They had, in their youth, speculated as to what husbands the Lord might provide for them, and looked about for them with furtive alertness.

When He provided none, they stopped speculating, and went on as sharply askant as hens at any smaller good pecks life might have for them.
The Lawson sisters had always been considered dressy.

They owned their house and garden, also several acres which yielded fair crops of hay, and some good woodland.

They earned considerable money making fine shirts for a little Jew peddler who let out work in several neighboring villages, and were enabled to devote the greater part of that to their wardrobes.

They were said to always buy everything of the best--the finest muslins, the stiffest silks, the richest ribbons.