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.