A stranger shows up for Molly Moser's wedding. He claimes to be Melinda Applegate's nephew. An American version of Miss Marple, Gracie doesn't believe him. She's determined to prove he's up to no good. Gracie tries to warn the others, but they think she's jealous because Melinda's not having anything to do with her now. At the same time, all sorts of upheaval takes place at the mansion while Molly's gone on her month long honeymoon.

An American version of Miss Marple, Gracie Evans is homesick and tired of retirement. She's bored with living in the Moser Mansion Rest Home For Women in Locked Rock, Iowa. Spring brings back pleasant memories so she prays to God to give her a chance to go back to her farm for a little while. No one is more surprised than Gracie when her prayer comes true. The renter asks her to stay at her farm for a month while he goes on vacation. Soon she decides she should be more careful what she prays for. Her thrill at finding wild strawberries to pick dulls when she sees an Indian swimming naked in her pond. After he leaves, she finds a missing neighbor's clothes on her pond bank. Gracie goes for a walk through her timber to mushroom hunt and gets shot at. That's just the beginning of bad luck for her while she's at Three Oaks to farm sit. Once the widower neighbor and Gracie's former beau finds out her problem, he keeps coming over to check on her. At least that's his excuse for showing up unexpectedly. What he really wants is to take back up with Gracie where they left off years ago. None of this farm sitting experience was what Gracie meant when she asked God for The Chance Of A Sparrow.

This anthology features unabridged translations of Diderot's best work as a literary artist, including those writings that embody his most original and influential ideas.