Wilhelmina Stitch

“ Little growing things, pushing through the earth, petals for soft wings, bells to echo mirth. Little bud and leaf, spite of winter's pain, spite of nature's grief, they are here again. Little growing things, roots are in my heart. Hark! the robin sings. Sorrow must depart. Doubts and chilly fears! winter now is o'er, wipe away your tears. Courage! rise once more. Courage has not fled, simply slept awhile. Hope, that you deemed dead, revived beneath a smile. Good cannot be slain, beauty never dies, spring has come again, soul of man, arise. ”

“ Don't be sorry for yourself—better smile. Worst of troubles will disperse—in a while. If self-pity mounts up high, you are bound to mope or cry, bound to amplify your trouble, make it grow in size, quite double, being sorry for oneself is out of style! Don't be sorry for yourself—better smile; blackest clouds will pass away—in a while. 'Tis true, you've been hard hit, not a friend but would admit you have cause to lose some sleep, quite a lot to make you weep. Don't you do it, though, for pity's out of style! Don't be sorry for yourself—better smile. ”

“ The tongue that plays the suavest airs upon the most expedient string; that echoes much, but never dares to be the leader in the ring; that always drops a pleasing word because it's easiest so to do; when drums of argument are heard, by silence, sees the matter through. Oh! I dislike the trembling tongue that is afraid of words sincere. I do detest the song that's sung to the accompaniment of fear. ”

“ But in a smoky, noisy, busy street, whose only colours through shop-windows show; where there is constant march of human feet that bravely journey daily to and fro; where cripples play a gay and daring air; and blind folk stand and dream that it is light; where passers-by who haven't much to spare yet stop to give ungrudgingly their mite. And where small houses nestle close together, beneath whose roofs hard-working people live, who help each other in the stormy weather, who have so little yet can always give. ”

“ Work does not irk. It brings relief; assuages grief; increases pleasure; adds to the measure of any happiness we find; and brings to the mind a peaceful satisfaction; to the heart, a glow. Oh! work! You are the kindest friend we know.
THE PRAYER OF THE HOME
May sunbeams kiss my window-panes and dance inside to pet each wall; and when the happy daylight wanes, may gracious shadows come to call. May winds speak low to me in love; may I have friendship with the skies; and may the stars that shine above sing me their silvern lullabies. ”

“ No harder to smile than to frown. It's as easy to stand as to lean, as easy to lift as pull down, to be generous rather than mean. It's not very hard to be glad, it's not very hard to rejoice, it's harder indeed to be sad. Let happiness then be our choice. No harder to trust than to doubt, and courage is easy as fear, and foes are quite easy to rout with weapons of Good Sense and Cheer. ”

“ She's temperate always, in all things. She's sympathetic, strong in mind. A ray of hope her presence brings. Her counsel's wise, she's always kind, and yet she has not angel's wings! And from her very soul there flows a vital current that inspires, as through the anxious house she goes rekindling Hope's extinguished fires. She serves with love, with courage glows—this Nurse whom all the world admires. ”

“ Let me not tire of my desire to try adventures new, nor e'er destroy my deep keen joy in flowers of vivid hue. Though eyes grow dim and stiff each limb, please leave untouched my heart. So I will heed another's need and act a friendly part. Pile on the years, give cause for tears, but keep my courage strong. Then come what may, I'll ease the day with laughter and with song. Do what you will, you cannot kill my dreams, for ever fair. ”

“ How quickly years do pass; how quickly youth has fled. I stand before the looking-glass—no hair-pins in my head! No fan-shaped combs like Mother wore, my hair is short, you see; my skirts refuse to sweep the floor, and I dislike strong tea! But yet I love to bring to mind these dreams I had of yore. The future looms both bright and kind when one is two times four. ”

“ If only I could give you cause to put aside your grief, and pause, and look within your own sad heart—'tis there you'd find the poisoned dart. If only I could make it plain that sun no better is than rain; that there's no riches just like health; that happiness comes not from wealth. ”

“ Smile on them, month of August, let them see the world is fair; let them feel the world is kindly, in its beauty let them share. Be it seaside, be it country, wherever be their goal, kind August, act benignly, refresh them heart and soul. So fill their eyes with beauty, they never will forget the August sun's great glory when it begins to set. ”

“ This is a truth we should remember, through all the months, right to December, and then the cycle round again: a ray of joy need never wane. Our happiness we need not save; the store will last us to the grave. ”

“ Yet the kettle keeps on singing—that's what we ought to do! Next time we're in some trouble, almost up to the chin, we'll think of the cheerful kettle, and a little song begin. It helps, when feelings are boiling, to let off lots of steam. Whistle and sing with courage; things aren't as black as they seem. Kettle, you merry creature, scorched by the callous fire, teach us your power of moulding the will to the day's desire. ”

“ Accept your limits with good grace; the world is varied, very wide; for each of us there is a place. Within your sphere be quite content, be proud of work that is your own, and to life's complex instrument with sweetness add your mite of tone. ”

“ O Lord, I pray that I may e'er delight in springtime's fairy blossoms pink and white, in green and lacy leaves; may never lose the joy that always springs at sight of all the little daily things—of brightly-patterned weaves; of gaily-coloured china; rich, dark grains that glow long after daylight wanes, wood of time-burnished hue. ”

“ No harder to sing than to cry, as easy to do as to plan; no harder to laugh than to sigh, and gulfs aren't to dread but to span. And giving is easier, too, than withholding your hand from a friend; no harder to aid than to rue—and sweeter the day at the end. ”

“ When something unusual has to be done, a perilous hill to be scaled, a bridge to be crossed, a venture begun, we think not of those who have failed, but we tackle the job with courage and zest, for really and truly it's fun to feel that our strength is standing the test when there's something of worth to be done. ”

“ May books abide with me alway, and flowers on every window-sill; may joyous Laughter come to stay, and Kindliness and Right Good-Will. Oh! may I be a haven fair for those with whom I daily live; and may the lonely stranger share in joy that I, a Home, can give. ”

“ When the same old thing has got to be done—a drab little, quiet little, everyday task, a floor to be swept, a ledger begun, then this is the boon we justly may ask—that we may be given the strength, day by day, to walk with sweet grace the dull, Humdrum Way. ”

“ Needle's speeding down one side, India's moon is very bright. How delightful thus to glide across a pool of silver light. Scented is the midnight air, romance grows on every stem! Jungle beasts for fights prepare—finished is the wee skirt's hem. ”

“ Four walls enclose the best of life, its meaning and its very core; a happy husband, happy wife. Four walls enclose the best of life where baby crawls along the floor. Four walls enclose such magic things, the sound of laughter, joyous, free ”

“ And let them find companionship in stairs that creak a welcome when they mount at night, and in the friendliness of well-used chairs, and all small things, through time, made dear to sight. And let there be a child who'll shyly peep at lonely lodgers as they come and go—a laughing child who nightly falls asleep while mother sings in accents sweet and low. ”

“ Journey along, hearty and strong, the summit is reached e'er the shadows fall. How great those ills, grim foes they seem. Swift and swollen life's angry stream. Friend, keep going, there's no knowing when troubles will vanish as if in a dream. Be not alarmed, have no fear; the further away the worse they appear. Journey along, hearty and strong; troubles are bubbles when Courage is near.
THE DEATHLESS RAY
Oh! Happiness, that bright, winged ray, went darting blithely on its way. It made a little baby smile, and then it skipped another mile, and made a busy mother sing ”

“ I'm wiser now, I do not ask what Father Time will bring to-morrow; for each day has its play and task; its joy and e'en its sorrow. And each awakening has this thrill: I wonder what To-day will bring? ”

“ When we feel we are watched by critical eyes, when we know there's reward if we win, it's neither a matter for praise nor surprise that we're only too glad to begin; for it's human to like the cheers and applause that follow spectacular feats, but save a few cheers for this other cause—for the heroes in quiet little streets. ”

“ Someone was caused unnecessary pain, and it takes time e'er wounds are healed again. A little thoughtless phrase dropped like a leaf—yet someone heard and, through it, suffered grief. A little thoughtlessness; the mere not doing of some small act we might have done so well. Perhaps e'er long we shall be sorely ruing this slight omission more than words can tell. The things we do not do! Ah, this is true, they often hurt far more than what we do. ”

“ When I was only eight years old, I longed to be twice ten, and wear a frock of lace and gold to dazzle princely men. To marry was my great desire, because it seemed to me, once married I could then aspire to drink the strongest tea! ”

“ O Lord, I pray that I may face each task and rise to its demands, nor ever ask that others bear my load; that I may prove a loyal and helpful friend before I reach the journey's quiet end along the winding road. ”

“ Here is a lesson life has slowly taught me: to chase good Fortune is young folly's way. Always I've found that she herself has sought me when love of work alone has filled my day. There's not a fault that I have e'er committed, there's no mistake that I have ever made, that has not into life's mosaic fitted ”

“ That's no reason you or I should broadcast a bitter song. The world has quite enough to bear; we at least might try to smile. Adding grief would be unfair, things will brighten in a while. Though despair is looming near, let not bitterness hold sway; now's the time to conquer fear, to-morrow brings a happy day. Sulk not with life when things go wrong. What though you met grim defeat! Chant this helpful little song: "Lord, keep Thou my temper sweet."
THE WATCHFUL TONGUE
The "watchful" tongue I do despise, the tongue that always waits to learn what words would be accounted wise. ”

“ A mother's songs, and care and romping fun, we do accept as we accept the sun and lovely flowers that blow. But magic fathers! Those who cure all ills by hourly doses of some spongecake pills, are marvellous to know! ”

“ Now she measures it. Here some gathers, here a pleat; lifts a bit and snips a bit; dress is looking now quite neat, just a perfect fit. Wouldn't it be luck, indeed, when life's pattern goes awry, when it doesn't fit the need, we had only just to cry: "Fetch the fitter, pray"? Swiftly she would come and smile (fitters always are so nice) , cut the day to beauty's style, without grumbling, in a trice, perfect fitting day.
BAGPIPES
Since I have heard the great pipes playing, not on the stage nor crowded street, but out on a moorland with heather swaying to the pibroch's rhythm about our feet. ”

“ Approached each task with buoyant zest, of all life's gifts deemed work the best. But this alone does not portray the man that I would have you see. A zest for work, I hear you say, is not a claim on sympathy. So other virtues I'll outline which well describe this friend of mine. He has that questing type of mind that one associates with youth. T'wards fulsomeness he's deaf and blind; abhors a lie, respects the truth ”

“ She's neat and trim from head to feet; she does not gossip, does not prate, and always she is most discreet. She never wears harsh, squeaky shoes, nor aprons with a rustling noise. She never shows she has the blues ”

“ Peace and quiet and sweet repose; someone has a cold, wet nose; something scratches at my knees (lovely sun and gentle breeze) . "Throw a stick," pants Michael. Michael's head is on one side, Michael's mouth is opened wide; brown eyes look beseechingly. Michael! take your eyes from me. "Throw a stick," pants Michael. Who can sit in selfish ease, just admiring grass and trees, deeming life most kind and sweet, when a branch lies at one's feet—"Throw a stick," pants Michael.
RAINY DAY
"Rainy day," said Mother Dawn, "rise from out your cloud-lined bed. ”

“ They passed but once—this way they went, and with them joy and grief, and work and play. There is no need to raise a monument to heroes such as they. They once were found in simple homes and small, in offices and shops, engaged in work. ”

“ For as she works at this or that she'll see a smiling, winsome face beneath the nearly-finished hat, that soon will have such style and grace—an unknown girl's delighted face. Nice work a milliner's must be, to make a jaunty little crown, and trim it very prettily to match a new and saucy gown. ”

“ Foolish parents to believe he likes to make you fret and grieve. The minute that the word had leapt from his hot tongue he could have wept, he felt ashamed, too proud, alack! to take the silly statement back. He is a man (and you should know it!) and loves you much, but cannot show it. ”