"Tender-handed stroke a nettle, And it stings you for your pains; Grasp it like a man of mettle, And it soft as silk remains." -Aaron Hill, 1800s

Aaron Hill Rebus

"Tender-handed stroke a nettle, And it stings you for your pains; Grasp it like a man of mettle, And…

"Accidents will happen in the best regulated families." -Trowbridge, 1866

Accident Rebus

"Accidents will happen in the best regulated families." -Trowbridge, 1866

"A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush." Its better to have a small advantage rather than a greater one. -Trowbridge, 1866

Advantage Rebus

"A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush." Its better to have a small advantage rather than a greater…

"The crier says: 'Found a woman, aged one hundred and ten years; can be seen for ten cents'." -Trowbridge, 1866

Age Rebus

"The crier says: 'Found a woman, aged one hundred and ten years; can be seen for ten cents'." -Trowbridge,…

"Cats purr, dogs bark, cocks crow, a cow lows, a donkey brays, an eagle screams, parrots talk, spiders tick, mankind laugh and cry." -Trowbridge, 1866

Animal Rebus

"Cats purr, dogs bark, cocks crow, a cow lows, a donkey brays, an eagle screams, parrots talk, spiders…

"Be ready at all times to face death." -Trowbridge, 1866

Death Rebus

"Be ready at all times to face death." -Trowbridge, 1866

"There were on the breakfast table only a cornstarch pudding, a puny corn-ball, a muffin, some dandelions, a flat pickle, a sharp apple-pie, a tin plate, and iron spoon." -Trowbridge, 1866

Food Rebus

"There were on the breakfast table only a cornstarch pudding, a puny corn-ball, a muffin, some dandelions,…

"Birds of a feather flock together." -Trowbridge, 1866

Friend Rebus

"Birds of a feather flock together." -Trowbridge, 1866

A rebus from words of an eulogy adopted by Congress, "First in war, first in peace, first in the hearts of his countrymen,"

George Washington Rebus

A rebus from words of an eulogy adopted by Congress, "First in war, first in peace, first in the hearts…

"Activity of mind or body is the way to happiness, contentment, and prosperity." -Trowbridge, 1866

Happiness Rebus

"Activity of mind or body is the way to happiness, contentment, and prosperity." -Trowbridge, 1866

"Carrying coal to Newcastle" means to do something pointless and superfluous. -Trowbridge, 1866

Importance Rebus

"Carrying coal to Newcastle" means to do something pointless and superfluous. -Trowbridge, 1866

"When you want to lose money, invest in oil." -Trowbridge, 1866

Investment Rebus

"When you want to lose money, invest in oil." -Trowbridge, 1866

"How doth the little busy bee, Improve each shining hour." -Isaac Watt

Isaac Watt Rebus

"How doth the little busy bee, Improve each shining hour." -Isaac Watt

"Potatoes cannot be bought for nothing." -Trowbridge, 1866

Money Rebus

"Potatoes cannot be bought for nothing." -Trowbridge, 1866

"Eighty armed Pottawattomie Indians surround a house and attack the inmates." -Trowbridge, 1866

Native American Rebus

"Eighty armed Pottawattomie Indians surround a house and attack the inmates." -Trowbridge, 1866

The rebus, or visual pun, of Bishop Oldham's badge.

Rebus of Bishop Oldham

The rebus, or visual pun, of Bishop Oldham's badge.

"One day in paradise is worth a thousand years on earth." -Trowbridge, 1866

Paradise Rebus

"One day in paradise is worth a thousand years on earth." -Trowbridge, 1866

"I long to lay this aching head and wounded heart beneath the soil, To slumber in that dreamless bed from all my toil." -Trowbridge, 1866

Poetic Rebus

"I long to lay this aching head and wounded heart beneath the soil, To slumber in that dreamless bed…

"Go to the ant, thou sluggard." -KJV, Proverbs 6:6

Proverbial Rebus

"Go to the ant, thou sluggard." -KJV, Proverbs 6:6

"My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not." -KJV, Proverbs 1:10

Proverbial Rebus

"My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not." -KJV, Proverbs 1:10

"Love not sleep, less thou come to poverty." -KJV, Proverbs 20:13

Proverbial Rebus

"Love not sleep, less thou come to poverty." -KJV, Proverbs 20:13

"Grievous words stir up anger, but a soft answer turneth away anger." -KJV, Proverbs 15:1

Proverbial Rebus

"Grievous words stir up anger, but a soft answer turneth away anger." -KJV, Proverbs 15:1

The riddle in this "Riddle-seal of Oxford" is an 'ox' crossing a 'ford.' "A seal which contains a rebus, riddle, or other descriptive device." -Whitney, 1911

Riddle Seal

The riddle in this "Riddle-seal of Oxford" is an 'ox' crossing a 'ford.' "A seal which contains a rebus,…

"Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines, for our vines have tender grapes." -KJV, Song of Solomon 2:15

Song of Solomon Rebus

"Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines, for our vines have tender grapes." -KJV,…

"It is as well to be walking and be sure, as to ride on a stumbling horse and meet with an accident." -Trowbridge, 1866

Stumbling Horse Rebus

"It is as well to be walking and be sure, as to ride on a stumbling horse and meet with an accident."…

"A barefooted beggar cares not a fig for the income tax." -Trowbridge, 1866

Tax Rebus

"A barefooted beggar cares not a fig for the income tax." -Trowbridge, 1866

"Time bears for youth a muffled bell, And hides his face in flowers." -Trowbridge, 1866

Time Rebus

"Time bears for youth a muffled bell, And hides his face in flowers." -Trowbridge, 1866

"All's not gold that glitters." -Trowbridge, 1866

Value Rebus

"All's not gold that glitters." -Trowbridge, 1866

The heraldic badge of Abbot John de Wheathamstede. This badge has a rebus, or a visual pun representing his surname.

Badge of Abbot John de Wheathamstede

The heraldic badge of Abbot John de Wheathamstede. This badge has a rebus, or a visual pun representing…