Join a girl’s dramatic adventure on the America prairie when she must leave her family and move to Kansas to avoid the St. Louis cholera epidemic.

		May 28, 1856 I am on a steamboat – a floating palace. I am on the upper deck, looking out over all of St. Louis. Not long ago, I wished to be here. Now my wish has come true. But I never wished it to happen this way! Nellie shook me awake before dawn. I dressed quickly. She held a lantern as she rushed Pres and me down the walk. Father had the carriage waiting. Nellie put a basket of journey food into my lap. She hugged me hard. Then we raced to the levee. Even at dawn, the levee was noisy and crowded. Father hurried Pres and me aboard The Kansas Hopeful. . . I hugged Father good-bye. It was so hard to let him go! I said Mother’s words inside my head: When you come home . . . When you come home . .