Chapter 9

The family is going to town! Pa got the horses all cleaned up while Ma got the girls ready. The night before Ma washed up Mary and Laura and set up their hair so it would curl in the morning. Everyone dressed up the best they could. The town they were going to is called Pepin because it's right on the shore of Lake Pepin. They got their and the girls were all fascinated that there were so many houses! Laura was shocked at how big the sky was and that the water didn't stop until it met the sky across the lake. They went into the store and Laura tried to look at everything, but couldn't because there was so much stuff! The store owner commented on how pretty Mary's curls were and didn't say anything to Laura. So Laura is slowly getting jealous. Laura couldn't say anything either, because she never really talks to strangers, but Mary was all prim and proper. The family had a picnic and Mary and Laura were collecting stones to take home; Laura got greedy, and shoved too many into her pocket and it ripped off. Then they went home.

Response- I can relate to Laura's jealousy, having an older sister of my own. There are too many times to think about how I thought Rachel was getting more attention than me, and I was a dumb, jealous, little girl. : )