It was ordained that our earthly pilgrammage should be a struggle, and life would be a tame affair if everything went smoothly.

It was a morning of ground mist, yellow sunshine, and high rifts of blue, white-cloud-dappled sky. The leaves were still thick on the trees, but de-spangled gossamer threads hung on the bushes and the shrill little cries of unrest of the swallows skimming the green open park spaces of the park told of autumn and change.

The wife ought to have the first child and the husband the second, then there wouldn't ever be any more.

It was ordained that our earthly pilgrammage should be a struggle, and life would be a tame affair if everything went smoothly.

It was still the custom of the countryside to build with local materials produced as close to the selected site as possible, for transport was difficult, even the best of country roads being more fitted for horseback traffic rather than heavy loads.

The harvest-home or supper is a thing of the past. To those who feel the fascination of the past this may appear sad, but it is not so really for, even while it existed, this surface goodwill was often an empty show.

Any artwork needs time and patience and needs above a quiet mind.