Chapter 1: Orphan Kids Part 1
The year is 1905 Joe Kagan is living in Sleepy Eye Minnesota where he moved after he couldn't make his farm work in Walnut Grove. He is working in a Blacksmith shop and one day as he is working along side his friend Mr. Coulter (who also moved to Sleepy Eye from Walnut Grove.) Mr. Kagan looks up and sees some orphan boys playing in the street and throwing rocks. A man from one of the stores comes out, looks at his broken window and says as the boys run off, "You boys need to stop throwing rocks and breaking windows."
Mr. Kagan at the Blacksmith shop walks over to the storekeeper and says, "Mr. Peterson, these boys need help and someone to love them."
Mr. Peterson answers, "I just know something needs to be done with these boys!"
The next day Mr. Peterson is outside of the store putting in a new window when the same boys are throwing rocks in the street again and they break another window but this time it was the window of the Town Restaurant. Miss Hester Sue Terhune who also used to live in Walnut Grove comes out and sees the broken window but all the boys except one got away. Mr. Peterson caught him before he ran off. Mr. Peterson takes him to the Sheriff and Hester Sue follows.
Joe Kagan hears and sees Mr. Peterson taking the boys to the Sheriff and also decides to go. They are all in the Sheriff's office with Sheriff Pike and Deputy Jonathan Garvey. Mr. Peterson says to the Sheriff, "This young boy and his friends who got away had been throwing rocks and breaking windows in the street he broke my window yesterday and the restaurant window just now it needs to STOP!"
Deputy Jonathan Garvey mentions, "Ever since the orphanage left Sleepy Eye these children have been running around breaking windows, getting into fights and causing trouble. We really should have another orphanage put up in town."
Joe Kagan agrees, "Yes we should but where and who can run it?"
Both Sheriff Pike and Deputy Garvey look at each other and then says to Mr. Kagan, "We will think of something but what are we going to do with this little boy right now?"
Joe Kagan answers, "He can stay with me for the time being." Then Joe turns to the young boy and asks, "What's your name son?"
The boy answers, "Johnny"
"Johnny would you like to stay with me?" Mr. Kagan asked.
Johnny goes with Mr. Kagan and he takes him to the Restaurant and Hester Sue makes them some soup and sandwiches. As they are finishing up their lunch and heading out of the restaurant Hester Sue smiles at Joe Kagan as he thinks to herself, "Joe Kagan is a good man to help Little Johnny."
Joe sees Hester Sue smiling at him and smiles back as he thinks, "What a lady!"
Will Little Johnny and the rest of the orphanage kids on the street be helped?
To Be Continued