
In a sun‑drenched yard on the edge of a modest farm, a bright‑eyed girl named Sarah is busy arranging apples, crullers and tiny toys before the day’s first adventure. Though she’s been thrust into adult responsibilities after her parents’ loss, the promise of a new school year stirs a quiet excitement. With the help of her aunt’s husband, William, and the local schoolteacher, Miss Miflin, Sarah prepares to step back into the classroom she once loved, brushing up on geography and the lessons she missed while caring for the family.
The morning bursts into lively play as the Wenner twins and their chubby brother Albert tumble into Sarah’s makeshift “store,” turning the fence into a stage for imagination. Their games of “Uncle Daniel” and other make‑believe roles let Sarah lead the troupe, showing both her kindness and her knack for turning chaos into joy. As the children’s laughter fills the air, the scene hints at the strong, caring spirit that will guide Sarah through the challenges of school and life ahead.
Language
en
Duration
~2 hours (161K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by David Edwards, Michaela Chovitkova and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive)
Release date
2014-12-10
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1879–1958
Known for warm, vividly observed stories about Pennsylvania German life, this prolific early 20th-century writer published novels, short stories, and children's books that reached a wide popular audience. Her work blends regional detail with an easy, human touch that still feels inviting today.
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