Chapter 4 Summary

Mazie and her family love their farm. The corn comes up swiftly, the chickens lay eggs, and the cow gives milk. Everything is beautiful, and they are full of hope despite their neighbor Benson's warning. Benson tells Jim that it is impossible to make a living doing tenant farming, where the family rents the farm from the landowner. Jim ignores his nay-saying. Mazie and Will start school for the first time, and the teacher is horrified that neither of them can read. They both start out in first grade, but soon learn to read and are promoted to second grade. They love learning all that they can, which makes Anna proud. Seeing the other school children, Mazie is ashamed of her poor clothing for the first time in her life.

One night, Mazie is stargazing, when her neighbor, Old Man Caldwell, joins her...