Section 1 Summary

The tale opened with Mother (Sarah Penn) watching men dig in her family's field and asking Father (Adoniram Penn) what they are digging for. He does not want to tell her, growling, "I wish you'd go into the house, mother, an' 'tend to your own affairs." She said she would not go in until he told her what the men were digging in the field for. Rather than give her an answer, Father began saddling his horse and not acknowledging her further. She stood there and refused to leave until he gave her an answer. Finally, he told her that they were digging a cellar for a new barn. Upon hearing this statement, she gets very mad at him, since he is building the barn where they were supposed to build their new house. He left without saying another word to her. She...