Beautiful Land by Nancy Antle

Author:Nancy Antle
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group

Land Run!

“It’s beautiful,” Annie Mae said. She was sitting beside Dan and Pa in the wagon seat. They were looking across at the Oklahoma Territory. Everywhere there were great patches of green, and colorful spring flowers. Over all of it, the sky was a brilliant blue.

Today was the day. At last, it was April 22, 1889. Soldiers in navy-blue uniforms rode up and down the line of wagons and horses. Everyone was waiting for the signal to cross over into the Oklahoma Territory and stake a claim. There were old people, young people, families, single men and women—on horses, in wagons, and on foot.

Annie Mae was restless. She hummed a few bars of “Nearer My God to Thee,” which they had sung only yesterday on Easter Sunday. It already seemed like years had gone by since they had listened to the preacher speak.

He had talked about the blessings they were about to receive. He also said, “I know there will be fights about land.” He warned the settlers against using guns. “Settle your fights in the land office,” he said.

The preacher had meant to be comforting. But his words only gave Annie Mae more things to worry about. Would someone really shoot at them if they wanted the claim Pa staked?

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