Mary Jane's City Home

On a sun‑drenched afternoon, six‑year‑old Mary Jane and her twelve‑year‑old sister Alice study a sprawling map in the Pullman car, their father pointing out the glittering Lake Michigan and the green parks they hope to call home. The girls are thrilled by the idea of living beside the lake and wonder about its waves, while the clatter of steel mills and freight trains flashes an industrial world they have never seen. As the train rolls past factories and the emerging skyline of South Chicago, the city's energy sparks their imaginations.

The Merrill family is packing beloved toys, books, and familiar faces for a fresh start, leaving the quiet countryside they have known all their lives. Watching the city’s apartment blocks rise, Mary Jane feels a mix of nervous goodbyes and eager anticipation for new parks, lakefront walks, and the endless possibilities of city life. The story captures a child's wonder as she steps into a bustling metropolis, promising a journey of discovery and growth.