Your voices break and falter in the darkness, Break, falter, and are still.
“Your voices break and falter in the darkness, Break, falter, and are still.” Bret Harte
But, when the goddess’ work is done,The woman’s still remains.
“But, when the goddess’ work is done,The woman’s still remains.” Bret Harte
Don’t be too quickTo break bad habits: better stick,Like the Mission folk, to your arsenic.
“Don’t be too quickTo break bad habits: better stick,Like the Mission folk, to your arsenic.” Bret Harte
Howbeit, though no scholar, I am not one of those who misuse the English speech, and, being foolishly led by the hasty custom of scriveners and printers to write the letters “T” and “H” joined together, which resembleth a “Y,” do incontinently jump to the conclusion the THE is pronounced “Ye,”–the like of which I never heard in all England.
“Howbeit, though no scholar, I am not one of those who misuse the English speech, and, being foolishly led by the hasty custom of scriveners … Read More
And then, for an old man like me, it’s not exactly right,This kind o’ playing soldier with no enemy in sight.
“And then, for an old man like me, it’s not exactly right,This kind o’ playing soldier with no enemy in sight.” Bret Harte
Which I wish to remark– And my language is plain,– That for ways that are dark And for tricks that are vain, The heathen Chinee is peculiar.
“Which I wish to remark– And my language is plain,– That for ways that are dark And for tricks that are vain, The heathen Chinee … Read More
Love differs from all the other contagious diseases: the last time a man is exposed to it, he takes it most readily, and has it the worst!
“Love differs from all the other contagious diseases: the last time a man is exposed to it, he takes it most readily, and has it … Read More
It would seem evident, therefore, that the secret of the American short story was the treatment of characteristic American life, with absolute knowledge of its peculiarities and sympathy with its method.
“It would seem evident, therefore, that the secret of the American short story was the treatment of characteristic American life, with absolute knowledge of its … Read More
It may be broadly stated that…..of all animals kept for the recreation of mankind the horse is alone capable of exciting a passion that shall be absolutely hopeless.
“It may be broadly stated that…..of all animals kept for the recreation of mankind the horse is alone capable of exciting a passion that shall … Read More
Nobody shoulders a rifle in defense of a boarding house.
“Nobody shoulders a rifle in defense of a boarding house.” Bret Harte
Thiar ain’t no sense In gittin’ riled!
“Thiar ain’t no sense In gittin’ riled!” Bret Harte
Hark! I hear the tramp of thousands, And of armèd men the hum; Lo, a nation’s hosts have gathered Round the quick alarming drum Saying, Come, Freemen, Come! Ere your heritage be wasted, Said the quick alarming drum.
“Hark! I hear the tramp of thousands, And of armèd men the hum; Lo, a nation’s hosts have gathered Round the quick alarming drum Saying, … Read More
When folks find I ain’t afeard to speak my mind on their affairs, they kinder guess I’m tellin’ the truth about my own.
“When folks find I ain’t afeard to speak my mind on their affairs, they kinder guess I’m tellin’ the truth about my own.” Bret Harte
The delicate thought, that cannot find expression, For ruder speech too fair, That, like thy petals, trembles in possession, And scatters on the air.
“The delicate thought, that cannot find expression, For ruder speech too fair, That, like thy petals, trembles in possession, And scatters on the air.” Bret … Read More
Crude at first [the short story] received a literary polish in the press, but its dominant quality remained. It was concise and condense, yet suggestive. It was delightfully extravagant – or a miracle of understatement
“Crude at first [the short story] received a literary polish in the press, but its dominant quality remained. It was concise and condense, yet suggestive. … Read More
One big vice in a man is apt to keep out a great many smaller ones.
“One big vice in a man is apt to keep out a great many smaller ones.” Bret Harte
For the glory born of Goodness Never dies, And its flag is not half-masted In the skies.
“For the glory born of Goodness Never dies, And its flag is not half-masted In the skies.” Bret Harte
Besides writing, I have been teaching myself to ‘develop’ my own photographic plates, and I haven’t a stick of clothing or an exposed finger that isn’t stained. I sit for hours in a dark-room feeling as if I were a very elderly Faust at some dreadful incantation, and come out of it, blinding at the light, like a Bastille prisoner. And yet I am not successful!
“Besides writing, I have been teaching myself to ‘develop’ my own photographic plates, and I haven’t a stick of clothing or an exposed finger that … Read More
But still when the mists of doubt prevail,And we lie becalmed by the shores of age,We hear from the misty troubled shoreThe voce of children gone before.Drawing the soul to its anchorage.
“But still when the mists of doubt prevail,And we lie becalmed by the shores of age,We hear from the misty troubled shoreThe voce of children … Read More
Each lost day has its patron saint!
“Each lost day has its patron saint!” Bret Harte