When Pa was at home the gun always lay across those two wooden hooks above the door. ... The gun was always loaded, and always above the door so that Pa could get it quickly and easily, any time he needed a gun.

The uplift of a fearless heart will help us over barriers.

In these days when we feed those who are not hungry, we are stealing from those who are starving, even though the food is our own.

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

Vices are simply overworked virtues.

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.

Let your joy scream across the pain.