Like a River Glorious by Rae Carson

the cart. “He was familiar with the poetry of William Wordsworth.”
    â€œYou don’t say.” I have no idea who William Wordsworth is. “You said they’re slaves?”
    â€œNot the headman,” Jasper says. “But he owns work contracts on the others. He’s looking for a big mining operation or a rancher to hire the whole crew. He’ll collect the wages for all of them, and probably send most of it back to China. We saw a dozen groups like this at Mormon Island. There are hundreds of Chinese here already, and more coming.”
    â€œThe coolie contracts won’t last long,” Tom says. “Mark my words. There’ll be no slavery in California, not for Negros and not for Chinese.”
    â€œWill they become American citizens? Like the Mexicans in California?”
    He doesn’t have the chance to answer, because Andy and Olive are tugging at our sleeves, and even though there are only two of them, it feels like we’re outnumbered. “Chickens!” Olive says.
    â€œShow us the chickens,” Andy insists, dragging Jasper toward a wooden box with holes in it.
    â€œJust pullets,” Jasper says. “We didn’t want grown hens until we could build a proper henhouse.”
    â€œCouldn’t find a milk cow,” Tom says to Becky, who comes trailing behind her children. “They’re in high demand, apparently. But we brought something else for you. A present.”
    â€œOh?” Becky peers over the cart’s edge.
    The Major heaves a sack of cornmeal onto his shoulder, and Jasper moves aside a barrel of beans, revealing a brand-new box stove, shining black with curved legs. Beside it is a matching flue pipe.
    Becky gasps.
    â€œThat ought to help with the cooking, yes?” Jasper says with a grin. “And keep that cabin we’re building warm this winter.”
    â€œBut . . . how much do I owe you for this?” she asks, eyes wide.
    â€œNot a cent,” Tom says. “It’s a gift. We used the gold that Lee found for us. It cost every last bit, and we’re all dead broke, but we’ll just get more, right?”
    Gold comes hard but goes easy, Mama always said.Whenever she worried Daddy and I were getting greedy, she’d remind us that some of the folks in Georgia who found the most gold ended up the worst off. “But they didn’t have a witchy girl to help them,” was how I always replied, which always made her madder than a hornet. She hated the word “witch.”
    â€œIn fact,” I say, “I kept filling your flour bags while you were gone. You’re not dead broke. Not even close.”
    Andy pipes in with, “I helped!”
    â€œMe too!” says Olive.
    Tom reaches into his pocket and pulls out two pieces of hard white candy. Peppermint scent fills the air. He hands them to the little ones, saying, “For your hard work,” and is answered with a chorus of thank yous.
    Henry turns to me. “We got something for you too, Lee.”
    â€œYou didn’t need . . .” Words leave me when he pulls out a large package wrapped in paper and twine.
    Henry hands it to me. “Open it!”
    Jefferson peers over my shoulder as I use my knife to cut the twine, then fold back the paper to reveal beautiful calico in soft green. I lift it from the package.
    It’s a dress. An honest-to-God dress, with rich brown ribbon trim, a white lace collar, and the fullest, swishiest skirt I’ve ever seen.
    At my stunned silence, Tom jumps in with, “Not saying you have to stop wearing trousers. Nothing like that. It’s just . . . we recalled you once telling us how you miss dresses and that you’d like to have a nice one for special occasions.”
    â€œWe had to guess at the size,” Henry says. “I thought this color would be lovely on you!”
    â€œIt might be too big,” Jasper adds. “But the lady at the counter assured us a dress is