Susan E. Goodman > Quotes

“Nothing lasts. Not love, not grief.”
― Susan Goodman, Blue Dusk

“I think you mustn't wonder that. At least not yet. Perhaps never.”
― Susan Goodman, Blue Dusk

“A boy asked if the caps on the oxen’s horns kept them from poking people. “They are just for decoration,” answered Gene. “If he wanted to poke you with them on, he’d just make a larger hole.”
― Susan E. Goodman, A Week in the 1800s

“At home, I set the table and make my bed,” said Krista. “I like the chores I do here much better--like baking and taking food out to the pigs.”
Amanda helped get dinner ready. “I miss a normal carrot peeler,” she said as she scraped vegetables with a knife. Then she started to shuck corn. “Now that I think about it,” she added, “I wish someone in the future would invent a corn peeler.”
― Susan E. Goodman, A Week in the 1800s

“At their sewing bee, the girls made a reticule, a small nineteenth-century version of a purse. Krista was glad. “I’m getting a cold,” she said. “I can put Kleenex in it.”
“They didn’t have Kleenex back then,” said Holly.
“That’s why I’m hiding it in the bag,” Krista replied.”
― Susan E. Goodman, A Week in the 1800s

“Back in the 1800s, girls learned to sew as early as age four. Many of the girls at Kings Landing had never really used a needle and thread before. Being older didn’t make their lesson any easier.
“I’m always pricking myself,” said Krista.
“Look on the bright side,” said Sarah, “burning yourself on the stove is worse.”
― Susan E. Goodman, A Week in the 1800s

“The girls had known before that nineteenth-century women didn’t have as many choices and rights. But they didn’t like being in that position themselves. “Why can’t we go to work at the blacksmith shop or drive the oxen?” asked Erika.
“Well, you’re not interested in such things,” explained Wendy, trying to tell Erika about the person she would have been in the 1800s.
Erika wasn’t buying it. “Oh yes I am interested,” she said. “The nineteenth century wasn’t fair.”
― Susan E. Goodman, A Week in the 1800s

“I sort of wish they had invented hooky by now,” said Brandon M.”
― Susan E. Goodman, A Week in the 1800s

“Time to get ’em on the road,” said Gene. “Say ‘haw’ to make them go left, and say ‘gee’ for right.”
At first, when the boys “geed” and “hawed,” the oxen stayed right where they were.
“Come on, boys,” said Gene. “Say ‘haw’ in the same way your dad might send you to your room. They respond to a firm tone of voice.”
Finally, the oxen started plodding their way to the woodpile.
“Are they friendly?” asked Alex when it was his turn to drive.
“Sort of,” answered Gene, “but I wouldn’t want a twenty-three-hundred-pound beast to show me too much affection.”
― Susan E. Goodman, A Week in the 1800s

“Girls would never do anything so unladylike as run, Norma explained. They would skip instead. And they would never, goodness gracious, sit so their skirts would hike up. Both boys and girls were taught respect for their elders, which included never interrupting or talking back to any adult.
“I’m glad I didn’t live back then,” Catherine said (but not until later, when she wasn’t interrupting anyone).”
― Susan E. Goodman, A Week in the 1800s

“Nineteenth-century children made work fun by having friends join in. In this “wool-picking bee,” the kids got wool ready for spinning by picking out the sticks and burrs. “Talk and laugh,” said Darlene, “but do a good job. You wouldn’t want any twigs in there if your mom was knitting your woolen underwear!”
― Susan E. Goodman, A Week in the 1800s

“I bet I’m going to sew my purse to my dress,” said Hilary.”
― Susan E. Goodman, A Week in the 1800s

“As the girls changed into their nineteenth-century sleepwear, they all agreed that the nightcaps should stay in the 1800s where they belonged.”
― Susan E. Goodman, A Week in the 1800s

“Having a good team of oxen was the nineteenth-century version of macho, like having a fancy car today,” said Gene, the oxen trainer. “A farmer was proud of owning a set matched in color and weight.”
Unlike a car, you can’t take a team of oxen for a quick spin around the block; oxen don’t do anything quickly.”
― Susan E. Goodman, A Week in the 1800s

“After walking on rocks in these shoes all week, I really miss good roads,” said Amanda.
“One thing I like a lot less here is the bugs,” said Hilary.
“Wait a minute,” said Catherine, “We have the same bugs now, too.”
“Yeah,” Hilary answered, “but they didn’t have anything to kill them with back then.”
― Susan E. Goodman, A Week in the 1800s

“It’s like squeezing one of those stress balls,” said Catherine.
“I don’t think there’s any milk left,” said Jillian, even though they had barely begun.
During Stephanie’s turn, the cow flicked her tail right into Stephanie’s face.
“That’s just the cow’s way of saying ‘good morning.’” said Harry the farmer.
“I don’t think so,” said Stephanie. “I think she’s saying, ‘You’re not doing it fast enough; let someone else try.’”
As the girls struggled to cover the bottom of their pail with milk, the farmer came out from milking another cow carrying a foamy, steaming pailful.
“Holy cow,” said Erika.
“That’s the idea,” said Catherine.”
― Susan E. Goodman, A Week in the 1800s

“This is a real pain in the neck,” said Brandon M., wearing a yoke to carry two buckets of water.”
― Susan E. Goodman, A Week in the 1800s

“Be careful,” said Mark as Max picked up the potatoes Brandon T. unearthed with his hoe. “We don’t want any fingers mixed in with our spuds.”
― Susan E. Goodman, A Week in the 1800s

“Lorena liked it. “I’d say ‘awesome,’ but we’re not supposed to,” she said.
“Not me,” said Sam. “Now that I know how real butter is made, I’ll never eat it again.”
“Don’t worry,” said Amy, “this is not the same as what you buy in the store.”
“I think it’s better because we made it ourselves,” said Allison.”
― Susan E. Goodman, A Week in the 1800s

“I haven’t tried out one of those straw mattresses yet, but they look real uncomfortable,” said Alex. “You’d have to be pretty tired to like it.”
“If you worked all day the way they did, you would be,” answered Hilary.”
― Susan E. Goodman, A Week in the 1800s

“When I was at Kings Landing, it was like I was a different girl,” said Amanda. “People were friendly back then. When we walked through the village, they would say ‘hello’ to everybody they passed. I’m going to member that when I go home.”
“I know what’s gonna happen once we go home,” said Allison. “Instead of saying ‘That’s cool,’ we’ll say, ‘Isn’t that splendid!’ and everyone will look at us as if we are weird!”
― Susan E. Goodman, A Week in the 1800s

“Ouch! I didn’t think it would still be hot!” said Alex, inspecting the red dot on his finger.
“Oh yes,” said the blacksmith, “even when it’s black, iron’s temperature can still be eight hundred degrees.”
“I’d be a blacksmith,” said Brandon M., at the end of his turn. “I think it’s fun.”
“The only problem,” the blacksmith answered, “is that blacksmiths often went deaf because of that constant loud sound of metal hitting metal.”
“Are you deaf?” asked Garrett.
“What did you say?” the blacksmith jokingly replied.”
― Susan E. Goodman, A Week in the 1800s

“Cool,” said Alex, after he hit his croquet ball through the wicket.
“Oh, it feels a little warm to me,” replied Darlene, gently reminding Alex to have a nineteenth-century reaction next time he made a good shot.”
― Susan E. Goodman, A Week in the 1800s