Mary and Carrie and baby Grace and Ma had all had scarlet fever. The Nelsons across the creek had had it too, so there had been no one to help Pa and Laura.

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

Tact does for life just what lubricating oil does for machinery.

Suffering passes, while love is eternal. That's a gift that you have received from God. Don't waste it.

The days have never been long enough to do the things I would like to do. Every year has held more of interest than the year before.

We are the heirs of the ages; but the estate is entailed, as large estates frequently are, so that while we inherit the earth, the great round world which is God's footstool, we have only the use of it while we live and must pass it on to those come after us. We hold the property in trust and have no right to injure it or to lessen its value. To do so is dishonest, stealing from our heirs their inheritance.

Let's be cheerful! We have no more right to steal the brightness out of the day for our own family than we have to steal the purse of a stranger.