BROTHERS, SISTERS, AND NEXT OF KIN
BROTHERS, SISTERS, AND NEXT OF KIN
"The members of the ancient family were united by something more
powerful than birth, affection, or physical strength; this was the
religion of the sacred fire and of dead ancestors. This caused the
ancient family to form a single body, both in this life and in the
next,"--DE COULANGES, in _The Ancient City_.
"Land belonged to the clan and the clan was settled upon the land.
A man was thus not a member of the clan because he lived upon or
even owned the land, but he lived upon the land and had interest
in it because he was a member of the clan."--HEARN, in _The Aryan
Household_.
"Three things if possessed by a man make him fit to be a chief of
kindred: that he should speak in behalf of his kin and be listened
to; that he should fight in behalf of his kin and be feared; that
he should be security on behalf of his kin and be
accepted."--WELSH TRIADS (cited by Seebohm).
"I cannot choose but think upon the time
When our two loves grew like two buds;
School parted us; we never found again
That childish world where our two spirits mingled
Like scents from varying roses that remain one sweetness.
Yet the twin habit of that earlier time
Lingered for long about the heart and tongue.
We had been natives of one happy clime
And its dear accent to our utterance clung.
And were another childhood world my share,
I would be born a little sister there."
--GEORGE ELIOT, in _Brother and Sister_.
"When love is strong it never tarries to take heed
Or know if its return exceed
Its gift; in its sweet haste no greed,
No strife belong.
It hardly asks if it be loved at all, to take
So barren seems, when it can make
Such bliss, for the beloved's sake,
Of bitter tasks."--H.H.
