Strength was condensed into clear law with them--as sinew boils down into jelly--and character carried out its force as the stamp of solid impress.

What the father had been, the son became, as the generation squared itself, and the slates for the children to do their copies were the tombstones of their granddads.

Thus brave Etruria grew, and thus the Rome which was not built in a day became the flower of the world, and girt in unity of self seven citadels.
There was Roman blood--of the Tenth Legion, perhaps--in the general vein of Springhaven.

There was scarcely a man who pretended to know much outside of his own business, and there was not a woman unable to wait (when her breath was quite gone) for sound reason.

Solidity, self-respect, pure absence of frivolous humor, ennobled the race and enabled them to hold together, so that everybody not born in Springhaven might lament, but never repair, his loss.
This people had many ancient rules befitting a fine corporation, and among them were the following: "Never do a job for a stranger; sleep in your own bed when you can; be at home in good time on a Saturday; never work harder than you need; throw your fish away rather than undersell it; answer no question, but ask another; spend all your money among your friends; and above all, never let any stranger come a-nigh your proper fishing ground, nor land any fish at Springhaven." These were golden laws, and made a snug and plump community.