Hester Strong's Life Work; or, The Mystery Solved (American Girls Series)

453 pp. EXCERPT: Just on the outskirts of one of New England's most enterprising cities, the Levering farm-house has stood for at least a century. The old house was kept in excellent order, and in process of time the shed roof on the back side was raised, and a porch added, to make room for the third and fourth generations. Three tall, trim poplars stood sentinel in front of the house a maple at one end; a Balm of Gilead spread its leaves and shed its healing buds at the other end, shading the porch door. Just over the way, on a gentle eminence, stood the corn-barn, ample in dimensions, and under it the cider mill and storehouse for farming utensils, with bench and tools for repairing. On this bench the children and grandchildren (little ones, I mean) used to sit, and watch the apples fall into the hopper; while Old Tom, the family horse, went round and round, with his sleepy eyes half shut, a miracle of patience and docility.