
A spirited New England girl named Roxy finds herself far from home, trekking the dusty road from her grandmother’s farm toward the bustling village of Antietam. Dressed in a blue‑checked dress and straw hat, she eagerly meets Polly, a bright‑eyed local who greets her with a warm smile and a horse‑drawn wagon. Their first encounter brims with youthful curiosity, as Roxy marvels at Polly’s sunny disposition while grappling with the subtle clash of Northern and Southern manners.
As the two girls begin to explore the countryside together, the looming presence of the Civil War adds an undercurrent of tension to their budding friendship. Roxy’s stubborn pride and Polly’s gentle humor create a lively dynamic that captures the hopes and uncertainties of a nation on the brink. Listeners are invited to experience the charm of rural life, the excitement of a first adventure, and the early stirrings of a story that will soon intersect with the historic Battle of Antietam.
Language
en
Duration
~3 hours (194K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Roger Frank and Sue Clark from page images generously made available by The Internet Archive (https://archive.org)
Release date
2020-05-04
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1860–1958
Known for lively historical stories for young readers, this American writer helped generations of children imagine life in early America. Her best-known books include the long-running Little Maid historical series and several Yankee Girl novels.
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