Heinrich Hoffmann Quotes

“It describes the gruesome fates of children who fidget at table, suck their thumbs or refuse to eat their soup.”

“They show extreme punishments that are often much more shocking than the ‘crimes’ themselves.”

“The though was full, and faithful Tray came out to drink one sultry day; he wagg’d his tail and wet his lips, when cruel Fred snatched up a whip... ”

“When Harriet plays with matches, she is ‘burnt with all her clothes’ on. When Conrad sucks his thumbs, they are cut off by the ‘great, long, red-legg’d, scissor-man’.”

“A horrid wicked boy was he; he caught the flies, poor little things. And then tore off their tiny wings. He kill’d the birds, and broke the chairs. And the kitten down the stairs.”

“So Frederick had to go to bed; his leg was very sore and red! The doctor came and shook his head, and made a very great to-do, and gave him nasty physic too.”

“But good dog Tray is happy now; He has 110 time to say “bow-wow!”′ He seats himself in Frederick’s chair and laughs to see the nice things there. The soup he swallows, sup by sup, — And eats the pies and puddings.”

“It almost makes me cry to tell what foolish Harriet befell. Mamma and Nurse went out one day and left her all alone at play; Now, on the table close at hand, a box of matches chanc’d to stand..”

“But Harriet would not take advice, She lit a match, it was so nice! It crackled so, it burn’d so clear, - Exactly like the picture here. She jump’d for joy and ran about and was too pleas’d to put it out.”

“This is the man that shoots the hares; this is the coat he always wears: with game-bag, powder-horn and gun He’s going out to have some fun.”