“From the grassy swell where she picketed Ellen she could see the town beyond to the north. Big Slough curved between and spread wide southwest, covering acres upon acres with its rough high grass.”

“Ma sat by the lamp, mending one of Pa’s shirts. The house seemed cold and still and strange, without Pa.”

“They had nothing but the clothes they wore, and one quilt that his wife had snatched to wrap around the baby in the cellar.”

“It was nice, walking together. To take care of their shoes, they did not walk in the dusty wheel tracks. They walked on the harder strip in the middle where only horses’ hoofs had discouraged the grass.”

“He let a last note quiver far, far away, until it dissolved in the moonlight. Everything was so beautiful that Laura wanted it to stay so forever.”

Wow, you guys are serious contenders, here! ________________________________ “Every seam must be exactly right before Ma would let her make another, and often Laura worked several days on one short seam.”

“Again there was silence, except for the crunch of their feet on the snow-covered path.”

“Even in songs Ma did not approve of gambling, but her toe could not stop tapping while Pa played such tunes.”