Then arose a joyous clamour from the wild-fowl on the mere,
Beneath the stars, across the snow, like clear bells ringing,
And a voice within cried, – ‘Listen!  Christmas carols even here!

I SHOULD count myself fortunate if my home were remembered for some inspiring quality of faith, charity and aspiring intelligence. 

THE truest hospitality is shown not in the effort to entertain, but in the depth of welcome.   What a guest loves to come for, and come again, is not the meal, but those who sit at the meal. 

HOW the sting of poverty, or small means, is gone when one keeps house for one’s own comfort, and not for the comfort of one’s neighbours. 

We shall guard ourselves against the temptations of artificial wants which the ingenuity of producers offers in seductive forms.

We shall, to sum up all in one master-principle, estimate value and costs in terms of life… we shall seek nothing of which the cost to the producer so measured exceeds the gain to ourselves.

The limit of luxury is the power of sharing.

What [Jesus] denounced was the love of, the lust of riches;  the vulgar snobbishness that chose exclusively the fellowship or the ways of rich men;  the habit of extravagance;  in one word, greed and luxury and self-indulgence. 

Children have more need of models than of critics.

A child, who by severity is set on its defence or drawn into falsehood, is often melted into full confession by being loved and trusted more than it deserves.