Living in a small town, Dr. and Mrs. Anthon raise a large family. Arthur, the eldest, is killed in a railroad wreck; Tom grows up to be a successful lawyer; Kate marries and lives in New York; Frank becomes a gifted artist in Paris; Jim is sent away from home by his father for stealing; Emily, the youngest, goes to New York to visit Kate and gets married. With home ties severed, the children become forgetful of their parents until one day Jim returns for money. The mother dreams that the train on which her son is returning is imperiled by a wrecked bridge, and when she awakens, terrified, Tom arrives with his brothers and sisters to announce that he has been appointed Attorney General of the United States.—Pamela Short

A mother raises her six children and one by one lets them go out into the world. Their failures and successes fill her life, but she grows lonely without them. Then when one of the children has a surprise to announce, they all return home to be with their mother.—Jim Beaver <[email protected]>