- Ebenezer Sprague: Young lady, I have been fishing for more years than you have been alive! My lures are perfect for this area, and I've read all the books on the matter!
- Laura Ingalls: Well, maybe the problem is that the fish just haven't read the books.
- Laura Ingalls: Have you ever had a family?
- Ebenezer Sprague: No, I never had time.
- Laura Ingalls: It doesn't take that long. I've been to a wedding in church and it just took a couple minutes.
- Charles Ingalls: I came here to tell you that my little girl is not a liar.
- Ebenezer Sprague: Well, I have nothing to say about that.
- Charles Ingalls: Well I have something to say about it. Now, you broke that little girl's heart. She went down to the pond every day to see her best friend, that's what she called you. Her best friend.
- Ebenezer Sprague: Yes, because she wanted me to lend you money.
- Charles Ingalls: She didn't have the slightest idea who you were. And as for the loan, I wouldn't take it if it meant I'd lose everything. My little girl gave something to you, friendship. You took it and threw it right back in her face.
- Ebenezer Sprague: I don't need any friends.
- Charles Ingalls: Well that good for you, Mr. Sprague, because you don't have any. You know, I feel sorry for you. You can't take anything; and you can't give anything except money. And as far as I'm concerned, that means you don't have anything at all.
- Harriet Oleson: Well, it's just that we've become such close business associates and all that I think it would be putting unfair pressure on the man. Don't you see?
- Caroline Ingalls: Who is this man, Mrs. Olsen?
- Harriet Oleson: Mr. Sprague, of course. You can't expect the owner of the town's leading business establishment to ask for charity from the town banker. Can you?
- Caroline Ingalls: Well, I would have thought it would put you in a fine spot for a fine donation.
- Harriet Oleson: Well no. No, I'm sure... Well... No, I don't think it's proper.
- Caroline Ingalls: Well Mrs. Olsen, if you're afraid to ask Mr. Sprague, I'll be glad to ask him for you.
- Ebenezer Sprague: He sent you here to reason with me about his loan?
- Caroline Ingalls: Oh no, I'm not here about my husband's loan.
- Ebenezer Sprague: Mrs. Ingalls, I told your husband that I would have to have some time to think it over. And when I do make my decision, it will be based on sound business reasoning, not on the wiles of a woman.
- Harriet Oleson: I wanted to meet you before you got the notion that there was absolutely nobody like you in the town.
- Ebenezer Sprague: Like me?
- Harriet Oleson: Mm hm.
- Harriet Oleson: Uh... educated people of quality and uh...
- [giggles]
- Harriet Oleson: ... substance. I uh... I come from a city also, Mr. Sprague, as I'm sure that you do.
- Ebenezer Sprague: Mrs. Olsen, I quit school when I was in third grade. My father was a farmer. I never saw a city until I was seventeen, and then I didn't like it. Now, if you have some business to transact, I'll be with you in just a moment just as soon as I finish with Mr. Ingalls.
- Laura Ingalls: How does a bank make money if they just give it to other folks?
- Mary Ingalls: Interest.
- Laura Ingalls: Sure I'm interested. That's why I asked.
- Mary Ingalls: No silly. I said interest. You have to pay back more than you borrow.
- Laura Ingalls: Really?
- Mary Ingalls: Yep.
- Laura Ingalls: Mary, do you have any money?
- Mary Ingalls: No. Why?
- Laura Ingalls: I was thinking I might loan you a penny.