This historic fiction was written by Stacy Vancas and is based on a story shared by Ethel Rosander.

In a far away land, there was a man named Andrew. One day Andrew was sitting outside thinking to himself about what he was going to do later on in life. As he was thinking to himself, he started wondering what would happen if he came to the United States. He asked himself, ``I wonder if there is more opportunities in America?`` ``I wonder if I would make more money?`` So he started thinking of how and when he would get to America. He decided he would take the next ship out of Sweden. He was really excited, so he decided that he would go tell his little sister and maybe she would go with him.

When he brought it up to his sister, Betty, she told him, ``You are going to a country that you don`t know anything about?``

``Yes,`` replied Andrew, ``that`s the only way to start over again. I was wondering if you wanted to go with me?``

``No. I am not leaving here. I need to be here with my family.``

``You don`t need your family. Besides I am your family and I need you.``

``Need me for what?`` Betty asked. ``You want to go, you can do it on your own.``

``That`s fine. I will be all right, don`t lose any sleep over it. Just think about it.``

Andrew then walked away and continued thinking about it. He thought to himself. . . ``I don`t know if I can do it alone, but I am sure I can make it. How hard can it be? All I have to do is find work, that can`t be too hard. But then I need a place to stay. I don`t know anyone over there. I don`t have any money. But if I am going to start over, I have to take a chance. So I will leave when the sun comes up tomorrow.`` Andrew then went to get some rest.

Andrew`s little sister, Betty and her friend were talking and then Betty had to tell her about Andrew`s dream. ``Minnie, Andrew told me today that he was going to America. He asked me if I would go with him. Can you imagine that?``

Minnie, ``Why would he do something like that?``

Betty, ``He said that he wanted to start all over again. I think he could just start over here, but he has this dream that he will make more of his life in America.``

Maria (Betty`s cousin) walks in. ``Do you think I should go with him? I don`t think it`s a good idea. Do you?``

Maria, ``What, go with who? Do I think what is a good idea?``

Betty, ``Andrew is going to America and wants me to go with him. So Minnie, do you think I should?``

Minnie, ``I wouldn`t, I think it is. . . ``

Maria, ``I think it would be fun. You mean to tell me that you aren`t going to go? If I had the chance I would get out of here!``

Minnie, ``Well maybe you should go with him then.`` Minnie was really spoiled by her family and always got everything she ever wanted. That explains why she is the way she is.

Betty, ``I just don`t think that I can live without my parents to...``

Maria, ``To spoil you. If my parents spoiled me I couldn`t live without them either. I just think that you should go. If you don`t your missing a big opportunity.``

Betty, ``I can`t live without my parents and my friends. I have to stay here. Besides Minnie wouldn`t be able to live without me.``

Maria got upset and she went home. She was laying in bed thinking about what fun she could have if she went with Andrew. She knew that she was too young to go out of the country with a man. She just hoped that maybe someday he would remember her. She couldn`t sleep. She stayed up all night thinking about why Betty would give up an opportunity like this. She knew if she could, she would.

Andrew was trying to get some sleep because he knew he had a long day ahead of him. He kept thinking about what he was going to do, where he was going to go. He had a lot of questions on his mind. He finally went to sleep, but he was restless. The next morning he got up early and started packing his belongings. He knew that he had to get going if he wanted to catch the ship on time. So he left early and stood on the docks for an hour because he didn`t want to be late. He was upset because no one agreed with him that he was leaving and no one came to say goodbye. He had second thoughts about going. The ship came and he was boarding and he looked back one last time and he saw Maria standing there waving at him. That gave him a vote of confidence. Now he was ready for the long journey to America.

When he got to America, he liked what he saw. He decided that he had to work until he got enough money to buy a horse and buggy. When he got his horse and buggy, he then needed to find a place to homestead his land. He finally found a good place to settle down and he build his dugout. He then needed help homesteading his land, so he decided to write to his sister and ask her to come out and help. He knew that she probably wouldn`t come out, but since she was older now, he would try again. Here is what the letter said. . .

Dear Betty, I am still doing fine since the last time I wrote to you. I am having a lot of fun and my homestead is becoming quite a success. I had to work a lot to get where I am but it was worth it. It has been a lot of fun and I have met a lot of new and different people. It is more pleasant then in Sweden, people are nicer, and there is more to do and see. I am writing to you to ask you if you would come out here and help me finish my homestead. I really would enjoy you coming and I need to hear a familiar voice. If you are coming, respond as soon as you know and write back even if you don`t want to come. I just need to hear your voice.

Sincerely yours, Andrew Rosander

When the letter got back to Sweden to Betty, she opened it and couldn`t believe that he was actually happy. She didn`t think he would stay out there as long as he did. As she was still reading the letter, Minnie walked in, ``What are you doing? Did you get another letter from Andrew?``

``Yes. He wants me to come and help him. He said that he is having a lot of fun and it`s better over there than here. He said there is more to see and do. I don`t know, I am thinking about going over there, it`s getting boring here. I don`t know, what do you think?``

``I don`t think you are thinking clearly. You could actually leave this? We have everything we could ever want here. If we left we would have to dothings for ourselves.``

``Yes, but maybe Andrew was right, maybe I need to start doing things on my own.``

``Your crazy. I wouldn`t go if. . . ``

``What? Go where?``, asked Maria as she walked in, ``I seen the mail carrier come so I came over to see if you got another letter from Andrew. Did you?``

``Yes. He wants me to go help him homestead his new land. I am thinking about going. If I go will you go with me because Minnie said she won`t leave this?``

``Yes. You know I want to go. I have wanted to go since he went. Yes. Let`s go.``

Minnie, ``I didn`t say I wouldn`t go, I said I don`t think it`s a very good idea.``

So they left first thing in the morning. The trip to America was very hard on Minnie and Betty. They whined all the way over there. Then the three girls had to meet Andrew. When they got there to meet Andrew, he told them that they had to walk and they didn`t like that at all. But they did it, and they whined all the way back to Vale. When they got to Vale, they weren`t happy with what they saw and they decided that they wouldn`t stay there, so Andrew took them to Deadwood, but Maria didn`t want to go so she was placed with a family. Many years later Andrew married her, and they lived happily ever after.