoured all the food on the table. " Put iron bars across the windows," he commanded,thoroughly alarmed, " that I may eat and drink and not die." But the next day the attendants heard the twisting of bars and the shattering of glass and then a scream and rushing in they found the prince dead on the floor and marks of the beak and talons of a vulture on the throat of the prince.
At first the prince could have killed the fly but at last the vulture killed him.
In the beginning you may overcome an inclination to do wrong,in the end the inclination becomes so strong that it overcomes you.

KIND AND WISE ANSWER

It was about five minites of time left for the train to start from the downtown station and the suburbanities were hurrying into it,when a man in the garb of a mechanic sat down by the side of a finely dressed passenger in one of the seats in the rear car,took a paper from his pocket and began to read.
" Plenty of empty seats in here yet, aren't there ?"growled the man in fine raiment,moving along grudgingly.
"Yes sir," pleasantly replied the new comer, " but it will be crowded pretty soon and I thought I'd pick out a gentleman for a seatmate while I had a chance."
"Humph!" grunted the other man,uncertain whether to feel complimented or insulted but realizing the hopelessness of trying to make any fitting rejoinder.

TELLING BIG LIES

A minister was walking along the street one day and saw a crowd of boys sitting in a ring, with a small dog in the center. When he came up to them he put the following question :
" What are you doing with the dog?"
One little fellow said,"Whoever tells the biggest lie wins the dog."
"Oh," said the minister,"I am surprised at you boys, for when I was young like you I never ever told a lie."
There was silence for a while, until one of the boys shouted, " Hand him the dog!"
THE MINISTER WON THE DOG !

JUDGMENT OF SELF

An elderly lady friend of mine complained to me when I visited her that her neighbour next-door was a poor house-keeper,her children were dirty,her house was filthy and one was almost disgraced by living near her.
"Just look," she said,"at those clothes she has hung out on the line.See the black streaks up and down those sheets and pillow-cases."
I stepped to the window,raised it,and looked out.
"It appears,my dear," I told her, " that the clothes are perfectly clean; but the streaks that you see are on your window that has not been cleant for long."

IMPORTANCE OF LITTLE THINGS

Traffic was blocked,the loud honking of horns of the impatient motorists could be heard on all sides. A big traffic officer tried working the small lever up and down.Yet the red light would not turn green.A young electrian passing by stopped,removed the front plate of the box and located the trouble in an instant - a disconnected wire.A LITTLE THING.
A large shipyard - anticipating launching of a huge ocean-liner brought thosands of witnesses, including the President and other guests.The big moment came. The special crew of men began to remove the blockings.The crowd held its breath while the nervous young lady held a bottle of water in readiness to christen the big ship.But the ship would not move.It was not until some one discovered and knocked out a small wedge that had jammed in between the plates and blocking - the ship finally slid gracefully down the narrow ways into the water- after the removal, mind you,of a very small wedge- A LITTLE THING AGAIN !

HIPOCRISY

Once there was a snake that was greatly displeased at the horror he seemed to excite in everyone. He was conscious of his innocence and could not understand why everyone ran away freom him,or,if they stopped ,threw sticks and stones at him with cries of anger.He came to the conclusion that it was merely his personal appearance and made up his mind to change his that. Therefore,placing his tail in his mouth and forming himself into a perfect circle,he stiffened himself so thst he appeared perfectly wooden.In this condition he was found by some children ,who pounced upon him with esgerness,ceying out, "Oh, what a pretty green hoop !" Taking a stick they began to trundel the "hoop" giving it a smart blow with the stick at every revolution.
The poor snske endured this torture as long as he could and then took an opportunity to roll off among the bushes and speedily assume his proper shape and slipped into a hole. " I have learnt a lesson'" said the snake,"that however unfortunate one's lot, nothing is to be gained from pretending to be something else."
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HAPPINESS OF MARRIAGE DESTROYED

A woman lived and kept her vow for thirty years.One day her husbnd returned from business in a nervous,excitable mood. She began to tell him about some fo her annoyances,when suddenly he lost his cool and asked her to be quite and not let her voice be heard at all.She was grieved beyond endurance and vowed that he would never ever hear her voice again.He never did nor did anyone else.
She performed her daily dities in silence. If anything had to be said she would write it on a sheet of paper.In spite of penitence,appeals,entreaties,she kept her vow.Before her husband died he begged her to say she had forgiven him- and to say she had forgiven him she wrote on a slate.
She died a few years ago,without a word and was thus taken from the battleground of a thirty years' war of silence.

A MISTAKEN INFERENCE

One day an Irishman was seated in the waiting room of a station with a pipe in his mouth.One of the attendants drew his attention to the sign: " NO SMOKING."
" Well," said Pat," I"m not a-smokin."
" But you have a pipe in your mouth."
" Shure, an' I've shoes on my feet an' I'm not walkin."

LOSS BY INDEFERENCE

I have seen a good many people humbugged during my life and have been humbigged myself,but I have noticed that more persons,on the whole,are humbugged by believing in nothing than in believing in too much.

HABITUAL INDOLENCE

A lady philanthropist was applied to for charity by a well-dressed woman.
" Are you married? " was the question.
" Yes."
" What is your husband?"
" Out o' work."
" But what is he when he is in work?" asked the philanthropist.
" You don't understand, Miss," was the reply." He is a regular out-o-worker."-

LASTING INFLUENCE

Two workmen were talking about the head of a great industry who had just died and whose funeral was to be held that day.
"At exactly two o'clock everything in the shop is to come to a stop," one of them said."Not a wheel will turn for five minitues."
"Yes, that's what the boss said," replied the other."But there's one thing I guess, that's not going to stop even for a minitues."
"What's that?' asked the first,anxiously.
" His influence," was the reply.
The answer is arresting. Wheels may stop,industries close,human activities cease, but influence keeps right on.Nothing can stop that. Measured by standards of time, a man's life is seventy years, but measured by influence it may go on forever.

UNCONSCIOUS INFLUENCE

There is no doubt that by the thoughts we think we create an atmosphere around us by which people are influenced.If we continually think thoughts that are good, our lives will suggest goodness; if we continually think evil thoughts,our lives will suggest evil. If we are sad, it is a sad world.It all depends upon the person himself.A great thinker was asked, "What is happiness?"
And he answered," Where you are."

THE VALUE OF PUNCTUALITY

A tardy private secretary apoloized for his delay to work by saying,"My watch is out of order."
The boss replied: "You must get a new watch or I get a new secretary."
Nelson once said,"I owe all my success in life to having been always a quarter of an hour before time."

TWO WAYS OF TELLING

Some people take a long time to come to the point.Their path is so round about that it takes them sometime to arrive.The point is good and they are good but in this age of speed one cannot wait always to hear what it is all about.We want the message quick and we want it in good,straight, understandable English.
You may have heard of the motorist who was a stranger on the streets of Boston.It was night.A man approached the car and the following conversation took place :
" Sir." he said,"your beacon has ceased its functions."
"What ?" gasped the the astonished driver.
"Your illuminator,I say ,is shrouded in unmitigated oblivion."
"I don't quite -"
"The effulgence of your irradiator has evanesced."
" My dear fellow-"
" The transversal ether oscillations in your incandenser have been discontinued."
Just then a little newsboy came over and said,"Say, mister, yer light's out!"
Which is your model; the newsboy or the notable

RESULTS OF INITIATIVE

A little boy called at my house and offered some picture postcaeds for ten cents apiece.
"What are you going to do with the money?" I asked him
"I am raising one million dollars for the earthquake relief," he answered,gravely and he was so tiny and the sum he named was so large that I had to laugh.
"One million dollars?" I cried. "Do you expect to raise it all by yourself?"
"No, sir,"he replied with confidence."There 's another little boy helping me," he replied proudly.

SUPERNATURAL INSPIRATION

Granting that Columbus was inspired to see a new world beyond the boundless main, or Plato was inspired to write philosophy or Apelles to paint pictures or Wordsworth so simply and yet so subtly,to sing -granting, we say, that these men were so inspired as to discover the great harmonies and laws and facts of nature for the time veiled from other eyes, then it follows that David and Paul and John must have been still more specially inspired to discover those realms which we have called for the want of a better word, the supernatural. The source of inspiration in the one case was on a plane with natural; but, in the case of the other, it must have been on a plane with the supernatural.The class of truth determines the quality of inspiration.The poet,painter and the musician may be inspired but theirs is only a natural process; but wherever truths communicated are above the reach of nature,are such as lie upon a plane with supernatural, then it follows that those through whom they have been communicated must have been supernaturally inspired.

INTEMPERANCE

A stockbroker, returning to his office after a substantial luncheon with his client, said to his head clerk, " Hey, Mr, Jackson, the world looks different to a man when he has a bottle of champagne in him. "
" Yes sir," said the clerk, " and he looks different to the world too."

INTOLERANCE

Intolerence, class prejudice and race hatred have taken many forms but in none have these shown such persistence and bitterness as toward the Jew. In no country, also, have these borne more bitter fruit toward that race than in Spain.
Cano, for instance, a Spanish painter, was famous for his magnanimity, but toward the Jew he exhibited a hatred which was almost demented in its blind relentlessness. If his clothes brushed a Jew he would immediately discard them, and his wily servant made a rich harvest by suggesting that during his walk abroad he had unknown to himself, rubbed against one of the hated race.Once when a Jewish peddler was discovered by him in his house he dismissed his housekeeper as a "quarantine precaution," repaved the flooring where the Jew had stood and burned the boots with which he had kicked him out

BLUFFING DEATH

I have heard of a poor man who was carring a load of sticks when he became tired and sat down on the bank. Laying his sticks on the ground, he said: " I am sick and tired of this. I wish Death would come to relieve me ." Instantly, Death slipped up and said, " Here I am. What do you want of me?"
" I want you to help me put this bundle of sticks on my back again," said the poor man.

EGOTISM OF JEALOUSY

Jealousy is a terrible thing. It resembles love,only it is precisely love's contrary.Instead of wishing for the welfare of the object loved,it desires the dependence of that object upon itself and its own triumph.
Love is the foegetfulness of self; jealousy isthe most passionate form of egotism,the glorification of a despotic,exacting,and vain ego,which can neither forget nor subordinate itself

VALUE OF KINDNESS

A little boy,came rushing into the house with a bunch of flowers which he had gathered for his mother.He was only a mite of a boy and did not know that a bit of golden rod and a piece of "butter and eggs," covered with dust and blighted by the adverse circumstances of growing in a city's vacant lot, could not have much value. But mother was out and the thoughtless sister laughed and said; "Mother wont care for those things.They are horried." The child's enthusiasm was chilled and he threw his precious offering away.
It is the motive, not the value of the offering, that counts with our loved ones when they give the best they can.