John Bartlett (1820–1905). Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. 1919.
Sam Walter Foss 1858-1911 John Bartlett
| 1 |
| We felt the universe wuz safe, an’ God wuz on his throne. |
| The volunteer Organist. |
| 2 |
| The sweet mellifluous milking of the cow. |
| The Milking of the Cow. |
| 3 |
| He had a startling genius, but somehow it did n’t emerge; Always on the evolution of things that would n’t evolve; Always verging toward some climax, but he never reached the verge; Always nearing the solution of some theme he could not solve. |
| The Inventor. |
| 4 |
| There are purple grapes in the Land of Git-Thare. |
| The Land of Git-Thare. |
| 5 |
| I say the very things that make the greatest Stir An’ the most interestin’ things, are things that did n’t occur. 1 |
| Things that did n’t occur. |
| 6 |
| Strew gladness on the paths of men— You will not pass this way again. |
| I shall not pass this Way again. 2 |
| 7 |
| A hundred thousand men were led By one calf near three centuries dead; They followed still his crooked way And lost a hundred years a day; For thus such reverence is lent To well-established precedent. |
| The Calf-Path. |
| Note 1. Disraeli: Henrietta Temple. What we anticipate seldom occurs. Lowell. Page 741. [back] |
| Note 2. A saying of William Penn. [back] |