A Quote

[olde_fashioned]

This heads Chapter 17 of Elizabeth Gaskell's North & South. I love that she included appropriate quotations at the beginning of each of her chapters, and I really like this one. When I first read the book last summer I wrote out and saved the verse, rediscovering it only this afternoon while cleaning my room. ;-)



There are briars besetting every path,
Which call for patient care;
There is a cross in every lot,
And an earnest need for prayer."
~ A. L. Waring

I tried using Google to find the rest of it, and here is what came up:

And if some things I do not ask
In my cup of blessing be,
I would have my spirit fill'd the more
With grateful love to Thee ;
More careful, not to serve Thee much,
But to please Thee perfectly.

There are briars besetting every path,
That call for patient care ;
There is a cross in every lot,
And an earnest need for prayer ;
But a lowly heart, that leans on Thee,
Is happy anywhere.

In a service which Thy will appoints
There are no bonds for me ;
For my inmost heart is taught the Truth
That makes Thy children free ;
And a life of self-renouncing love
Is a life of liberty.

~ Anna Leticia Waring


I think EG chose the very best portion of the poem.

Comments

Good poem.

[caranfinand.livejournal.com]

I like the last verse best. It's very hard to live up to, but it's quite true, and very hopeful. Thanks for sharing it.

Re: Good poem.

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the comment, and I'm glad it's hopeful to you.

[queensjoy.livejournal.com]

heya! i know that you're the mod over at costume_stills. evester and I are starting up a new icontest, called mystery_stills, which will focus on mysteries and those who solve them (ie, Sherlock Holmes, Poirot, CSI, Remington Steele, Illusionist and all sorts of others) and we'd love to affiliate with you! look forward to hearing back! cheers!

[midenianscholar.livejournal.com]

Hello,

I'm the other mod. I'm going to have to say no to this one, because we're trying to keep the affiliates pretty closely related to costumes. So though Sherlock and the Illusionist would be fine, CSI and other modern versions wouldn't have much to do with us. If you want to apply at the affiliates post over on costume_stills, I'd be more than happy to check in on you after a few challenges and see about changing my mind. :)

[queensjoy.livejournal.com]

i definitely hope that you do end up changing your mind. really, we only included the modern stuff because we figured that "vintage crime" would be too narrow a field to get a decent community up and going. :) basically we're both nuts about the vintage crime (ie, Sherlock, Lord Peter, Poirot, Cadfael, Miss Marple, etc.) there are a few modern series that we plan on including occasionally in hopes of bringing in a wider range of icon makers and hopefully attracting more people to the wonderful world of vintage crime. (because its AMAZING!) however, if this doesn't make up your mind, i will definitely apply again in a while. thanks again! joy & eva

[midenianscholar.livejournal.com]

It sounds very cool--do apply at the post in costume_stills and we'll see what we can do for ya.

[belovedrose85.livejournal.com]

I just watched N&S for the first time this week, and enjoyed it immensely. :)

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

Did you really!!! I'm so glad. Have you any more thoughts you'd like to share? ;-D

[belovedrose85.livejournal.com]

Yes, but I think I'll just make a post about it, rather than try to put it in a comment. :)

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

Sounds like you liked it a lot!

[kari.livejournal.com]

I'd forgotten about her wonderful chapter headings. Thank you for sharing the entire poem!

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

I love her chapter headings too, and they're always so appropriate to the story. :-)

Thank you

[(Anonymous)]

For sharing this poem. It's so beautiful, because it's about truth. I emailed it to a bunch of my friends, too.
To God be all glory,
Lisa of Longbourn

Re: Thank you

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

Hello Lisa!

I've seen you comment on my brother's blog, and I've visited yours a few times as well. :-)

I am glad you liked the poem! There are plenty more where that came from in the chapter headins of North & South. Have you had a chance to read any Elizabeth Gaskell?

[seventh-stage.livejournal.com]

you know, I actually stumbled upon her book unknowing while visiting the bookstore (it's more like a library to me) but I shall go back and buy it now! (I also look forward to watching the series after reading it and by the icon-making, you must like it eh?) These are very good things you write and pay attention to in the world. I'm very glad.

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

Really!! Well, it's a wonderful, wonderful book, and I think that most people who enjoy Jane Austen would enjoy Elizabeth Gaskell. North & South has been compared to Pride & Prejudice, but I think it has it's own merits.

Yes, read the book first, and then you can enjoy the equally-wonderful mini series!! It's become my favourite movie, can you tell? :-D

[greenlee-g.livejournal.com]

Ive been remiss in my reading of late. And i can offer no excuse for having missed North & South. I've read Wives and Daughters by Elizabeth Gaskill and i adored it! Anyway, i subscribe to a classic drama newsletter and receive DVD's from selected classic novels. To my delight, the 4-part mini-series landed on my doorstep last week as part of the classic drama series! I struggle to pen my thoughts on the movie here. I didnt read the book, so i only have the movie to go by. I have to then start by saying that well.. i was blown away. Coming in with no point of reference perhaps made it easier for me to not look too critically at the flaws of the production.

My sister didnt really take to Daniela Denby-Ashe's Margaret. She felt she was overly pouty and a little unfair in character. I wasnt so offended. From the recent onslaught of period dramas & hollywood productions, i adored her in the lead. She didnt come with too notariety which made it impossible to SEE her as the character instead of a famous face impersonating. She was subtle. Her eyes i also found to be so expressive. Her transition within the story is consistent and visibly conflicted.

Richard Armitage *gulp* i had seen him in Robin Hood but nothing else. What a find! And thats saying a lot when im completely critical of all period hero's. I dont have the text to reference, but the intensity & broody vulnerability he brought to life was fantastic and completely believable. I loved that he was always teetering between the bottom line vs what was morally the right thing. I liked the contrast. As to comparisons to Colin Firth's Darcy, I wont comment. Both actors have enormous merit. I will add that in the brood department at least, Mr Armitage may slightly outweigh his counterpart.. But only just..

Sinéad Cusack was formidable as the protective mother. i understand the final scene between her and Margaret to not be in the novel. im glad they added it. I felt the production needed the scene, and in many ways solidifies what we already know. That she loves her son and wants whats best for him, rendering her as vulnerable & flawed as the rest of our characters. i would have loved to see more screen time with Brendan Coyle as Nicholas Higgins. He seemed a robust & yet strangely lovable character. As with Daniela, Brendan had the ability to emote with his eyes. There was a definite twinkle in his final scene with John.

Comparisons with P&P run amok with a random google. i can see the reasons for it but prefer to not compare. The setting is vastly different from P&P. No noble drawing rooms & splendid balls. Instead the story deals not only with the central romance & prejudices the characters, but also the burgeoning industrial awakening & the issues that arise from the working class. My sister felt that there were too few interactions between John and Margaret to warrant a true passion and love. I disagree. Its evident that Margaret was perhaps enamoured or at least intrigued with John from the moment she saw him.. but her own prejudices and stubborn nature means that the end we know to come will take us a little longer to reach. For me, this was evident in her saying one thing, but perhaps feeling something else.

The controversial beating is also not a part of the novel. But i see the merits in making the audience of a movie understand Margaret’s instant dislike of Thornton. The story was well paced and each instalment had something happening to keep me involved. The train scene at the end was another talking point for many. As much before me have said, it may not have been done in the time period, but this is film. And film requires us to stretch what would normally have been done and suspend a little reality. I think the scene is sweet and wonderfully played by the actors. Richard suitably shocked-happy-hopeful and Daniela completely overwhelmed and out of her depth. Nothing too raunchy. The kiss was loving and tender, no awkward groping and frantic kissing. That for me made it acceptable.

A small note: i adore the score!! Martin Phipps had my nod for a job well done. Overall, i really enjoyed this movie and it proves that once again, the BBC knows period Drama. So yes, ive entered an active North and South obsession!

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

My goodness!! You should post this on your own journal as a full-fledged review. :-)

I pretty much agree with your observations. Have you read my book review (http://olde-fashioned.livejournal.com/20934.html#cutid1)?