Beth was developing decided talent as a writer of editorials and her articles were even more thoughtful and dignified than were those of Patsy.

The two girls found plenty to occupy them at the office, while Louise did the reportorial work and flitted through Millville and down to Huntingdon each day in search of small items of local interest.

She grew fond of this work, for it brought her close to the people and enabled her to study their characters and peculiarities.
Her manner of approaching the simple country folk was so gracious and winning that they freely gave her any information they possessed, and chatted with her unreservedly.
Sometimes Louise would make her rounds alone, but often Arthur would join her for an afternoon drive to Huntingdon, and it greatly amused him to listen to his girl-wife's adroit manner of "pumping the natives." About halfway to Huntingdon was the Sizer Farm, the largest and most important in that vicinity.

Old Zeke Sizer had a large family--five boys and three girls--and they were noted as quite the most aggressive and disturbing element in the neighborhood.

Old Zeke was rude and coarse and swore like a trooper, so his sons could not be expected to excel him in refinement.