The neighbourhood was one which had seen better days, and some well-built old houses, with red walls and white porches, lent an air of hospitality and comfortable living to the numerous cheap boarding places that filled the street.

Crowds of children were playing games or skating on roller skates over the sidewalk; and on the porches a few listless women gossiped idly; or gazed out over newspapers which they did not read.
"Well, there ain't anything wrong exactly--yet," replied Gershom.
"But there may be, you think ?" "That depends upon him.

If he keeps headed the way he's going, and he's as stubborn as a mule, there'll be trouble as sure as my name is Julius." "Is that what you've quarrelled about of late--the way he's going ?" "Bless your heart, honey, we ain't quarrelled! Has it sounded like that to you?
I've just been trying to make him see reason, that's all.

He ain't got a right, you know, to turn against his best friends the way he's doing.

Friends are friends whether you are in office or out, and there's a lot that a man owes to the folks that have stood by him.