How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
"Maybe," he said, his voice low, "if you remember the songs, then I might remember her, too."
My eyes widened and tears came. Then the door opened and wind blew in with Papa, and I went to stir the stew. (1.28-29)
Caleb so desperately wants to remember his mother—who died right after he was born—that it breaks Anna's heart. She knows that his dream of excavating his own memories of his mother will never come true.
Quote #2
"No," said Papa slowly. "Not a housekeeper." He paused. "A wife."
Caleb stared at Papa. "A wife? You mean a mother?"
Nick slid his face onto Papa's lap and Papa stroked his ears.
"That, too," said Papa. (1.43-46)
While Jacob hopes to find himself a new wife, the children are more focused on what that means for them: They'll potentially get a new mother, one who can take care of them and keep them company during the day.
Quote #3
Caleb read and read the letter so many times that the ink began to run and the folds tore. He read the book about sea birds over and over.
"Do you think she'll come?" asked Caleb. "And will she stay? What if she thinks we are loud and pesky?" (2.4-5)
When Caleb starts writing back and forth with Sarah, he's completely smitten. He loves the book of sea birds that she sends, and he hopes that she'll choose to marry their father—even though he's never met her.
Quote #4
The next day Papa went to town to mail his letter to Sarah. It was rainy for days, and the clouds followed. The house was cool and damp and quiet. Once I set four places at the table, then caught myself and put the extra plate away. (2.24)
Even Anna finds herself caught up in the excitement and anticipation of possibly getting a new mother. Before Sarah even comes to the Midwest, she's already setting an extra place at the table as though Sarah belongs there.
Quote #5
I shook my head, turning the white stone over and over in my hand. I wished everything was as perfect as the stone. I wished that Papa and Caleb and I were perfect for Sarah. I wished we had a sea of our own. (3.49)
Anna isn't stupid—she can see that Sarah is homesick—but still, she wishes and hopes with all her heart that Sarah will decide that being a part of the Witting family is the right decision… and even wishes that they had a sea to give her.
Quote #6
"For the birds," said Sarah. "They will use it for their nests. Later we can look for nests of curls."
"Sarah said 'later,'" Caleb whispered to me as we spread his hair about. "Sarah will stay." (4.31-32)
Caleb looks for any sign that Sarah is staying. He hopes and dreams that because she says things like "later," she means to stay on with the Witting family permanently—and to become his new mother.
Quote #7
We climbed the bank and dried ourselves and lay in the grass again. The cows watched, their eyes sad in their dinner-plate faces. And I slept, dreaming a perfect dream. The fields had turned to a sea that gleamed like glass. And Sarah was happy. (6.40)
After spending a lovely day swimming with Sarah in the cow pond, the kids go home with their heads full of dreams of how life will be if Sarah decides to stay. It's definitely a charming thing to think about.
Quote #8
"Ask if she's coming back," whispered Caleb.
"Of course she's coming back," I said. "Seal is here." But I would not ask the question. I was afraid to hear the answer. (9.38-39)
Anna tries to be the strong big sister and assure Caleb that Sarah will be back, but she's secretly worried that Sarah has left, too. She doesn't want to ask if Sarah is coming back because she's afraid of having her dreams shattered.
Quote #9
"Blue," said Caleb slowly, "and gray. And green."
Sarah nodded.
Suddenly Caleb grinned.
"Papa," he called. "Papa, come quickly! Sarah has brought the sea!" (9.57-60)
Sarah still has her dreams of being by the sea, but instead of leaving the Witting family for Maine, she brings the sea to them, using colored pencils to draw the ocean and post pictures around their little home.
Quote #10
When there are storms, Papa will stretch a rope from the door to the barn so we will not be lost when we feed the sheep and the cows and Jack and Old Bess. And Sarah's chickens, if they aren't living in the house. There will be Sarah's sea, blue and gray and green, hanging on the wall. And songs, old ones and new. And Seal with yellow eyes. And there will be Sarah, plain and tall. (9.62)
At the end of the book, Anna knows that all her dreams will come true now that Sarah is staying and marrying Jacob. They'll actually be able to enjoy all these wonderful family activities together. Yay.