The Work Was Never Done On The Farm

Marlee Belle's father moved his large family to the only home he still possessed. Their huge beautiful home had been destroyed by fire and he had lost all of his ships by pirates and storms at sea. He was bankrupt and couldn't pay his bills, but he did own this small cottage in the country. His family was not a bit happy, but of course, Marlee Belle maintained her cheerful nature. She did think about her former life in the city, but was not disappointed to be in the country. The air was fresh and clean and not a single soul made fun of her for being different. She couldn't help that she loved flowers and books rather than gold and jewels. She also couldn't help that her father spent more time with her than with her sisters. When she thought of these things, it sometimes made her feel sad and a bit lonely. She knew her father loved her, but wished that more people did.

Life on the farm was hard for the sisters especially to get used to. Someone had always done the dishes and the cooking for them. Even Marlee Belle's mother knew little about running a household since she had always had a housekeeper to do those things. It seemed to her like the work was never done. Her hair was a mess and her fingernails were chipped and often dirty. She complained to her husband on a daily basis, but he said they would have to make the best of it.

Laundry was always in piles to be washed and hung either on a rope or spread out on bushes to dry. No one knew how to cook, or to grow a garden for food.

They had chickens to lay eggs and for food as well so they also had to be fed. Times were hard.
The sisters complained that their beautiful dresses were now rags. They hadn't had a new dress in over two years!

They also had goats, and a black cow and her calf to feed. They would need the meat and milk for food in the winter. There was only one horse left from all of the horses in the stables of their old home, so they took very good care of him.

 They were so very fortunate that the little farm did have a small lake that had fish in it. Marlee Belle's brothers did seem to like the farm and all the chores as well. They felt for the first time in their lives, that they were part of a family. They worked together and teased each other. For the first time in a long time their parents saw them smiling and laughing as brothers should. They were used to being rich and spoiled, now they were poor, but they seemed happier than they used to be. You could hear them whistle with the birds in the mornings out in the fields or while they were fishing for food.

Then one day Marlee Belle's father received a letter. This letter would hopefully change their future.