The autocrat of the breakfast-table, with illustr. by H.M. Brock

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Page 245 - I tell yeou,") He would build one shay to beat the taown 'N' the keounty 'n' all the kentry raoun'; It should be so built that it couldn' break daown: "Fur," said the Deacon, '"t's mighty plain Thut the weakes' place mus' stan' the strain; 'N' the way t' fix it, uz I maintain, Is only jest T' make that place uz strong uz the rest.
Page 247 - The parson was working his Sunday's text,— Had got to fifthly, and stopped perplexed At what the— Moses— was coming next. All at once the horse stood still, Close by the meet'n'-house on the hill.
Page 245 - Now in building of chaises, I tell you what, There is always somewhere a weakest spot, In hub, tire, felloe, in spring or thill, In panel, or crossbar, or floor , or sill, In screw, bolt, thoroughbrace, — lurking still, Find it somewhere you must and will, Above or below, or within or without, And that's the reason, beyond a doubt, A chaise breaks down but doesn't wear out. But the Deacon swore (as Deacons do, With an "I dew vum...
Page 246 - EIGHTEEN HUNDRED ; — it came and found The Deacon's masterpiece strong and sound. Eighteen hundred increased by ten ; " Hahnsum kerridge " they called it then. Eighteen hundred and twenty came; — Running as usual ; much the same. Thirty and forty at last arrive, And then come fifty, and FIFTY-FIVE.
Page 246 - Step and prop-iron, bolt and screw, Spring, tire, axle, and linchpin too, Steel of the finest, bright and blue; Thoroughbrace bison-skin, thick and wide; Boot, top, dasher, from tough old hide Found in the pit when the tanner died. That was the way he 'put her through.
Page 246 - So the Deacon inquired of the village folk Where he could find the strongest oak, That could n't be split nor bent nor broke, — That was for spokes and floor and sills; He sent for lancewood to make the thills; The crossbars were ash, from the straightest trees, The panels of white-wood, that cuts like cheese, But lasts like iron for things like these; The hubs of logs from the "Settler's ellum...
Page 260 - I might desire Some shawls of true cashmere, — Some marrowy crapes of China silk, Like wrinkled skins on scalded milk. I would not have the horse I drive So fast that folks must stop and stare : An easy gait — two, forty-five — Suits me; I do not care; — Perhaps, for just a single spurt, Some seconds less would do no hurt. Of pictures, I should like to own Titians and Raphaels three or four. — I love so much their style and tone, — One Turner...
Page 260 - tis a sin To care for such unfruitful things ; — One good-sized diamond in a pin, Some, not so large, in rings, A ruby, and a pearl; or so, Will do for me ; — I laugh at show. My dame should dress in cheap attire (Good, heavy silks are never dear) ; I own perhaps I might desire Some shawls of true Cashmere, — Some marrowy crapes of China silk, Like wrinkled skins on scalded milk.
Page 85 - I find the great thing in this world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving : To reach the port of heaven, we must sail sometimes with the wind and sometimes against it, — but we must sail, and not drift, nor lie at anchor.
Page 170 - But warmed with that unchanging flame Behold the outward moving frame, Its living marbles jointed strong With glistening band and silvery thong, And linked to reason's guiding reins By myriad rings in trembling chains, Each graven with the threaded zone Which claims it as the master's own.

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