A long time ago, when all the grandfathers and grandmothers of today were little boys and little girls or very small babies, or perhaps not even born, Pa and Ma and Mary and Laura and Baby Carrie left their little house in the Big Woods of Wisconsin.

People used to have time to live and enjoy themselves, but there is no time anymore for anything but work, work, work.

Laura felt a warmth inside her. It was very small, but it was strong. It was steady, like a tiny light in the dark, and it burned very low but no winds could make it flicker because it would not give up.

A good laugh overcomes more difficulties and dissipates more dark clouds than any other one thing.

No rich man can walk through the eye of a needle.

Far worst of all, the fever had settled in Mary's eyes, and Mary was blind.

The life of the earth comes up with a rush in the springtime. All the wild seeds of weed and thistle, the sprouts of vine and bush and tree, are trying to take the fields. Farmers must fight them with harrow and plow and hoe; they must plant the good seeds quickly.