They say the mine is somewhere's in a big cave, but nobody ain't never found it, 'though there's them that says the Bald Knobbers used the cave to hide their stuff in, and that's how Jim Lane and Wash Gibbs knows where it is; it's all mighty queer.

You can see for yourself that Lost Creek down yonder just sinks clean out of sight all at once; there must be a big hole in there somewhere." Aunt Mollie pointed with her knife to the little stream that winds like a thread of light down into the Hollow.

"I tell you, sir, these hills is pretty to look at, but there ain't much here for a girl like Sammy, and I don't blame her a mite for wantin' to leave.

It's a mighty hard place to live, Mr.Howitt, and dangerous, too, sometimes." "The city has its hardships and its dangers too, Mrs.Matthews; life there demands almost too much at times; I often wonder if it is worth the struggle." "I guess that's so," replied Aunt Mollie, "but it don't seem like it could be so hard as it is here.

I tell Mr.Matthews we've clean forgot the ways of civilized folks; altogether, though, I suppose we've done as well as most, and we hadn't ought to complain." The old scholar looked at the sturdy figure in its plain calico dress; at the worn hands, busy with their homely task; and the patient, kindly face, across which time had ploughed many a furrow, in which to plant the seeds of character and worth.