Will Carleton Quotes

Will Carleton offers a mix of witty, plain-spoken musings on memory, heaven and stubborn agreement.

24 quotes

1. Not a log in this buildin' but its memories has got And not a nail in this old floor but touches a tender spot.

2. Fare you well, old house! you're naught that can feel or see, But you seem like a human bein'-a dear old friend to me; And we never will have a better home, if my opinion stands, Until we commence a-keepin' house in the house not made with hands.

3. Over the hill to the poor-house I'm trudgin' my weary way.

4. To appreciate heaven well 'T is good for a man to have some fifteen minutes of hell.

5. Things at home are crossways, and Betsy and I are out.

6. I have talked with Betsy, and Betsy has talked with me, And so we've agreed together that we can't never agree.

7. Betsy, like all good women, had a temper of her own.

8. The more we arg'ed the question the more we did n't agree.

9. I don't complain of Betsy or any of her acts, Exceptin' when we 've quarreled and told each other facts.

10. Yellow, mellow, ripened days, Sheltered in a golden coating; O'er the dreamy, listless haze, White and dainty cloudlets floating; Winking at the blushing trees, And the sombre, furrowed fallow; Smiling at the airy ease, Of the southward flying swallow Sweet and smiling are thy ways, Beauteous, golden Autumn days.

11. Boys flying kites haul in their white winged birds; You can't do that way when you're flying words. Careful with fire, is good advice we know Careful with words, is ten times doubly so. Thoughts unexpressed may sometimes fall back dead; But God Himself can't kill them when they're said.

12. But I have learned a thing or two; I know as sure as fate, when we lock up our lives for wealth, the gold key comes too late.

13. Cover them over with beautiful flowers, Deck them with garlands, those brothers of ours, Lying so silent by night and by day Sleeping the years of their manhood away. Give them the meed they have won in the past; Give them the honors their future forcast; Give them the chaplets they won in the strife; Give them the laurels they lost with their life.

14. I've watched my duty, straight an' true, an' tried to do it well; Part of the time kept heaven in view, An' part steered clear of hell.

15. Over all our happy country - over all our Nation spread, Is a band of noble heroes - is our Army of the Dead.

16. Thanksgiving-day, I fear, If one the solemn truth must touch, Is celebrated, not so much To thank the Lord for blessing o'er, As for the sake of getting more!

17. Worm or beetle - drought or tempest - on a farmer's land may fall, Each is loaded full o' ruin, but a mortgage beats 'em all.

18. Not all the labour of the earth Is done by hardened hands.

19. The editor sat in his sanctum, his countenance furrowed with care, His mind at the bottom of business, his feet at the top of a chair, His chair-arm an elbow supporting, his right hand upholding his head, His eyes on his dusty old table, with different documents spread.

20. There's lots of people-this town wouldn't hold them; Who don't know much excepting what's told them.

21. If there's a heaven upon the earth, a fellow knows it when He's been away from home a week, and then gets back again.

22. We thank Thee, O Father of all, for... all the soul-help that sad souls understand.

23. Cover them over with beautiful flowers, Deck them with garlands, those brothers of ours, Lying so silent by night and by day.

24. And that was the way The deuce was to pay As it always is, at the close of the day That gave us