Sarah, Plain and Tall

Sarah has come from Maine Sarah has come from Maine to live on the prairie farm to live on the prairie farm with Anna, Caleb, and Papa. with Anna, Caleb, and Papa. Caleb and Anna's mother Caleb and Anna's mother had died when Caleb was had died when Caleb was born. Sarah has come from born. Sarah has come from Maine to live on the prairie Maine to live on the prairie farm with Anna, Caleb and farm with Anna, Caleb and Papa, to be a wife and Papa, to be a wife and mother. But the family fears mother. But the family fears Sarah will leave them Sarah will leave them because she misses the seabecause she misses the sea

PrairiePrairie

A prairie is an extensive, level or slightly rolling, mostly treeless tract of land in the Mississippi valley, characterized by a highly fertile soil and originally covered with course grasses. --Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1997

1919thth Century Travel Century Travel In the 19th century, though train travel was slow, a traveler In the 19th century, though train travel was slow, a traveler

could cross the entire continent by train. The transcontinental could cross the entire continent by train. The transcontinental railroad was completed in 1869.railroad was completed in 1869.--World Book Encyclopedia--World Book Encyclopedia, , 1997. Sarah traveled by railroad when she moved from her 1997. Sarah traveled by railroad when she moved from her home in Maine to the Whitting farm on the prairie.home in Maine to the Whitting farm on the prairie.

1919thth Century Farm Life Century Farm Life Farm life in the 19th century was a life of working hard. Everyone Farm life in the 19th century was a life of working hard. Everyone

had chores they were responsible for.had chores they were responsible for.

"Caleb and I did our chores without talking. We shoveled out the "Caleb and I did our chores without talking. We shoveled out the stalls and laid down new hay. We fed the sheep. We swept and stalls and laid down new hay. We fed the sheep. We swept and straightened and carried wood and water. And then our chores straightened and carried wood and water. And then our chores were done." were done."