Cows can't read the Bible." "It was an idle story, of course, like the one about Mother Knowles.

A man who worked at our house, Israel Grossman, told it to me, and I thought it was true." Here grandma gazed into the coals again.

She could see Israel Grossman sitting on a stump, whittling a stick and puffing away at a short pipe.
"Well, children," said she, "I have talked to you long enough about things that are past and gone.

On the whole, I don't say they were good old times, for the times now are a great deal better." "Yes, indeed," said Prudy.
"Except one thing," added grandma, looking at Dotty, who was snapping the tongs together.

"Children had more to do in my day than they have now." Dotty blushed.
"Grandma," said she, "I'm having a playtime, you know, 'cause there can't anybody stop to fix my work.