"Folks haven't time to feel homesick when they've got a husband to look after; he soon takes the place of May-blossom, bless you!" "You're in luck to see all your children married and settled before the Lord has been pleased to take you," remarked Mrs.Hankey, with envy in her voice.
"Well, I'm glad for the two lads to have somebody to look after them, I'm bound to say; I feel now as they've some one to air their shirts when I'm not there, for you never can trust a man to look after himself--never.

Men have no sense to know what is good for 'em and what is bad for 'em, poor things! But Lucy Ellen is a different thing.

Of course I'm pleased for her to have a home of her own, and such nice furniture as she's got, too, and in such a good circuit; but when your daughter is married you don't see her as often as you want to, and it is no good pretending as you do." "That's true," agreed Caleb Bateson, with a big sigh; "and I never cease to miss my little lass." "She ain't no little lass now, Mr.Bateson," argued Mrs.Hankey; "Lucy Ellen must be forty, if she's a day." "So she be, Mrs.Hankey--so she be; but she is my little lass to me, all the same, and always will be.

The children never grow up to them as loves 'em.

They are always our children, just as we are always the Lord's children; and we never leave off a-screening and a-sheltering o' them, any more than He ever leaves off a-screening and a-sheltering of us." "I'm glad to hear as Lucy Ellen has married into a good circuit.