Page 4 – Proverbs and Gravestones

Some of you have asked for a picture of Lila’s book and I’m happy to show you. It’s not much to look at on the outside. Like I say, it’s covered in oil cloth that’s been glued on and certainly helped to make it durable. Speaking of durable……

Guess what I found today in my research? Lila’s gravestone in Edgewood, Iowa. She is buried next to my great grandfather, F. “Ray” Minkler, and buried nearly ten years before them was my uncle, Rocky; David Rockwell Stone, to be exact. He was five years old. I’ve always heard about him but never saw his grave until today. He died from a bowel impaction or stomach disorder/illness, depending on who you’re talking to, but it was a very dark chapter in my Nana and Grampy’s life. Nana worshipped her children, quite literally. (That worship was the beginning of my father’s great undoing.) Rocky's death affected her in ways that would seem to warp her. I can’t imagine having to survive this but knowing the details helps in trying to understand so many other dark tales.

While I was searching I also found my great great grandmother’s grave, Eva (Evangeline) Peet Minkler, who was Ferdinand Ray Minkler's mother. And then I found his father's grave, my great great grandfather Ferdinand L. Minkler. I got to SEE all these gravestone through the Gravestone Project. Now I’m on a hunt all the way back to our D.A.R. (Daughters of the American Revolution) patriot: Uriah Carpenter. As a member of the D.A.R., I have all these papers but have never seen the graves. Being in California, I may never have had the opportunity to view the graves without the Gravestone Project. I am sincerely looking forward to the quest.

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Great grandparents and an uncle (Lila’s grandson). My dad would have been 12 when Rocky was born and 17 when he died:

Great great Grandmother:

Great great Grandfather:

Gravestone photos courtesy of: Iowa Gravestone Photo Project

(My grateful thanks to these kind individuals who took all these photos.)

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Today we look at some famous sayings. Again, many are lifted from scripture and well known sayings by such illustrious folks as Benjamin Franklin. One could say Ms. Wilson rather plagiarized the work but perhaps simply because these works are already so familiar, her editor felt credit need not be given. This is certainly true of today’s information if it is found through many differing sources and is considered a well known fact. However, I still think credit is the best policy.

A Medley of Proverbs

ARRANGED BY FLORENCE WILSON

To be used as a memory exercise. Number the proverbs and have the children recite consecutively by knowing whom they follow.

Well begun is half done.
Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old he will not depart from it.
The child is father to the man.
Even a child is known by his doings.
Spare the rod and spoil the child.
Look before you leap.
Appearances are deceitful.
All is not gold that glitters.
Every cloud has a silver lining.
It is always darkest just before day.
A friend in need is a friend indeed.
Handsome is, that handsome does.
Fine feathers do not make fine birds.
A bird in the hand is worth two on a bush.
Birds of a feather all flock together.
People are known by the company they keep.
A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches.
To be a good woman is better than to be a fine lady.
Politeness is a kindness, kindly expressed.
Evil communications corrupt good manners.
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.
A soft answer turneth away wrath, but grievous words stir up anger.
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
Honesty is the best policy.
Set a thief to catch a thief.
There is honor even among thieves.
People who live in glass houses should not throw stones.
A rolling stone gathers no moss.
It is never to late to mend.
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
A stitch in time saves nine.
Better late than never, but better never late.
Procrastination is the thief of time.
Never put off till to-morow (sic) what you can do to-day (sic).
Where there’s a will, there’s a way.
The more haste, the less speed.
Lazy folks always take the most pains.
A willful waste is a woful (sic) want.
Economy is the road to wealth.
You can not teach an old dog new tricks.
Experience is the best of teachers.
All is well that ends well.

©Copyright 2010