Luxuries unfit us for returning to hardships easily endured before..

She waits for me, my lady Earth, Smiles and waits and sighs; I'll say her nay, and hide away, Then take her by surprise..

[On the Netherlands:] There is not a richer or more carefully tilled garden spot in the whole world than this leaky, springy little country..

I'm as true a Protestant, in sooth, as any fine lady that walks into church, but it's not wrong to turn sometimes to the good St. Nicholas..

Grandma told me all about it, Told me so I couldn't doubt it, How she danced, my grandma danced; long ago..

[On The Netherlands:] ... the entire country is a kind of saturated sponge..

Ten years dropped from a man's life are no small loss; ten years of manhood, of household happiness and care; ten years of honest labor, of conscious….

What a dreadful thing it must be to have a dull father..

But when a snowflake, brave and meek,Lights on a rosy maiden's cheek,It starts-"How warm and soft the day!""'T is summer!" and it melts away..

Whenever a snowflake leaves the sky,It turns and turns to say "Good-by!Good-by, dear clouds, so cool and gray!"Then lightly travels on its way..

But I believe that God is overheadAnd as life is to the living, so death is to the dead..

Life is a mystery as deep as ever death can be..

Now the noisy winds are still; April's coming up the hill! All the spring is in her train, Led by shining ranks of rain; Pit, pat, patter, clatter, S….