My Symphony

I bought a used book Saturday. Inside was a great treasure. A bookmark with this reading:

My Symphony

To live content with small means;

To seek elegance rather than luxury

and refinement rather than fashion;

To be worthy, not respectable;

and wealthy not rich;

To study hard, think quietly,

talk gently,

act frankly

To listen to stars and birds,

To babes and sages with an open heart;

To bear all cheerfully,

do all bravely,

await occasions,

hurry never;

in a word

to let the spiritual, unbidden, and unconscious,

grow through the common;

This is my symphony

Wm. Henry Channing