Summary: Chapter I
Almost three years after his move to Black Hawk, Jim and
his grandparents decide to leave their farm in the countryside for
a house on the outskirts of town. Finding himself out of work, Otto
decides to head out west in search of adventure, and Jake decides
to go with him. Before leaving, they help the Burdens move their
household. One Sunday morning, they set off on a train, never to
see Jim again.
Mr. Burden takes a post as a deacon at the Baptist church
in Black Hawk, and Mrs. Burden helps out with the church’s social
calendar. Jim begins attending the school in town and quickly adjusts
to the company of his new classmates. Jim questions Ambrosch for
any news about Ántonia whenever Ambrosch comes to town, but Ambrosch
is taciturn and says little.
Summary: Chapter II
The Burdens’ nearest neighbors are the Harlings, a Norwegian
family who also used to live on a farm. Three of the Harlings’ children are
around Jim’s age, and their older sister, Frances, works in Mr. Harling’s
office. In August, the Harlings’ cook leaves them, and Mrs. Burden
convinces them to hire Ántonia.
Summary: Chapter III
With her warm personality and easy way, Ántonia is right
at home among the Harlings, and she soon settles into a regular
routine.
Summary: Chapter IV
One evening, a visitor calls for Ántonia at the Harlings’.
Lena Lingard, a local farm girl, has come to announce that she has
also found work in town, as a dressmaker. The Harlings welcome Lena,
but Ántonia treats her coolly, unsure how she is meant to receive
her visi-tor. Jim, thinking back to the stories he has heard of
Lena, relates her entanglement with a neighboring farmer, Ole Benson,
who became so smitten with Lena that his jealous wife attacked her.
Summary: Chapter V
During the autumn, Jim sees Lena often in town. He helps
her to shop for fabric and they trade gossip and stories about life
in Black Hawk. Shortly before Christmas, Jim sees Lena and her brother shopping
for Christmas presents for their mother. Lena advises her brother
to get her monogrammed handkerchiefs, and then, teary-eyed, tells
Jim that she misses her family very much.
