"Silver Lining" by Maggie Osborne Quiz

Answer: The Pox

The residents of Piney Creek were taken sick by the pox. The book only refers to the epidemic as "the pox". Low Down was the only healthy person who was willing to stay and nurse the residents back to health. Afterwards the remaining townspeople offered her anything she wanted.

She said that she wanted a baby; Preacher Jellison insisted that she could not have a baby out of wedlock. Max McCord was the man that was selected to become her husband.

Answer: A green marble scratched with an X

After the epidemic there were 24 unmarried men. To determine which man would become Low Down's husband, 24 marbles were placed in a hat. The man that drew the green marble with an X scratched into it would become her husband. Max McCord was the one that drew the marble.

Answer: A baby

Low Down wants a baby, a child for her own. Preacher Jellison however claims she cannot have one without a husband. After hearing that, Low Down changes her mind and asks for a piano, but it's too late. The men determine who will marry her and in a short period of time Low Down and Max are married.

Answer: A horse

Even though Max had fulfilled the obligation of the townspeople by becoming Low Down's, husband the townspeople still gave her several gifts. She received a speckled blue metal cup, a coffeepot, two bandannas, six fair sized gold nuggets, stirrups, a saddle blanket, a new hat, leather gloves, a songbook, a pocket watch, a bone handled comb, toothbrush and tooth powder, and the silver spoon.

She did not however receive a horse.

Answer: Louise Downe

Low Down's real name is Louise Downe. When she was four she was placed on an orphan train that was leaving New York; in Missouri she was adopted by Mrs. Olson. Mrs. Olson used to call her Low Down when she was calling her and over time that name stuck. It wasn't until Livvy McCord's (Max's mother) refusal to call her Low Down that she used the name Louise.

Answer: Philadelphia Houser

Max had decided that before marrying Philadelphia Houser that he would spend the summer panning for gold. While in Piney Creek he contracted the pox and as a result ends up married to Low Down. Upon returning home he discovers that Philadelphia is pregnant and he is unable to marry her. His brother, Wally, instead becomes Philadelphia's husband.

Answer: 8 weeks

In an attempt to hide the fact that the baby wasn't Max's, Philadelphia threw herself down the stairs to induce labour. Livvy said that the baby was conceived on May 29th before Max left to go to Piney Creek. This would have made Philadelphia two days overdue when the baby was born. Louise and Livvy were assisting Philadelphia as she gave birth; Louise thought that it was a miscarriage and not a delivery. Doctor Pope confirmed this fact, saying that Philadelphia was only seven months pregnant and the baby was eight weeks premature.

Answer: The spoon is important for all these reasons

Along with all the other numerous gifts, Louise received the silver spoon after her wedding. The spoon was special because it was a gift, and it is the nicest thing she has ever owned. It is also a reminder of all the good that she did in staying to nurse the townspeople during the epidemic. The silver spoon is a keepsake that makes her feel good.

Answer: His arm

Max broke him arm after the horse he was riding was unable to jump a stone fence and threw him. Livvy was unable to set his broken arm; his sister fainted at the sight of his arm. Louise was the only one capable of setting his arm. The setting of Max's arm is the most humourous chapter in the book.

Answer: That the men cannot work for Max anymore

Shorty Smith, a farmhand that works on Max's ranch, informs Max that all the men cannot work for him anymore. At the end of that day, they all will be quitting and leaving the ranch. Howard Houser, Philadelphia's father, at Philadelphia's request to "make him pay" has placed a ban on Max's employees.

They are not welcomed in town. Every business either ignores the men or turns them away. Howard has made it known that any man that works for Max will become a "pariah" and that he wants Max ruined. Without the workers, Howard hopes that the ranch will not profit and die off and eventually Max will lose the ranch.