She looked quickly at the little golden-brown pottery jug which stood at the end of the librarian's desk. It was a season indicator. In the fall it held a few sprigs of bittersweet and at Christmas ti...
She liked numbers and sums. She devised a game in which each number was a family member and the answer made a family grouping with a story to it. Naught was a babe in arms. He gave no trouble. Wheneve...
She learned of the class system of a great Democracy. She was puzzled and hurt by teacher’s attitude. Obviously the teacher hated her and others like her for no other reason than that they were what t...
She did not hate Miss Garnder anymore. She didn't like her, but she felt sorry for her. Miss Garnder had nothing in all the world excepting a sureness about how right she was.
Several times that day, the name or thought of Papa had come up. And each time, Francie had felt a flash of tenderness instead of the old stab of pain. Am I forgetting him? she thought. In time to com...
Serene was a word you could put to Brooklyn New York. Especially in the summer of 1912. Somber as a word was better. But it did not apply to Williamsburg Brooklyn. Prairie was lovely and Shenandoah ha...
Part of her life was made from the tree growing rankly in the yard. She was the bitter quarrels she had with her brother whom she loved dearly. She was Katie's secret, despairing weeping. She was the...
Our family used to be like this strong cup, thought Francie. It was whole and sound and held things well. When papa died, the first crack came. And this fight tonight made another crack. Soon there wi...
Oh, and you must not forget the Kris Kringle. The child must believe in him until she reaches the age of six.Mother, I know there are no ghosts or fairies. I would be teaching the child foolish lies.M...
Oh time...time, pass so that I forget!Oh time, Great Healer, pass over me and let me forget.
Mary was convinced that because of some sin she had unwittingly committed in her life, she was mated with the devil himself. She really believed this because her husband told her so. I am the devil hi...
Katie heard the story. 'It's come at last,' she thought, 'the time when you can no longer stand between your children and heartache. When there wasn't enough food in the house you pretended you weren'...
It is a good thing to learn the truth one's self. To first believe with all your heart, and then not to believe, is good too. It fattens the emotions and makes them to stretch. When as a woman life an...
I don't know. I don't know anything, really. I just feel. And when the feeling is strong enough, then I just say I know. But I don't...
How much do they be paying you? he asked mellowly.The usual salary. A little more than they think I'm worth and a little less than I think I'm worth.
Gently, Teacher explained the difference between a lie and a story. A lie was something you told because you were mean or a coward. A story was something you made up out of something that might have h...
Forgiveness, said Mary Rommely, is a gift of high value. Yet its cost nothing.
Flossie was always running after men and they were always running away from her. Francie’s Aunt Sissy ran after men, too. But somehow they ran to meet her halfway. The difference was that Flossie Gadd...
Filth, filth, filth, from morning to night. I know they're poor but they could wash. Water is free and soap is cheap. Just look at that arm, nurse.'The nurse looked and clucked in horror. Francie stoo...
Do you hear that, Francie? You're in college! 'oh gosh, I feel sick.