A family cache of tiny leather-bound books, dating from the early twentieth century and carrying snippets of poetry and prose quotations, offered up these little thoughts to ponder.

              FRIENDSHIP

Friendship – a dear balm –

Whose coming is as light and music are

’Mid dissonance and gloom : - a star

Which moves not ’mid the moving heaven alone;

A smile among dark frowns; a beloved light;

A solitude, a refuge, a delight.

                                               Shelley

            SUNSHINE

When a bit of sunshine hits ye

After passing of a cloud,

When a fit of laughter gits ye

An’ ye’r spine is feelin’ proud,

Don’t forgit to up and fling it

At a soul that’s feelin’ blue,

For the minit that ye sling it

It’s a boomerang to you.

                            J Crawford

      IT IS THE TRIFLES WHICH MATTER MOST

God sends great angels in our sore dismay;

But little ones go in and out all day.

~

Two men look out from the same bars,

One sees the mud and one the stars.

                                  Canon Langbridge