I asked for bread, and I got a stone in the shape of a pedestal.

He was poor, yet always appeared to be giving something away; a stranger, yet everyone was his friend; no longer young, but as happy-hearted as a boy; plain and peculiar, yet his face looked beautiful to many.

Dear me, if men and women would only trust, understand, and help one another as my children do, what a capital place the world would be!

I think she is growing up, and so begins to dream dreams, and have hopes and fears and fidgets, without knowing why or being able to explain them.

Love is a great beautifier.

He looked at her an instant, for the effect of the graceful girlish figure with pale, passionate face and dark eyes full of sorrow, pride and resolution was wonderfully enhanced by the gloom of the great room, and glimpses of a gathering storm in the red autumn sky.

Good, old-fashioned ways keep hearts sweet, heads sane, hands busy.