
The story opens on a sun‑drenched Virginia wheat field, where the rhythm of scythes and the laughter of harvesters turn hard work into a lively song. The landscape swells with golden grain, shady woods, and a glittering river, painting a picture of a world where nature’s beauty is in full, generous display. In the midst of this seasonal chorus, a community of black laborers moves together, their voices weaving folk verses that echo the land’s timeless pulse.
Amid the bustling field sits a young black boy beneath a hawthorn, a dog at his side and a Latin book in his lap, his thoughts drifting between idle daydreams and quiet longing. Though surrounded by kindness, he finds his truest companion in the dog’s steady gaze, a silent understanding that steadies his restless spirit. A sudden, clumsy figure bursts through the brush, his presence unsettling the boy’s reverie and hinting at a change that will steer his path beyond the fields.
Language
en
Duration
~8 hours (511K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Original publisher
United States: A. L. Burt Company, 1893,copyright 1903.
Credits
D A Alexander, David E. Brown, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by University of California libraries)
Release date
2022-10-21
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1860–1916
A Virginia-born writer with a sharp eye for history and adventure, she built a wide-ranging career that included novels, short stories, and popular historical writing. Her books often drew on naval life and the American past, giving readers lively stories rooted in strong research and vivid scene-setting.
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