By the Shores of Silver Lake (Little House, #5)

by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Laura and Carrie went into the hardware store. Two men were sitting on nail kegs and one on a plow. They stopped talking and looked at Laura and Carrie. The wall behind the counter glittered with tin pans and pails and lamps. Laura said, “Pa wants a mowing-machine section, please.” The man on the plow said, “He’s broke one, has he?” and Laura said, “Yes, sir.” She watched him wrap in paper the sharp and shining three-cornered tooth. He must be Mr. Fuller. She gave him the five cents and, taking the package in her hand, she said, “Thank you,” and walked out with Carrie. That was over. But they did not speak until they had walked out of town. Then Carrie said, “You did that beautifully, Laura.” “Oh, it was just buying something,” Laura replied. “I know, but I feel funny when people look at me. I feel . . . not scared, exactly . . .” Carrie said. “There’s nothing to be scared of,” Laura said. “We mustn’t ever be scared.” Suddenly she told Carrie, “I feel the same way.”