Twilight And Dawn or Simple Talks on the Six Days of Creation by Caroline Pridham A delightful book geared toward children written in the 19th century. To Read Entire Book Here Or Here
Twighlight and Dawn
Offices of Yesteryear
I came across a site for a museum of early offices. As a writer and historian I enjoy learning about the occupations and work enviroments of the past.
God Moves in a Mysterious Way
by William Cowper, 1774
God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea
And rides upon the storm.
Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never failing skill
He treasures up His bright designs
And works His sovereign will.
Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy and shall break
In blessings on your head.
Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust Him for His grace;
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.
His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flower.
Blind unbelief is sure to err
And scan His work in vain;
God is His own interpreter,
And He will make it plain.
William Cowper also co-wrote
Amazing Grace with John Newton.
What a Friend we have in Jesus
by Joseph M. Scriven, 1855
What a Friend we have in Jesus,
all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.
Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged;
take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
take it to the Lord in prayer.
Are we weak and heavy laden,
cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge, take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do your friends despise, forsake you?
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He’ll take and shield you;
you will find a solace there.
Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised
Thou wilt all our burdens bear
May we ever, Lord, be bringing all to Thee in earnest prayer.
Soon in glory bright unclouded there will be
no need for prayer
Rapture, praise and endless worship will be
our sweet portion there.
~ * ~
About the hymn: Joseph Scriven (1918-1886) of Seapatrick Ireland was educated at Trinity College. The night before he was to marry, his fiance drowned. In 1846 he moved to Ontario, Canada where he was a teacher and a tutor. He was engaged once more to an Eliza Roche who also died shortly before their wedding date. He dedicated the remainder of his life to helping the aged. In Jesus he found “a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share”. His source of comfort inspired this hymn which he wrote for his mother, who was across the sea from him in Ireland. It was originally published anonymously. It was not until 30 years later that Scriven receiveed full credit for the hymn. Charles C. Converse wrote the music in 1868. During World War I the tune was borrowed to go along with the song “When the Bloody War is Over”.
Don’t – At the Table
Vignettes from Don’t: Manual of Mistakes and Improprieties More or Less Prevalent in Conduct and Speech.
At the Table -
- Don’t come to breakfast in deshabille. A lady’s morning toilet should be simple, but fresh and tasteful, and her hair not in curl-papers. A gentleman should wear his morning suit, and never his dressing-gown. There are men who sit at table in their shirt-sleeves. This is very vulgar.
- Don’t tuck your napkin under your chin, or spread it upon your breast. Bibs and tuckers are for the nursery. Don’t spread your napkin over your lap; let it fall over your knee.
- Don’t devour the last mouthful of soup, the last fragment of bread, the last morsel of food. It is not expected that your plate should be sent away cleansed by your gastronomic exertions.
- Don’t eat onions or garlic,unless you are dining alone, and intend to remain alone some hours thereafter. One should not wish to carry with him unpleasant evidences of what he has been eating or drinking.
- Don’t throw yourself loungingly back in your chair. The Romans lounged at table, but modern civilization does not permit it.
- Don’t drink from your saucer. While you must avoid this vulgarity, don’t take notice of it, or of any mistake of the kind, when committed by others. It is related that at the table of an English prince a rustic guest poured his tea into his saucer, much to the visible amusement of the court ladies and gentlemen present. Whereupon the prince quietly poured his own tea into his saucer, thereby rebuking his ill-mannered court, and putting his guest in countenance.
- Don’t decorate your shirt-front with egg or coffee drippings, and don’t ornament your coat-lapels with grease-spots. A little care will prevent these accidents. Few things are more distasteful that to see a gentleman bearing upon his apparel ocular evidence of having breakfasted or dined.
- Don’t be embarrassed. Endeavor to be self-possessed and at ease; to accomplish which, try and not be self-conscious. Remember that self-respect is as much a virtue as respect for others.
Don’t – In Dress and Personal Habits
Vignettes from Don’t: Manual of Mistakes and Improprieties More or Less Prevalent in Conduct and Speech.
In Dress and Personal Habits -
- Don’t neglect the details of the toilet. Many persons, neat in other particulars, carry blackened finger-nails. This is disgusting. Don’t neglect the small hairs that project from the nostrils and grow about the apertures of the ears – small matters of the toilet often overlooked.
- Don’t wear apparel with decided colors or with pronounced patterns. Don’t – we address here the male reader – wear anything that is pretty. What have men to do with pretty things: Select quiet colors and unobtrusive pattern, and adopt no style of cutting that belittles the figure. It is right enough that men’s apparel should be becoming, that it should be graceful, and that it should lend dignity to the figure; but it should never be ornamental, capricious, or pretty.
- Don’t expectorate. Men in good health do not need to expectorate; with them continual expectoration is simply the result of habit. men with bronchial or lung diseases are compelled to expectorate, but no one should discharge matter of the kind in public places except into vessels provided to receive it. Spitting upon the floor anywhere is inexcusable. One should not even spit upon the sidewalk, but go to the gutter for the purpose. One must not spit into the fire-place nor upon the carpet, and hence the English rule is for him to spit in his handkerchief-but this is not a pleasant alternative. On some occasions no other may offer.
- Don’t have the habit of letting your lip drop and your mouth remain open. “Shut your mouth,” is the advice of a savant, who has written a book on the subject. Breathe through your nostrils and not through your mouth; sleep with your mouth closed; keep it closed except when you open it for a purpose. An open mouth indicates feebleness of character, while the habit affects the teeth and the general health.
My Collection of Antique Books
I just thought I’d share with you some of the neat little antique books I have in my collection, how I came by them, any particular comments I might have concerning them, with names and inscriptions or writing found inside.
Please view this post on My Media Meanderings blog.
The Frost Spirit by John Greenleaf Whittier
HE COMES,—he comes,—the Frost Spirit comes,
you may trace his footsteps now,
in the naked woods and the blasted fields
and the brown hill’s withered brow.
He has smitten the leaves of the gray old trees
where their pleasant green came forth,
And the winds, which follow wherever he goes,
have shaken them down to earth.
He comes,—he comes,—the Frost Spirit comes!
from the frozen Labrador,
From the icy bridge of the Northern seas,
which the white bear wanders o’er,
Where the fisherman’s sail is stiff with ice,
and the luckless forms below
In the sunless cold of the lingering night
into marble statues grow.
He comes,—he comes,—the Frost Spirit
comes on the rushing Northern blast,
And the dark Norwegian pines have
bowed as his fearful breath went past.
With an unscorched wing he has hurried on,
where the fires of Hecla glow
On the darkly beautiful sky above
and the ancient ice below.
He comes,—he comes,—the Frost Spirit
comes and the quiet lake shall feel
The torpid touch of his glazing breath,
and ring to the skater’s heel;
And the streams which danced on the broken rocks,
or sang to the leaning grass,
Shall bow again to their winter chain,
and in mournful silence pass.
He comes,—he comes,—the Frost Spirit comes!
Let us meet him as we may,
And turn with the light of the parlor-fire
his evil power away;
And gather closer the circle round,
when that fire-light dances high,
And laugh at the shriek of the baffled Fiend
as his sounding wing goes by!
Don’t: Manual of Mistakes and Improprieties More or Less Prevalent in Conduct and Speech
I have recently acquired an original copy of a little book of manners written in 1884. The 4 1/2 x 6 inch handbook is packed full of etiquette for those seeking to improve their manners in the late 19th century. The book is entitled, “Don’t: A Manual of Mistakes and Improprieties More or Less Prevalent in Conduct and Speech”. The author’s psuedomymn is Censor, though a later publication tells his true name as Oliver Bell Bunce. ” The inside cover reads:
“I’ll view the manners of the town.”
Comedy of Errors
@ D. Appleton & Company, New York, 1884
Now in the public domain, I will be recording a few excerpts from this little book here for your entertainment and reading pleasure.
You and I both will be thankful that we no longer must confirm to these rules of ettiquette, although today’s society could stand to conform to a few “dont’s” such as which follows: Don’t let your g-string show above your jeans, don’t let small children watch TV commercials (for many reasons), don’t forget to take your hat off at appropriate times, don’t forget to ask a blessing on your meals, don’t forget to have manners while driving, and girls, why do you have to be the aggressor in a relationship – don’t! you are worth being wooed.
And now, to the don’ts of the 19th century. Please feel free to post your comments.
Here are a few vinettes from the book:
In Dress and Personal Habits -
In the Drawing-Room -In Public -
In Speech -
In General -
Affectionately addressed to Womankind -
The Blessing Bestowed
For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength…
Isaiah 30:15
~ * ~
With a heart full of anxious request,
Which my Father in heaven bestowed,
I wandered, alone and distressed,
In search of a quiet abode;
Astray and distracted I cried,
“Lord, where would Thou have me to be?”
And the voice of the Lamb that had died
Said, “Come, My beloved, to Me.”
I went—for He mightily wins
Weary souls to His peaceful retreat—
And He gave me forgiveness of sins,
And songs that I love to repeat;
And oft as my enemies came,
My views of His glory to dim,
He taught me to trust in His name—
To triumph by leaning on Him.
Made pure by the blood that He shed,
My heart in His presence was free;
I was hungry and thirsty—He fed;
I was sick, and He comforted me;
He gave me the blessing complete—
The hope that is with me today—
And a quiet abode at His feet
That shall not be taken away.
