
The Spooner family lives on a modest Texas cattle farm that they proudly call Silver Spur Ranch, a name dreamed up by the second daughter, Elizabeth, who even decorates the doorway with a silver‑leafed spur. As the oldest sister Mary prepares for her upcoming wedding, the household hums with the clatter of sewing machines, arguments about names, and the lively banter of four very different girls. Elizabeth, tall and fair‑haired, longs to embody the saintly heroine she admires, while her younger sisters—plump Ruth, book‑loving Harvie, and pragmatic Hannah—each add their own spark to the bustling homestead.
Against this backdrop of rural life and family ties, the novel follows the girls as they navigate love, identity, and the expectations of a close‑knit community. Their humor‑filled clashes and tender moments reveal a world where a simple name can carry the weight of pride and rebellion. Listeners will be drawn into the warmth of a bygone era, feeling the rhythm of work, prayer, and the promise of new beginnings.
Language
en
Duration
~3 hours (199K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
Jan 3, 2014
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1863–1944
A lively American storyteller, she wrote novels, poems, and short fiction, often drawing on Southern settings and sometimes collaborating with her sister, Alice MacGowan. Her work also reached younger readers, giving her career a range that feels unusually broad and energetic.
View all booksA little-known early 20th-century writer, Anne McQueen is best remembered for co-authoring a spirited ranch story for young readers. Surviving records about her are sparse, which gives her work a quiet air of mystery.
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