A Home in the Wilderness
A Home in the Wilderness A Home in the Wilderness "Whoa!" Papa called. The horse and wagon came to a stop. "This is our homestead," he said. "What do you think?" Jeremiah and Ruthie looked around. The prairie stretched as far as they could see. It looked like a sea of grass. "It's a good place for our new home," Mama said. They had left the east to start a new life. Jeremiah remembered what Papa had said: "Free people need land to live on, and there is free land out west." They had fille
登录后可以听外教原声朗读。
A Home in the Wilderness
A Home in the Wilderness
"Whoa!" Papa called. The horse and wagon came to a stop.
"This is our homestead," he said. "What do you think?"
Jeremiah and Ruthie looked around. The prairie stretched as far as they could see. It looked like a sea of grass.
"It's a good place for our new home," Mama said.
They had left the east to start a new life.Jeremiah remembered what Papa had said: "Free people need land to live on, and there is free land out west."They had filled a wagon with the things that they would need to make a new home in the wilderness.They had pots and pans, tools, quilts, and a little black stove.Most of the wagon was filled with food: flour, dried fruit, bacon, and seeds for planting.They had even brought four chickens.
That first night was warm and tranquil.Mama made rabbit stew, and they sat around the fire talking. The stars were bright.Back east, you could hardly see the stars, but here, it seemed as though you could see the whole galaxy.
"It will not be easy to farm this land and make it our home," Papa said."But if we live on it for five years, the land will be ours.We will work hard. And we will always remember how good it is to be free."
At first they slept outside. Late one night, after the Moon had come up, Jeremiah heard a coyote howling in the distance.He was scared, but Papa was right next to him. He pulled the quilt closer.He would be glad when they had a house with walls!
Mama, Papa, Ruthie, and Jeremiah were very busy.It seemed that there was always more work to be done.They dug a well for water. Papa taught Jeremiah how to cut sod for the roof.It was hard work. Jeremiah's hands and back hurt.
Ruthie helped Mama build a coop for the chickens and plant a vegetable garden.They planted potatoes, squash, beans, and watermelons.Later, they plowed the land in order to plant corn.
Slowly, the little plot of land began to feel like home.One afternoon, Jeremiah and Ruthie were out exploring.Jeremiah loved to sit in the tall grass and watch for birds or other wildlife.Suddenly, Ruthie grabbed Jeremiah's hand. "Jeremiah, look!" she shouted.
Jeremiah looked up and saw a dark, twisting cloud coming towards them.It was a tornado! The two raced home.
"Mama! Papa!" they yelled. "There's a twister coming!"
