Autobiography and Diary of Elizabeth Parsons Channing: Gleanings of a Thoughtful Life

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American unitarian association, 1907 - 304 pages

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Page 69 - Childhood must pass away, and then youth, as surely as age approaches. The true wisdom is to be always seasonable, and to change with a good grace in changing circumstances. To love playthings well as a child, to lead an adventurous and honourable youth, and to settle when the time arrives, into a green and smiling age, is to be a good artist in life and deserve well of yourself and your neighbour.
Page 282 - Be strong! We are not here to play — to dream, to drift. We have hard work to do and loads to lift. Shun not the struggle — face it; 'tis God's gift.
Page 63 - James, whose skill in physic will be long remembered ; and with David Garrick, whom I hoped to have gratified with this character of our common friend. But what are the hopes of man ? I am disappointed by that stroke of death which has eclipsed the gaiety of nations, and impoverished the public stock of harmless pleasure.
Page 197 - Who knows whether the best of men be known, or whether there be not more remarkable persons forgot, than any that stand remembered in the known account of time...
Page 101 - I am now the most miserable man living. If what I feel were equally distributed to the whole human family, there would not be one cheerful face on the earth. Whether I shall ever be better, I cannot tell ; I awfully forebode I shall not. To remain as I am is impossible ; I must die or be better, it appears to me.
Page 258 - Behold ! the Sea ! The sea o'erswept by clouds and winds and wings ; By thoughts and wishes manifold, whose breath Is freshness and whose mighty pulse is peace. Palter no question of the...
Page 102 - Speed, die when I may, I want it said of me by those who know me best . . . that I always plucked a thistle and planted a flower where I thought a flower would grow.
Page 300 - I know the night is near at hand : The mists lie low on hill and bay, The Autumn sheaves are dewless, dry ; But I have had the day. Yes, I have had, dear Lord, the day; When at thy call I have the night, Brief be the twilight as I pass From light to dark, from dark to light.
Page 104 - Thou cam'st not to thy place by accident, It is the very place God meant for thee ; And shouldst thou there small scope for action see, Do not for this give room to discontent ; Nor let the time thou owest to God be spent In idly dreaming how thou mightest be, In what concerns thy spiritual life, more free From outward hindrance or impediment ; For presently this hindrance thou...
Page 101 - ... fill you with shame and remorse if you heard that one of those men were dead tomorrow morning ; you who are letting your neighbor starve, till you hear that he is dying of starvation ; or letting your friend's heart ache for a word of appreciation or sympathy, which you mean to give him some day, — if you only could know and see and feel, all of a sudden, that

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