A lesson to be learnt
from a legend from the past....
In managing the country store, as in everything that he undertook for others, Lincoln did his very best. He was honest, civil, ready to do anything that should encourage customers to come to the place, full of pleasantries, patient, and alert.
On one occasion, finding late at night, when he counted over his cash, that he had taken a few cents from a customer more than was due, he closed the store, and walked a long distance to make good the deficiency.
At another time, discovering on the scales in the morning a weight with which he had weighed out a package of tea for a woman the night before, he saw that he had given her too little for her money. He weighed out what was due, and carried it to her, much to the surprise of the woman, who had not known that she was short in the amount of her purchase.
Innumerable incidents of this sort are related of Lincoln, and we should not have space to tell of the alertness with which he sprang to protect defenseless women from insult, or feeble children from tyranny; for in the rude community in which he lived, the rights of the defenseless were not always respected as they should have been.
There were bullies then, as now.
Monday, 26 July 2010
War of the roses
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One day when roses were in bloom, two noblemen came to angry words in the Temple Gardens, by the side of the river Thames. In the midst of their quarrel one of them plucked a white rose from a bush, and, turning to those who were near him, said:--
"He who will stand by me in this quarrel, let him pluck a white rose with me, and wear it in his hat.''
Then the other gentleman tore a red rose from another bush, and said:--
"Let him who will stand by me pluck a red rose, and wear it as his badge.''
Now this quarrel led to a great civil war, which was called "The War of the Roses,'' for every soldier wore a white or red rose in his helmet to show to which side he belonged.
The leaders of the "Red Rose'' sided with King Henry the Sixth and his wife, Queen Margaret, who were fighting for the English throne. Many great battles were fought, and wicked deeds were done in those dreadful times.
In a battle at a place called Hexham, the king's party was beaten, and Queen Margaret and her little son, the Prince of Wales, had to flee for their lives. They had not gone far before they met a band of robbers, who stopped the queen and stole all her rich jewels, and, holding a drawn sword over her head, threatened to take her life and that of her child.
The poor queen, overcome by terror, fell upon her knees and begged them to spare her only son, the little prince. But the robbers, turning from her, began to fight among themselves as to how they should divide the plunder, and, drawing their weapons, they attacked one another. When the queen saw what was happening she sprang to her feet, and, taking the prince by the hand, made haste to escape.
There was a thick wood close by, and the queen plunged into it, but she was sorely afraid and trembled in every limb, for she knew that this wood was the hiding-place of robbers and outlaws. Every tree seemed to her excited fancy to be an armed man waiting to kill her and her little son.
On and on she went through the dark wood, this way and that, seeking some place of shelter, but not knowing where she was going. At last she saw by the light of the moon a tall, fierce- looking man step out from behind a tree. He came directly toward her, and she knew by his dress that he was an outlaw. But thinking that he might have children of his own, she determined to throw herself and her son upon his mercy.
When he came near she addressed him in a calm voice and with a stately manner.
"Friend,'' said she, "I am the queen. Kill me if thou wilt, but spare my son, thy prince. Take him, I will trust him to thee. Keep him safe from those that seek his life, and God will have pity on thee for all thy sins.''
The words of the queen moved the heart of the outlaw. He told her that he had once fought on her side, and was now hiding from the soldiers of the "White Rose.'' He then lifted the little prince in his arms, and, bidding the queen follow, led the way to a cave in the rocks. There he gave them food and shelter, and kept them safe for two days, when the queen's friends and attendants, discovering their hiding-place, came and took them far away.
If you ever go to Hexham Forest, you may see this robber's cave. It is on the bank of a little stream that flows at the foot of a hill, and to this day the people call it "Queen Margaret's Cave.
One day when roses were in bloom, two noblemen came to angry words in the Temple Gardens, by the side of the river Thames. In the midst of their quarrel one of them plucked a white rose from a bush, and, turning to those who were near him, said:--
"He who will stand by me in this quarrel, let him pluck a white rose with me, and wear it in his hat.''
Then the other gentleman tore a red rose from another bush, and said:--
"Let him who will stand by me pluck a red rose, and wear it as his badge.''
Now this quarrel led to a great civil war, which was called "The War of the Roses,'' for every soldier wore a white or red rose in his helmet to show to which side he belonged.
The leaders of the "Red Rose'' sided with King Henry the Sixth and his wife, Queen Margaret, who were fighting for the English throne. Many great battles were fought, and wicked deeds were done in those dreadful times.
In a battle at a place called Hexham, the king's party was beaten, and Queen Margaret and her little son, the Prince of Wales, had to flee for their lives. They had not gone far before they met a band of robbers, who stopped the queen and stole all her rich jewels, and, holding a drawn sword over her head, threatened to take her life and that of her child.
The poor queen, overcome by terror, fell upon her knees and begged them to spare her only son, the little prince. But the robbers, turning from her, began to fight among themselves as to how they should divide the plunder, and, drawing their weapons, they attacked one another. When the queen saw what was happening she sprang to her feet, and, taking the prince by the hand, made haste to escape.
There was a thick wood close by, and the queen plunged into it, but she was sorely afraid and trembled in every limb, for she knew that this wood was the hiding-place of robbers and outlaws. Every tree seemed to her excited fancy to be an armed man waiting to kill her and her little son.
On and on she went through the dark wood, this way and that, seeking some place of shelter, but not knowing where she was going. At last she saw by the light of the moon a tall, fierce- looking man step out from behind a tree. He came directly toward her, and she knew by his dress that he was an outlaw. But thinking that he might have children of his own, she determined to throw herself and her son upon his mercy.
When he came near she addressed him in a calm voice and with a stately manner.
"Friend,'' said she, "I am the queen. Kill me if thou wilt, but spare my son, thy prince. Take him, I will trust him to thee. Keep him safe from those that seek his life, and God will have pity on thee for all thy sins.''
The words of the queen moved the heart of the outlaw. He told her that he had once fought on her side, and was now hiding from the soldiers of the "White Rose.'' He then lifted the little prince in his arms, and, bidding the queen follow, led the way to a cave in the rocks. There he gave them food and shelter, and kept them safe for two days, when the queen's friends and attendants, discovering their hiding-place, came and took them far away.
If you ever go to Hexham Forest, you may see this robber's cave. It is on the bank of a little stream that flows at the foot of a hill, and to this day the people call it "Queen Margaret's Cave.
Strength of a man
The strength of a man
isn't seen in the width
of his shoulders.
It's seen in the width
of his arms that circle you..
The strength of a man
isn't in the deep tone
of his voice.
It's in the gentle
words he whispers...
The strength of a man
isn't how many buddies he has.
It's how good a buddy
he is with his kids...
The strength of a man isn't
in how respected he is at work.
It's in how respected
he is at home...
The strength of a man
isn't in how hard he hits.
It's in how tender
he touches...
The strength of a man
isn't in the hair on his chest.
It's in his Heart,
that lies within his chest...
The strength of a man
isn't how many women he's loved.
It's in can he be
true to one woman...
The strength of a man
isn't in the weight he can lift.
It's in the burdens
he can carry...
© July 15, 1999
Jacqueline Marie Griffiths
isn't seen in the width
of his shoulders.
It's seen in the width
of his arms that circle you..
The strength of a man
isn't in the deep tone
of his voice.
It's in the gentle
words he whispers...
The strength of a man
isn't how many buddies he has.
It's how good a buddy
he is with his kids...
The strength of a man isn't
in how respected he is at work.
It's in how respected
he is at home...
The strength of a man
isn't in how hard he hits.
It's in how tender
he touches...
The strength of a man
isn't in the hair on his chest.
It's in his Heart,
that lies within his chest...
The strength of a man
isn't how many women he's loved.
It's in can he be
true to one woman...
The strength of a man
isn't in the weight he can lift.
It's in the burdens
he can carry...
© July 15, 1999
Jacqueline Marie Griffiths
Why do they howl
As Adam and Eve sneaked away from
The Garden of Eden in disgrace after their fall,
shamed by their sin, their way lit by the full moon,
an angel began to cry due to the enormity of it all.
Her cry rose in intensity, rising to the heavens,
filling the world, ringing in Adam and Eve’s ears.
Other angels, despairing of Man’s paradise lost and
his life of perfection now replaced with one full of fears,
hardship, and pain, joined the first angel in the crying.
Their cries blended into one plaintive wail, lingering,
becoming a howl riding the night wind. God, hearing this
wailing for Mankind’s fate, deemed it a fitting serenade
for Man to hear their howl so that he would not miss
the sorrow felt by Heaven for the future he had made.
So that Man might be forever reminded of his sinful
misdeed, of the fate that all men must now endure,
and his loss of perfection, God gave the angels’
sorrowful howl to the canines on earth, that their pure
plaintive sound would always reach Man in his soul.
Forever since, the call of the wolf, the coyote, even
Man’s best friend the dog, upon howling at the moon
constitutes the angels’ wailing in sorrow in disguise.
Man forgot the meaning of the canine call all too soon;
today its purpose in unrecognized, hidden meaning lies.
The Garden of Eden in disgrace after their fall,
shamed by their sin, their way lit by the full moon,
an angel began to cry due to the enormity of it all.
Her cry rose in intensity, rising to the heavens,
filling the world, ringing in Adam and Eve’s ears.
Other angels, despairing of Man’s paradise lost and
his life of perfection now replaced with one full of fears,
hardship, and pain, joined the first angel in the crying.
Their cries blended into one plaintive wail, lingering,
becoming a howl riding the night wind. God, hearing this
wailing for Mankind’s fate, deemed it a fitting serenade
for Man to hear their howl so that he would not miss
the sorrow felt by Heaven for the future he had made.
So that Man might be forever reminded of his sinful
misdeed, of the fate that all men must now endure,
and his loss of perfection, God gave the angels’
sorrowful howl to the canines on earth, that their pure
plaintive sound would always reach Man in his soul.
Forever since, the call of the wolf, the coyote, even
Man’s best friend the dog, upon howling at the moon
constitutes the angels’ wailing in sorrow in disguise.
Man forgot the meaning of the canine call all too soon;
today its purpose in unrecognized, hidden meaning lies.
valentine
Happy Valentine
The Origin of Valetines Day
February 14 is Valentines Day, the day on which we celebrate and explore love in all it’s many ideals.
The story of Valentines Day begins during the heyday of the Roman Empire, which held a festival every February.
This Lupercian Festival was held in honor of the God of Fertility and during the festivities young men would get to choose their mate.
At the time marriage was a common occurrence, but when Claudius became Emperor he changed all of that.
Fearing that men would refuse their duty to fight because they would not want to leave their wives behind, he outlawed all marriages.
Young couples still fell in love though and still wished to marry and they took these desires to the Catholic Bishop Valentine who, understanding love, began to secretly marry couples.
When Claudius found out, he had Valentine arrested and ordered put to death.
While waiting in jail, Valentine began exchanging letters with the jailer’s daughter and soon had fallen in love with her.
The day he was to be beheaded, he wrote her one last note and signed it: ‘From Your Valentine’.
In 496 A.D. Christianity had taken over Rome and Pope Gelasius outlawed the pagen Lupercian Festival.
Knowing it’s popularity, he looked to replace it with something more ‘appropriate’ and set aside a day in February to honor the martyr St. Valentine.
So love is all about believing and having faith...
May cupids arrow shoot straight for you this Valentine
Loves and hugs
The Origin of Valetines Day
February 14 is Valentines Day, the day on which we celebrate and explore love in all it’s many ideals.
The story of Valentines Day begins during the heyday of the Roman Empire, which held a festival every February.
This Lupercian Festival was held in honor of the God of Fertility and during the festivities young men would get to choose their mate.
At the time marriage was a common occurrence, but when Claudius became Emperor he changed all of that.
Fearing that men would refuse their duty to fight because they would not want to leave their wives behind, he outlawed all marriages.
Young couples still fell in love though and still wished to marry and they took these desires to the Catholic Bishop Valentine who, understanding love, began to secretly marry couples.
When Claudius found out, he had Valentine arrested and ordered put to death.
While waiting in jail, Valentine began exchanging letters with the jailer’s daughter and soon had fallen in love with her.
The day he was to be beheaded, he wrote her one last note and signed it: ‘From Your Valentine’.
In 496 A.D. Christianity had taken over Rome and Pope Gelasius outlawed the pagen Lupercian Festival.
Knowing it’s popularity, he looked to replace it with something more ‘appropriate’ and set aside a day in February to honor the martyr St. Valentine.
So love is all about believing and having faith...
May cupids arrow shoot straight for you this Valentine
Loves and hugs
Slapped in the face
It is something we never
expect to happen to us.
Being slapped in the face...
but it happens.
I have been slapped in the face
with roses...
and a baby crocodile.
Have you ever been
slapped in the face?
expect to happen to us.
Being slapped in the face...
but it happens.
I have been slapped in the face
with roses...
and a baby crocodile.
Have you ever been
slapped in the face?
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