Suppose that early in this year, the whole world had bent itself in supplication to the Infinite Ruler—every man and woman, from the Arctic Circle to the hot Equator, kneeling in the humility of conscious dependence, and lifting up from every zone the prayer, “Forsake us not this year, great Benefactor, but bless us in our helplessness from the treasury of thy goodness!” And suppose that, after such a verbal petition, the supply had come, and that in every house had been found the stores, the bounties of vegetable and animal food, how surprising would the miraculous mercy have seemed! But how much more surprising and inspiring is the real wonder than such a shower upon the barren globe would be! With few prayers for it, the great miracle has been wrought, and in the double way of beauty and bounty.