45 pages • 1 hour read
Betty G. BirneyA modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
It is the seventh day of Eben’s quest, and his aunt has prepared his traveling clothes. His father, however, has received a letter from Molly about an influenza outbreak in her town in Colorado, so Eben must postpone his trip. Eben is devastated and says that his findings may not be wonders. Aunt Pretty suggests that they all decide on this. Eben narrates the stories, and his father and aunt are captivated. Influenced by Mrs. Pritchard’s doll, Aunt Pretty shows Eben her “clothespin people,” a gift from Cally, her childhood friend. They lost touch when Cally moved away, but the clothespin dolls remind Aunt Pretty of her. Eben resolves to search for the seventh wonder.
Eben visits Uncle Alf. Uncle Alf’s wife died young, and he now lives alone. He expects Eben’s visit, having learned Eben is looking for wonders, and leads him into his house, where he shows him a wooden miniature of Sassafras Springs. Uncle Alf has worked on it all his life. Eben observes the miniature and sees every little detail: his aunt and his father on the porch, Eben himself reading a book, Mrs.
By Betty G. Birney