Summary

At church the next day, Caddie finds herself gazing at the Hankinson boys, the three children of Sam Hankinson and his Indian wife. His wife waits outside, and Caddie thinks to herself although she is proud of her own mother, she would not be ashamed to have an Indian wife, as Sam Hankinson appears to be of his wife. The service over, the circuit rider leaves, and the children turn their attention to the next bit of excitement sure to follow: Uncle Edmund’s annual visit.

Uncle Edmund makes a habit of visiting each year at the time of the arrival of the passenger pigeons, when even a nearsighted, poor sportsman like himself can catch his fill. The children especially look forward to his arrival, because he’s sure to put a toad in the sugar bowl or some such trick and liven up the...