The first half of our life is ruined by our parents and the second half by our children.

The first half of our life is ruined by our parents and the second half by our children.

All lovely things will have an ending, All lovely things will fade and die; And youth, that's now so bravely read more

All lovely things will have an ending, All lovely things will fade and die; And youth, that's now so bravely spending, Will beg a penny by and by.

The child is father of the man.

The child is father of the man.

They mustn't know my despair, I can't let them see the wounds which they have caused, I couldn't bear their read more

They mustn't know my despair, I can't let them see the wounds which they have caused, I couldn't bear their sympathy and their kind-hearted jokes, it would only make me want to scream all the more. If I talk, everyone thinks I'm showing off; when I'm silent they think I'm ridiculous; rude if I answer, sly if I get a good idea, lazy if I'm tired, selfish if I eat a mouthful more than I should, stupid, cowardly, crafty, etc. etc.

I'm old enough to know better, but still too young to care.

I'm old enough to know better, but still too young to care.

Ah! what would the world be to us If the children were no more? We should dread the desert read more

Ah! what would the world be to us If the children were no more? We should dread the desert behind us Worse than the dark before.

To be ignorant of what occurred before you were born is to remain always a child.

To be ignorant of what occurred before you were born is to remain always a child.

But childhood prolonged, cannot remain a fairyland. It becomes a hell.

But childhood prolonged, cannot remain a fairyland. It becomes a hell.

We've had bad luck with our kids--they've all grown up.

We've had bad luck with our kids--they've all grown up.