Readers ages seven to eleven will be drawn to this charming story that happened during a time not so long ago. Take a peek at life in a large, loving Mennonite family where everyone works together, faith is practiced daily, and fun happens often. When the harvest starts in Lancaster County, it signals time for school to begin. Children help gather the fruits and vegetables from the gardens and prepare the one-room schoolhouse for the first day of school, and Elva loves it all! One day Elva and her classmates plan a secret "food roll" to bless Teacher. They try their best to hide their giggles but erupt with laughter as Teacher shows her surprise. Then when her fifth-grade arithmetic lessons get Elva down, her brother suggests the perfect way to forget about her troubles—for a while anyway. And when the beautiful harvest moon is at its fullest, Elva steps quietly through the rustling corn fields to listen for...for what? What is it that makes Elva love autumn so much?

The year 1894 brings hard times to the Yoders. When Father reads that free land is available in faraway North Dakota, the family packs up, says goodbye to family and friends, and boards the train for what they believe will be a better life out West. As soon as they step from the train onto the windswept prairie, however, they realize they have much to learn about homesteading. They hurry to build their thatched-roof, sod house even as they plant a garden and till the fields. With each new experience—including the wildfire and long cold winter—they learn to trust God, embrace the pioneer spirit, and watch hardship turn into valuable life lessons. Based on actual events from a time long ago, this unforgettable story from The Amish Frontier Series, perfect for ages 8 to 12, brings to life the Yoder family's move from a close-knit community to a pioneer life where they quickly discover how God is faithful to help in every situation.

Reprint of the original, first published in 1875.

On a Mennonite farm at harvest time, every family member, including Elva, helps gather fruits and vegetables then pitches in to preserve the bounty, but much can happen between chores as Elva decides to teach herself to play her brother's guitar and Teacher plans a sleepover. Based on a true story.