One afternoon, Alyssa Rose in the kitchen helping the cook with supper while Ella was in the parlor thinking of what special present she could make for her sister's ninth birthday in December. She knows that Alyssa Rose's birthday is not for another four months, but she likes to think ahead of what her sister would desire. Ella thought that she could make Alyssa Rose a doll that looks just like her: brown yarn for her hair, blue buttons for her eyes, and a dress made out of light pink fabric. Or maybe Lissie would like a new dress for her birthday. Ella was deep in her thoughts when she heard a knock. Ella opened the door. "Farmer John?" The old farmer looked at Ella with tears in his eyes. "Miss Ella. It's your father, miss," he said in a shaky voice. Lady Tremaine, Anastasia, and Drizella listened through the doorway. "He took ill on the road. He's passed on, miss. He's gone. Till the end, he spoke only of you, Miss Lissie, and your mother. I was to give you young misses these." Farmer John gave Ella two branches that their father promised them. Ella looked at them and then to Farmer John. She thought, How am I going to tell Lissie? "Well, what about my lace?" Anastasia cried. "And my parasol." Drizella whined. "Can't you see none of that matters?" Lady Tremaine said to her daughters. "We're ruined! How will we live?" She walked away and her daughters followed.
Through her tears, Ella finally said to Farmer John, "Thank you. It must have been very difficult for you. I will tell, Lissie." Ella closed the door. She takes one more look at the branches, then sinks to the floor as she began to cry. "Sissy, who was that?" Alyssa Rose asked Ella as she walked out of the kitchen. "I just finished helping Cook with supper. We should be eating very soon." The little girl looked at her sister. "Sissy, what's the matter?" She crouched down next to her sister. "Why are you crying?" Ella looked up. She let out a heavy sigh and stood up. "Come with me, Lissie." Ella took her sister by the hand and they went out to the garden. "What is it, Sissy?" Alyssa Rose asked. Ella took out the branches Farmer John gave her and placed one branch in her sister's hand. "Wh-What's this?" "These are the branches from Papa." Alyssa Rose looked at the branch, then back to Ella. "But, where is Papa?" "Farmer John brought these for Papa." "But why?" The tears began to run down Ella's face. "Papa passed away, Lissie. He got very sick during the trip." Alyssa Rose looked at her sister in disbelief. She shook her head, her heart heavy. "I'm so sorry, Lissie," said Ella, sobbing. "He can't be gone! He can't be!" Alyssa Rose cried. "No, no!" She buried her face into her hands and began to cry as she sunk down on her knees to the ground. Ella hugged her and gently rocked her as she placed the branches into the dirt. Mama and Papa are up there together now, Ella thought. I am the only one Lissie has left. We must keep our promise we made. We must. Ella closed her eyes and sobbed.