THE COPPER KETTLE

Mari was delighted when Father announced the coming of a new family to Lilielund parish. Farmer Bro and three sons -- surely the boys would all be nine years old and eager to play with her. But when they finally arrive, Johan is too old, Nisse is scornful of girls and August is lame and cannot skate or run. Nevertheless, children to play with are hard to come by on the little Swedish island, particularly in her father's diminutive parish, so Mari makes a special effort to ingratiate herself and eventually succeeds. For a while she and the boys fear that Farmer Bro will marry his dreadful housekeeper, Stor-Brita; but eventually this tyrant is routed and the children are amazed to find that Farmer Bro intended to marry the wonderful Freda all along. Their cup runneth over when Father takes August and Mari to hear Jenny Lind, an experience that neither will ever forget. A gentle story about good people which gleams as brightly as Mari's copper kettle. For better readers at this age level.