How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
"You don't sing anymore," he said. He said it harshly. Not because he meant to, but because he had been thinking of it for so long. "Why?" he asked more gently. (1.36)
Caleb wants to know why his father never sings anymore. It's pretty self-explanatory to Anna, who realizes that her father has been mourning their mother's death. But if he finds a new wife, he might be happy enough to sing again.
Quote #2
"One thing," I said in the quiet of the room.
"What's that?" asked Papa, looking up.
I put my arm around Caleb.
"Ask her if she sings," I said. (1.52-55)
Anna's happy that her father might be getting married again, but she wants to make sure this new woman in their lives will bring light and joy, not more sadness. She wants to know if Sarah sings.
Quote #3
"What's that?" asked Caleb excitedly, peering over Papa's shoulder. He pointed. "There, written at the bottom of the letter."
Papa read it to himself. Then he smiled, holding up the letter for us to see.
Tell them I sing was all it said. (2.26-28)
To Sarah's credit, she doesn't find Anna's query about her warbling skills bizarre. She just responds simply, putting Anna's mind at ease and helping her to look forward to Sarah's arrival.
Quote #4
"We don't have this by the sea," she said. "We have seaside goldenrod and wild asters and woolly ragwort."
"Woolly ragwort!" Caleb whooped. He made up a song. (4.14-15)
Almost as soon as Sarah comes, the kids are up and singing again. She tells them all about the ocean and the strange plants they've never seen. She gets along with the kids really well… but will that be enough to keep her around?
Quote #5
Sarah and Papa laughed, and the dogs lifted their heads and thumped their tails against the wood floor. Seal sat on a kitchen chair and watched us with yellow eyes. (4.17)
Everyone is startled—but delighted—when Sarah and Jacob start laughing together. Even though they're still nearly strangers, they're finding common ground and enjoying time together.
Quote #6
The sheep made Sarah smile. She sank her fingers into their thick, coarse wool. She talked to them, running with the lambs, letting them suck on her fingers. She named them after her favorite aunts, Harriet and Mattie and Lou. She lay in the field beside them and sang "Sumer Is Icumen in," her voice drifting over the meadow grasses. (5.1)
Although Sarah's pretty homesick for her seaside hometown, she still enjoys getting to know the prairie and all it has to offer. The sheep even make her smile and start singing… which is definitely a good sign.
Quote #7
She climbed to the very top of the hay and sat, looking down at us. Above, the stars were coming out. Papa piled a bed of loose hay below with his pitchfork. The light of the lantern made his eyes shine when he smiled up at Sarah. (5.20)
Jacob isn't a very openly affectionate or exuberant man, but it's clear to everyone that Sarah's arrival makes him happy. When he looks at her, even the kids can see that he's a lot more content. Yay.
Quote #8
"Fine," said Sarah. She lifted her arms over her head and slid down, down, into the soft hay. She lay, laughing, as the dogs rolled beside her.
"Was it a good dune?" called Caleb.
"Yes," said Sarah. "It is a fine dune." (5.22-24)
Jacob can see how homesick Sarah is, and he doesn't ignore her loneliness. Instead, he finds ways to make her feel more at home—like creating her very own "dune" out of hay so that she doesn't have to miss the sand dunes of Maine so much.
Quote #9
"Shoo, cows," said Sarah as the cows looked up, startled. She took off her dress and waded into the water in her petticoat. She dived suddenly and disappeared for a moment as Caleb and I watched. She came up, laughing, her hair streaming free. Water beads sat on her shoulders. (6.32)
Anna and Caleb are pretty shocked when Sarah plunges into the cow pond, but they follow her because she seems so happy that they don't want to miss out on her swimming lesson. After all, what kid can resist a bit of fun?
Quote #10
Papa said nothing. But he put his arm around her, and leaned over to rest his chin in her hair. I closed my eyes, suddenly remembering Mama and Papa standing that way, Mama smaller than Sarah, her hair fair against Papa's shoulder. When I opened my eyes again, it was Sarah standing there. Caleb looked at me and smiled and smiled and smiled until he could smile no more. (8.44)
When the kids see Jacob being affectionate with Sarah, they're thrilled instead of grossed out. Caleb is completely over the moon—maybe this means he'll finally have the mother he's been missing his whole life.