Laddie: A True Blue Story

“Is he well educated?""Yes, I think so, as far as he's gone," I answered. "Of course he will go on being educated every day of his life, same as father. He says it is all rot about 'finishing' your education. You never do. You learn more important things each day...””

— Gene Stratton-Porter

“Do you know that being a stranger is the hardest thing that can happen to any one in all this world?””

— Gene Stratton-Porter

“Turn her loose out of doors; give her good books, and leave her alone. You won't be disappointed in the woman who evolves.””

— Gene Stratton-Porter

“Love her?" I cried. "Why he just loves her to death! He turns so white, and he suffers so, when her pain is the worst. Love her? And she him? Why, don't you remember the other day when he tipped her head against him and kissed her throat as he left the table; that he asked her if she 'loved him yet,' and she said right before all of us, 'Why Paul, I love you, until I scarcely can keep my fingers off you!””

— Gene Stratton-Porter

“I loved words that filled your mouth, and sounded as if you were used to books.””

— Gene Stratton-Porter

“When it grew cold enough to shut the doors, and have fire at night, first thing after supper all of us helped clear the table, then we took our slates and books and learned our lessons for the next day, and then father lined us against the wall, all in a row from Laddie down, and he pronounced words”

— Gene Stratton-Porter

“She must have slapped those chickens into the skillet before they knew their heads were off.””

— Gene Stratton-Porter

“Father said man was born a praying animal, and no matter how wicked he was, if he had an accident, or saw he had just got to die, he cried aloud to the Lord for help and mercy before he knew what he was doing.””

— Gene Stratton-Porter

“That spring I decided if school didn't stop pretty soon, I'd run away again, and I didn't in the least care what they did to me.””

— Gene Stratton-Porter