Sam sighed Even though Pa said the flat prairie was best for farming Sam secretly hoped Curlew would be set on the highest hill in eastern Alberta But the track ran on as straight and level as if it had been laid out by a giant with a yard stick Pa came through the door carrying his satchel and the big wooden toolbox and stood beside Sam He set the satchel down but kept a firm grip on the toolbox It was precious The tools had belonged to Great-grandfather Ferrier a famous woodworker Famous in the northwest corner of Iowa anyway where he had built dozens of schoolhouses and churches Back in Iowa Great-grandfather’s tools had hung on the wall of the workshop behind the house Each hammer bit and file had its proper place When the Ferriers decided to move to Canada Pa built a box with a special space for each tool Some of the biggest saws and the adze wouldn’t fit into the box They were back in the freight car so that Pa and Sam had with them all the tools they needed to build a house for the family Mama and Josie and Matt would come later in the summer when everything was ready for them The train slowed jerked and stopped There was a hiss of steam and a bell rang They had arrived at Curlew Sam jumped down from the train before the conductor had time to lower the steps In front of him was a small station building just like dozens of others they had passed on the journey Sam was not interested He wanted to see the town He set his satchel down beside Pa who was having a last chat with the conductor Then he walked to the far end of the station platform and looked at Curlew He saw one street with small wooden buildings straggling along it There was a church not nearly as fine as any Great-grandfather had built The street was dirt with deep ruts that must have been
made in mud time Along the edges boards had been laid to make a sidewalk just wide enough that two people could pass if they were careful At least one of the buildings was a store J T Pratt Dry Goods and Groceries was painted on its high flat front Beside it was a smaller building with lumber and coal stacked next to it There was not a single tree anywhere but some of the doorsteps had blue and yellow flowers blooming beside them Pa joined Sam at the edge of the platform I guess you can see all there is of Curlew from right here he said I guess so said Sam He couldn’t think of another word to say For some reason he had been sure that Curlew would be different from all the little prairie towns he had seen from the train Curlew would be more like Jericho Iowa where they had started their trip Jericho had trees and painted houses and wide wooden sidewalks Curlew looked as if it might disappear any minute swept away by the prairie wind But Pa took a deep breath of that wind and said New country That’s what it is new country In five years you won’t know this town People are coming from everywhere to this spot Pa loved meeting new people and talking to them It seemed to Sam that he had told everyone on the train about his plans My father left a good Iowa farm to my brother and me Pa would say But it just wasn’t big enough to support two families I’m the one with wanderfoot so I was glad to sell out to my brother and buy some of this newly opened-up land in Alberta Now we’re headed for a new life How about you Then he would listen to what the other person had to say Sam had heard a lot of stories on the train There were other
hopeful travelers who had come up from the States drawn by advertisements for free or cheap land Many were moving from eastern Canada because their farms were too small or their land was wearing out Some were just looking for adventure None of the people they had swapped stories with had gotten off at Curlew though Pa put his hand on Sam’s shoulder We’d better stop gawking at the big city son he said They’re unloading the freight car Before long Pa and Sam had gathered together all the belongings they had brought with them the axe saws and adze the bundled up tent and a few boxes of provisions Everything else would come later with the rest of the family Pa’s farm implements the furniture even the cows horses and chickens would all be loaded into a freight car to travel from Jericho to Curlew A young man from Jericho who was eager to see the west would ride in the freight car and look after the livestock on the journey Now Pa looked at their small pile of belongings and said The Canadian Pacific Railway calls our big shipment Settler’s Effects I guess we can call this batch Basic Necessities Then he left Sam to stand guard over their Basic Necessities while he inquired at J T Pratt’s store about the agent he had hired to get them a wagon and two horses and a plow The plow they had had back in Iowa would not do the job of breaking up the tough roots of the prairie grass for the first time The agent turned out to be the brother of J T Pratt How do you do Mr Pratt said Sam politely when Pa introduced him Don’t call me Mr Pratt said the young man That’s what they call my brother Call me Chalkey
He grinned and pointed to his white-blond hair Ask me anything you want to I might even know the answer But it seemed to Sam that Chalkey answered most questions without being asked As Pa said later he was a regular fountain of information He told them all about the rainfall that spring how promising the crops were looking and the amazing number of people who were coming out to settle around Curlew We’re starting up a school he said to Sam Got to give you young people an education It’ll be close in to town here so you’ll have about five miles to travel Your folks will want you to go I suppose That’s for sure said Sam but he wondered how Josie and Matt would manage to walk five miles to school Josie was barely eight and Matt was six Ten miles a day would be too much for them It would even be a lot for him and he would be twelve before Christmas But Pa and Mama would think of something They would never let their children go even a month or two without schooling According to Pa a person with an education could write his own ticket in the world After all Pa had an education and he had written a ticket to Curlew
