Then he kissed her. Betsy didn't believe in letting boys kiss you. She thought it was silly to be letting first this boy and then that one kiss you, when it didn't mean a thing. But it was wonderful when Joe Willard kissed her. And it did mean a thing.

Good things come, but they're never perfect; are they? You have to twist them into something perfect.

Do you girls have hope chests?' Lloyd asked. We certainly do.' I don't,' said Betsy. 'My husband and I are going to use paper plates and napkins.' Poor Joe!' Lucky Larry!

Isn't it mysterious to begin a new journal like this? I can run my fingers through the fresh clean pages but I cannot guess what the writing on them will be.

The wastes of snow on the hill were ghostly in the moonlight. The stars were piercingly bright.

In silence the three of them looked at the sunset and thought about God.

You have two numbers in your age when you are ten. It's the beginning of growing up.