The story...

Chapter I- The trail of icy brambles

I was to be going calling! To Mrs John Ester's house, to be exact. My mother was currently preparing luncheon, for we weren't to go until tea, at 4:oo. Mother had said in her cool, serene voice that I was permitted to frolic outdoors. So there I was, tall hot boots kicked off in the straw.

I'm a farm girl, Adele, that's my name. Although I look quite proper in my Sunday calling dress, a lacy black gown, I'm a farm girl both at mind and heart. On the other hand, there's my 6 year old sister Mary...

I was bored! I tried to interest myself by calling out commands to our black dog, Ominous, a sweet little pup. But as a chirruping squirrel came along, he barked once, twice, and then scampered off to chase it. So I was alone. Mary was playing with Joseph George, the boy in the red farmhouse next door. (I live in a blue 1860's place.) So I was alone. I began to make shapes in the clouds when I heard my mother call from the door, fanning herself with a dark green fan,

“Adele! Fetch the water, if you will! Mrs Ester will be coming to receive this food. Her youngest daughter went missing last week and her husband is still recovering from the war. I'll make some lemonade. Please, Adele!”

I grabbed the tin bucket and ran to the trail to the well. My boots were pulled back on, and buttoned up with an ivory buttonhook, but the boots slid on the leftover ice, and my lacy dress was snatched by the thorns. I ran to the well, and lowered the bucket down. Suddenly, I saw something gleam. I dropped the bucket and saw it fall down. The tourmaline ring was just within my reach.

    The well was very deep and very bricky, and I preferred the ring wouldn’t fall in, so I stepped onto the top of the well and grabbed it, slipping it on. As I got up and ran back through the trail of icy brambles I noticed a green ribbon on the floor. Probably Mary’s, I thought. I tied it onto my hand and ran back to the house to go to lunch and meet Mother. I had forgotten the water. She was mad.

Chapter 2: Mary recognizes the ring

I was seated on a hay bale, waiting for Mary to come home. A few minutes came by and eventually Mary came, too, swinging her sunburnt and rope burned hands and skipping, her mischievious freckled face grinning.

    “Mary! What took you so long?”

It’s hard to be proper with Mary around.

    “ I was swinging on a rope with Joey, but Mother says you shouldn’t prompt me so!”

    “ I will do what I wish, thank you very much!”

    “ Mother also said you won’t be allowed outdoors!”

    “ I know, she told me, but she told me I could go outside if I did my sewing and practiced the piano. I did the piano, and I promised to do my sewing.”

     Mary can be such a fish. We were now walking alongside the big blue barn.

    “ I do feel bad for you, always having to be so proper forever!”

    “ Well, you will start your training in two years!”