The Courage of Sarah Noble

The Nobles’ land has already been cleared of trees by the European men who bought the land from the Schaghticoke. More Schaghticoke families live beyond the Great River, and it is across this river where John finds an appropriate place for him and Sarah to sleep for the night. Sarah prepares their dinner and, at bedtime, wraps herself in her cloak. When she hears animal noises, she reassures her father that it is only an owl, a woodchuck, and a skunk. Sarah feels proud of herself for keeping her courage and bolstering her father’s.

John spends several days making the cave habitable, building a shed, fence, beds, and a table with stools. He tells Sarah she will have to stay there while he goes to build the house, and though she is fearful, she does not say so. Alone, Sarah brings out her Bible and thinks of the doll she could not bring because there was no room. Suddenly, she longs for her cloak and puts it on. Sitting back down, she reads one of her favorite stories until she realizes someone is watching her through a hole in the fence. A group of Schaghticoke children come through the gate, and Sarah sits very still.