Meet Caroline: An American Girl is the first book in the Caroline series. It was included with the Caroline doll when purchased until the release of BeForever and could be purchased separately; it is now part of Captain of the Ship.
Characters[]
Introduced[]
- Caroline Abbott
- John Abbott
- Mama Abbott
- Grandmother
- Lydia Livingston
- Oliver Livingston
- Hosea Barton
- Mr. Tate
- Seth Whittleslee
- Mr. Shaw
- Mrs. Shaw
- Samuel
- Jed
- Lieutenant Melancthon Taylor Woolsey
Only in Meet Caroline[]
Chapter by Chapter Summary[]
Chapter One: A Fine Sloop[]
Caroline and her cousin, Lydia, are enjoying a ride aboard the White Gull, sailing on Lake Ontario. The White Gull was a sloop that Papa had built for Oliver, Lydia's older brother. Oliver says that he still has to earn enough money to pay Papa back for the boat, as long as America does not decide to go to war with Great Britain. Caroline does not want to think about war and instead changes the subject to what Oliver can do as he sails around the Lake, and all the things he can buy, such as embroidery silk and lace. Oliver asks her to stop teasing, as Papa demands that he watch and stay on course, reminding the girls to stay clear of the mainsail.
Caroline begins daydreaming about having her own boat one day, and hopes that one day her father build her a sloop, and she can be the captain. Lydia replies "you can't be captain of a ship!" Caroline insists she can be and Lydia be on her crew, they will sail all the way to China, visit the market and bring back gifts for their families. Lydia shakes her head, and replies that she would rather get married, live in a fine house, and have six children, all girls. Caroline promises she will bring back even more gifts. She then turns to Oliver and sighs. She loves the freeing feeling of being aboard a sloop, although she did envy Oliver as the men at Papa's shipyard built White Gull. Papa tells Oliver that the wind is shifting and he listens. Papa asks Caroline what direction the wind is coming from, and she answers correctly that it is coming from the west, feeling she can make Papa proud of her. Lydia exclaims that the White Gull, and considering it's bright colors, it looks a bit like one too. Oliver wanted the ship brightly painted blue, red and yellow, so his future customers could recognize it, even from a distance. Lydia notices how bright it is today, and while Caroline likes it, Lydia replies that young ladies must protect their skin. Caroline wished Lydia would forget about fancy manners.
Caroline takes out her wooden spinning top toy, and the girls go near the bow to play with it. Meanwhile, the wind starts changing and Papa tells Oliver to always be aware of the changing winds and to change the mainsail. As he does this, Caroline clenches the rail and loses control of her top, and trying to reach out for it, begins skidding across the slanting deck. She eventually bumped against the far-side rail and grabs it, and Oliver waits just the right amount of time until he can move the tiller again. Papa is angry with Caroline and she apologizes, explaining it was an accident and how she had dropped her top. Papa tells Caroline is too flighty and needs to be aware of her surroundings while on the ship. Oliver tells Caroline not to feel too sad, as she feels she disappointed Papa, but Oliver says she frightened him, and all that matters is that she did not get hurt. Lydia says Caroline should stop dreaming about a ship of her own. Caroline thinks I won't.
The roofs of Kingston, Upper Canada, come into clear view. Lydia wants to go into the shops. Caroline says that Papa says they won't have time. With the wind calmed down, and Papa having calmed down, he allows Caroline to steer the tiller for a bit. Papa reminds Caroline of her mistake and she once again apologizes. She tells her father she can be a good sailor and she asks him to one day build her a ship. He responds that she's only a child, and a girl. Caroline says replies that she meant when she's older, and that she can be a good captain even if she's a girl. Papa says he can't make a promise that he is not sure he can keep, and did not build Oliver a ship until he had proved he was capable of it, and Oliver is ten years older than Caroline.
Papa then shows Caroline how to make a Flemish knot and tells her to keep practicing, as sailors have to practice their knots. Lydia asks Papa (Uncle John) if he can tell them a story. He begins reminiscing about the first ship he built, which was a sloop not too different from the White Gull. After he met Caroline's mother, they worked together on the ship, hauling freight, carrying passengers, and other times just enjoy singing and dancing under the stars. The story is interrupted when Oliver shouts out "Uncle John!" Papa runs up to see what's happening. Caroline thinks it's the wind that picked up, but she then hears a splash from the Kingston side of the ship. Three longboats with the British flag atop start coming toward the White Gull. Each boat has about 20 men in blue and white uniforms. Papa realizes something is wrong.
Chapter Two: Terrible News[]
Papa orders Caroline and Lydia to stay where they are. Caroline moves closer, not to the deck, but just so she can listen. The British men pull closer. They tell the White Gull to board the ship, or else they will open fire. Caroline cannot believe this. Why would they open fire? Papa and Oliver did nothing wrong. One British soldier jumps onto the deck. His name is Lieutenant Morris. Oliver informs the lieutenant they are an unarmed ship from Sackets Harbor. Papa tells him he has no right to be on the ship. The British officer says that America has now declared war against Great Britain, and he is seizing the vessel under the orders of King George III, and they are now his prisoners. Oliver informs him that his father is a British citizen of Upper Canada, and he has no right to seize the ship. Lieutenant Morris corrects him, because the ship has an American flag. Before they can take Papa, he informs them that two young girls are on the ship, and demands that Caroline be returned to her mother in Sackets Harbor at once. Caroline cried out to her father. He then turns back to the British officer, tells him that Lydia lives just three miles away and asks the officer to bring her home safely as well. He promises to do so. Papa says he knows what's best, but Caroline does not want to go with the British men. He tells her she needs to be brave, and reminds Caroline that she is a sailor's daughter. He also makes her promise to help her mother and grandmother as much as she can while he's away. Caroline and Lydia share a hug, unsure if they will ever see each other again. Afterwards, the British officers lead Caroline into the longboat to take her home, and as she sits, she looks over her shoulder and sees her father in another longboat. She wipes her tears, puts her head down and refuses to let them see her cry.
Chapter Three: A Sad Homecoming[]
After what felt like a long ride, Caroline returns home to Sackets Harbor. One of the first things she sees in the village is a little log blockhouse where the American soldiers watched over the port and protect their ships. Caroline was hoping the Americans would come and arrest Lieutenant Morris. He asks her to point out where to land, taking out a white handkerchief (a signal of truce, so the American soldiers know not to shoot). Caroline points to the dock at Papa's shipyard. The sailors maneuver the longboat to Papa's dock, and as Caroline tumbles a bit and nearly falls in the water, one British soldier offers to help, to which Caroline she yells back "I don't want your help!".
At the dock, Caroline is greeted by Mr. Tate, Papa's chief carpenter. Confused about what is happening, the Lieutenant informs him that he returned her safely as he promised her father he would. Mr. Tate is unaware that a war has started. Caroline has to return to Mama, and while Mr. Tate is angry, Caroline tells him to inform the navy men before another American ship gets captured. He gives her a nod, and she begins running through shipyard. Finally, she arrives at her home, where Mama is rhubarb in the garden. She can tell her daughter is upset and asks what is wrong. Caroline, barely breathing, tells her that the British have taken Papa and Oliver prisoner and stolen White Gull. Mama embraces her daughter and says "heaven protect us."
Half an hour later, Grandmother makes Caroline a cup of ginger tea, as Mama is angrily striding back and forth. She mutters "how dare they!", to which Grandmother responds quietly "there is nothing the British won't dare", remembering her husband who died in the Revolutionary War. Mama declares that thirty years ago, British soldiers killed her father, and that she will not allow them to imprison her husband and nephew without trying to win their freedom. Caroline responds "yes, ma'am" but is still desperately afraid she will ever see Papa, Oliver or White Gull again.
Soon later, Seth Whitteslee, the local post walker who is just a few years older than Caroline, knocks on the door. He asks if it is true that the British seized White Gull, and took her father, Oliver and Lydia prisoner. Caroline corrects him and says that Lydia was able to go home, but the rest is true. Seth says he thinks it's about time they go to war, since the British have never respected the American border and have been causing trouble. Grandmother adds that they've been kidnapping American sailors on the Atlantic Ocean and forcing them to join the British navy. Mama says that she wished she had a way to send a message to Aaron and Martha, Oliver and Lydia's parents in Upper Canada. Seth offers to take a message to them. Caroline asks if it is safe to go there, since they are at war now. She worries that they will arrest him too, since he is an American. Mama says that White Gull only attracted attention because it was flying an American flag. Seth says he heard that whichever side can control the Great Lakes is more likely to win the war. Mama is grateful for Seth's kindness, but wants him to be careful. He says he will, and he plans to go to the Saint Lawrence River, where they won't fly any flag. She wishes him luck and he begins to leave, until he remembers that the carpet they ordered for Caroline's bedroom arrived that morning. Grandmother says it may be best to send the carpet back, since that may be a luxury they can no longer afford. It took Caroline a moment to understand, but then remembers that Papa had to purchase lumber and supplies need to build White Gull, but now that the ship was seized before Oliver could even begin to make money to pay Papa back, and now that the two of them were prisoners, Caroline worries how Mama will pay the bills, and if they'd be able to afford to keep their home, shipyard, or even buy food. Mama refuses to send the carpet back, as the British have done enough damage, they will not deny her daughter a carpet to keep her feet warm in the winter. Caroline smiles at this.
Mama then changes the subject, thinking about what they must do. Grandmother suggests they see the shipyard, and Caroline suggests she talk to the navy men in Sackets Harbor, including Lieutenant Woolsey. Caroline says maybe he can launch a raid on Kingston and get Papa and Oliver back home. Mama nods and says she will go down to the shipyard first. She asks Caroline to stay and help her grandmother. She begins to complain but stops herself, remembering Papa's words to obey Mama and help her and grandmother with whatever they need. After thinking about it, she suggests she can help Mama at the shipyard, since she knew where Papa kept his books and she knows all the men by name. Grandmother agrees to stay home alone, and Caroline and Mama leave.
Chapter Four: Lieutenant Woolsey[]
Caroline and Mama head out to the shipyard, and Caroline is happy that her neighbor, Mrs. Shaw is nowhere in sight, as she had once told Mama that Caroline should learn her place is in the home doing cooking and needlework, rather than at the shipyard. Mama had replied that there was girls twice Caroline's age that aren't skilled at needlework. Caroline ignored Mrs. Shaw's comments at the time, but today was not sure would be able to. They arrive at the shipyard, and it is far less busy than normal. There are no carpenters in sight, and nobody is pushing a wheelbarrow or hauling lumber or shouting orders. After finding Mr. Tate and other works in the carpentry shop, Mama learns that Mr. Tate has already informed the others of the bad news. Mama says that since she has no idea how long her husband will be away, she does not know what the war will mean for the business. Hosea Barton, the sailmaker, steps forward and asks if this means they will be out of work. Mama informs they are not out of work, and they should complete the two schooners they are working on, so not to disappoint their customers. Mama puts Mr. Tate in charge until Papa returns. Jed, the youngest woodworker asks what would happen if Mr. Abbot does not come back, to which Caroline exclaims "Papa will be back!" and everyone goes quiet. Mama firmly says he will return, and the men should get back to work.
Mr. Tate says he can manage the men, but he does not know what to do with the account books, and Mama says she will do it, as she kept the books back when they began the business. Mr. Tate is surprised but relieved. Mama and Caroline then go to look at Papa's business papers. Entering his office, Caroline is reminded of Papa, seeing his possessions everywhere and the smell of his pipe tobacco in the air. As Mama sadly touches a model of the first ship Papa built, Caroline wants to cry too, but then reminds her mother that she can keep the business going, and Caroline can help her. Mama asks Caroline where he keeps the ledger, and Caroline knows exactly where everything is. Mama is impressed with how well she knows everything, but Caroline then says she does not know anything "important", as she mostly did menial tasks like copying bills or letters, and tidying the office. Mama says she will handle it, until the door bursts open.
Lieutenant Woolsey steps inside. He does not look much older than Oliver, but he'd been stationed in Sackets Harbor for several years, enforcing trade laws and capturing smugglers. He asks for Mrs. Abbott, to which Mama replies and introduces her daughter. He is there to discuss business with him now that war has been declared, unaware that he's been taken prisoner. He says that he heard about White Gull and Oliver Livingston, to which Mama tells him that Oliver is her brother's son, and that Caroline was on the ship with them when it happened, and she asks Caroline to explain, which she does. Caroline then tells him to get Papa and Oliver back, and the sloop as well, asking if he could send navy men to Kingston. He says it is not that simple, since he has no idea where the British took them. Caroline says her Uncle Aaron could probably find out, as he, Aunt Martha and Lydia all live in Upper Canada. Lieutenant Woolsey starts saying he wished there was something he could do, but he's then interrupted by Mama. She sharply replies that her husband was captured before news of the war had even reached them. She is angry that Lieutenant Woolsey seemingly can't do anything. He says on the contrary, he is doing all that he can. He needs to keep Lake Ontario safe for ships, and his priority is to strengthen their defenses against possible attack. He says they need to build a fleet with all speed, as he heard that Mr. Abbott is quite skilled, and since they are building a navy shipyard, he was going to ask Mr. Abbott to build a gunboat for them. Mama firmly replies that nothing has changed, and since she is now managing the shipyard, she will tell the workers to build the gunboat. Lieutenant Woolsey then asks if the workers know what they are doing, as they cannot let the British get ahead of them, and the workers here are not used to building ships that carry heavy cannons, and the sails must be different and made of heavier cloth. Caroline feels her impatience growing, and says the men can build big ships and Hosea Barton is the best sailmaker on the lakes. Mama then puts a hand on Caroline's shoulder and squeezes it, as if to say that's enough now. Mama says Caroline is correct, their workers can do whatever needs to be done. Lieutenant Woolsey then asks is Mama has a lawyer or someone her husband can trust to sign a contract. Mama raises her eyebrows and her husband would trust her to sign whatever documents are required, and she will review them. She demands he draw them and have them delivered. He thanks Mrs. Abbott, apologizes for what has happened, but he suspects they will get good news soon, as Papa and Oliver were not members of the military nor smugglers, and he is sure the British will release them. Caroline asks "When? Today?" Lieutenant Woolsey says "perhaps not today", and they must simply be patient and wait.
Chapter Five: Grandmother's Advice[]
As Caroline and Mama walked past the Shaw house on their way home, the front door flew open and Mrs. Shaw came out. She crushed Caroline into a hug and began pitying her, which did not make Caroline feel any better. Mama tells her that Lieutenant Woolsey believes the British will release her husband soon, and Mrs. Shaw says that he knows best, but Mama then says she thinks Lieutenant Woolsey is too busy right now to worry about Mr. Abbott and Oliver. Mrs. Shaw then starts talking about they all have much to do to prepare for war, as her husband volunteers with the gun crew. Caroline says that according to Lieutenant Woolsey, Sackets Harbor is poorly defended. Mrs. Shaw says that is not their fault, but that the government sent them cannonballs that don't fit the cannons. Caroline expresses worry, how will we be able to defend ourselves? Mama presses her lips and says the must pray that they will find a solution. Mrs. Shaw asks about the shipyard, and who is taking care of it, and Caroline tells her that Mama is, much to Mrs. Shaw's shock. How can she manage a shipyard and a household? Caroline says she is going to help, and Mrs. Shaw pats her shoulder and tells her that while she means well, her kitchen skills are lacking. Two days earlier, she had stopped by as Grandmother was teaching Caroline to bake bread, and the bread turned out hard and heavy. Mrs. Shaw says she did not mean to criticize, although Caroline knows that was exactly her intention. She then offers to teach Caroline, to which Mama thanks her for the offer, but says they will be fine.
After they got home, Mama told Grandmother about the conversation with Lieutenant Woolsey as Caroline runs upstairs to her bedroom. Upon reaching her room, she is excited to see her carpet has arrived. Last March, her parents had allowed her to pick out whichever one she wanted. It was the first her parents had allowed her to make such a grown-up decision. After looking and feeling through many samples, she selected a thick wool in warm shades of gold and brown. She felt the carpet was warm and cozy, and would make her feel warmer during the cold, icy winters. Likewise, her black cat Inkpot, loved the carpet as well, as he was curled into a ball, fast asleep. Papa had brought Inkpot home when he was just a stray kitten, as he told her that sailors believe black cats are good luck. She then tells the cat that she wished he had been on White Gull with them that day, and maybe he would have brought them luck.
She then walks over to the little mahogany work table, where she kept her sewing supplies, and found her current project, an embroidered map of Lake Ontario's eastern shoreline from Sackets Harbor to Kingston. In an instant, all the joy over her new carpet had faded. She had planned put the map into a wooden frame after it was finished, so her father could use it as a fire screen. She loved imagining him sitting near it during winter nights when the lake was iced over. Now Caroline miserably wondered if Papa would ever even see the map.
She then runs back outside and did not stop until Lake Ontario spread below her. She stared out in the direction of Kingston, wondering where Papa and Oliver could be. Were they in jail? Did they have enough to eat? Will they ever come home? Sometime later, Caroline heard footsteps. It was her grandmother, telling her to come inside for dinner. Caroline says she is not hungry. Grandmother understands, but reminds her that she cannot fight the British if she does not eat. Caroline protests "I can't fight the British!", she hates feeling so angry and helpless. Grandmother says that she can help tend the house, and Caroline reminds her that she cannot even bake bread that's fit to eat. Grandmother chuckles and says all she needs is practice. But Caroline does not want to practice baking bread, and she does not want to be at war. She just wanted things to be how they were that morning, and what happened today was not fair. Grandmother says that life often is not fair, and we can either be bitter and complain, or try to change what we can and make the best of it. After a long moment of silence, Caroline tells her Grandmother that she disappointed Papa today, and he called her too flighty, and she wanted to show him that she can do better. But now that the British have taken him, she worries she will never get the chance. Grandmother says she believe she will, and that he was just asking her to be more responsible, which is good advice, whether he's home or not. And with her mother working at the shipyard, Grandmother will need more of Caroline's help at the home. Although Caroline knows scrubbing floors and weeding gardens won't bring Papa and Oliver back, she knows that with her Grandmother's aches and pains, she cannot manage the house on her own.
She then asks her Grandmother how she managed during the Revolution, and if she was ever in the middle of the fighting. Her grandmother replies "once", and Caroline asks if she was scared. She was taking water to her husband and his men, because she knew how desperately they need it, and so she went. She was not afraid until later. Caroline whispers must have been horrible when Grandfather was killed. Grandmother agrees that it was, but she had a farm and children to tend to, and women can do what they must. Caroline promises to do her best to help her and Mama. She just wishes she could do something to help Papa too, and to help fight the British. Grandmother tells her more than anything else, Papa would want her to stay safe, and far aware from the British. While Caroline would be grateful to never see a British uniform again, she knows staying away from the British would not help Papa either and she sighs. Grandmother leads her back inside.
Chapter Six: Attack![]
Six days later, Seth returned. He tells them that Lydia is safe at home, and that her father is trying to find out where Mr. Abbott and Oliver are being held. Grandmother says she will inform Mrs. Abbott as soon as she returns from the shipyard, and then asks him what the situation is in Upper Canada. He says the people there are worried that Americans will invade, and nobody knows whether to hunker down or flee. Caroline says the same thing is happening at home, and some people have already left. Seth finishes eating his third biscuit (Grandmother had given him biscuits and honey) and he gets up to leave, saying he has a long walk today. Caroline thanks him for bringing the news, and he tells her not to worry so much, as her father will likely be home soon. As much as Caroline wanted to believe him, the days turned to weeks, and June turned into July. Papa will still not home.
A few weeks go by, and each day people grow more fearful of a British attack. Uncle Aaron had written a letter across the lake explaining that Papa and Oliver were being held in the forth that the British were constructing at Kingston, and nobody knew how long they would held there. Caroline spends her days sometimes helping Mama at the shipyard, and sometimes helping Grandmother in the garden. Always though, she waits for her father's return.
One Sunday morning in later July, as Caroline is in the garden helping her grandmother pick peas, everything is interrupted when a loud boom shuddered through the hot morning. At first thinking it was just the gun crew practicing before church, Samuel starts yelling "they're coming!". Caroline feels hopeful, thinking it is Papa and Oliver, til he corrects her "The British!". Five British ships have trapped the American ship Oneida inside the harbor. Samuel tells Caroline and Grandmother to hide in the cellar, until Mrs. Shaw asks for their help. She explains that her husband's gun crew's cannonballs are too small, and they need heavy cloth to wrap them in. Grandmother tells Caroline to grab her winter coat. Not wanting her grandmother to go all winter without a coat, she instead picks up her new carpet. After getting Grandmother and Mrs. Shaw's help fetching the wheelbarrow to put it in, Mrs. Shaw goes with Caroline to help her fold it up and bring it to the cannons. Never did Caroline think she would see her fussy neighbor so grim-faced and determined. After showing the carpet to Mr. Shaw, Caroline asks him "will it suit?" to which he says he hopes so, as everything else they tried has been too thick or too thin. He cuts a ragged square of the carpet, the men carefully wrap one of the cannonballs with the carpet and it fits perfectly. Caroline begs Mrs. Shaw they stay and watch, and she lets her. After seeing the cannon go off, Mrs. Shaw smiles at Caroline, grabs her hand and tells her they must get back home, as her grandmother will be worried. She held her hand the whole way home, and Caroline did not mind.
Caroline returned home, and her Mama told her how proud she was of her. It was later afternoon, the fighting was over, and Mama invited the shipyard workers over for a picnic supper. Lieutenant Woolsey's men had exchanged fire with the British ships for two hours, and the men at the shipyard were armed with clubs and hammers, ready to fight, Mama armed with Papa's pistol. The British suddenly lifted anchor and sailed back to Kingston, the American ships were safe. As everybody is celebrating, Caroline excuses herself and walked over to her favorite spot overlooking the lake. So much had happened since the day Papa and Oliver were taken prisoner. Although she missed them as much as ever, today she felt a bit more hopeful. Looking at the lake and seeing no British ships in sight, Caroline says "we beat you", and repeats it again, staring in the direction of Kingston. She then promises to Papa that she will stay steady and ride out the storm and somehow find a way to bring him back home.
Looking Back: America in 1812[]
Discusses the beginning of the War of 1812. Topics covered:
- Sackets Harbor's remote location from Philadelphia and New York, major cities of America at the time
- The necessity of ships for economic reasons, due to poor travel by land at the time
- Economic trade between America and Upper Canada, and Sackets Harbor and New York, Boston, Baltimore
- America's growth as an independent nation 30 years after the American Revolution
- Discord between British and American political relations, with Americans wanting to expand north and the British wanting to keep claim of its Canadian colonies
- Impressment of American sailors by the British navy
- Trade restrictions between America and other countries
- American declaration of war against the British, in spite of opposition
- The slow pace of news about the war, surprising American sailors unaware of the declaration
- Elijah and Cyrus St. John, two brothers who were captured by the British navy
- The US navy's lack of power, with just the USS Oneida patrolling Lake Ontario, compared to the British navy
- Lake Ontario as a vital supply route along the Great Lakes
- The need for more warships to fight back against the British navy
Items associated with Meet Caroline[]
Trivia[]
- Lieutenant Woolsey is an actual historical figure who was sent to the shores of Lake Ontario in 1808 to supervise the construction of the USS Oneida.[3]
References and Footnotes[]
- ↑ Meet Caroline - and Her Home Town, sitesandstories.wordpress.com, accessed September 4, 2012.
- ↑ The majority of the fifth chapter coincides with the First Battle of Sacket's Harbor, which occurred on July 19, 1812.
- ↑ Commodore Melancthon Taylor Woolsey, US Navy, 1782-1832, history.nav.mil, accessed September 15, 2012.