The Year of Miss Agnes

In November, Little Pete leaves to go trapping. Because his mother died of measles, his aunt, Big Bernie, goes with them. She is known for being strong. Most years, Pete is excited to go, but he doesn't want to go this year because he'll miss school and Robin Hood's ending. Miss Agnes reads for longer, so they can finish it. After Pete, Roger leaves as well. Roger's family has nine kids and three dog teams to take them and their supplies on sleds.

Other families start to leave too, but Marie Solomon stays in the village to look after the children while her mother helps with the trapping. Marie has a lot of washing to do at home, melting snow in winter for washing water. She cooks and cleans as well. She likes to style her hair, sing, and dance, and the boys all like her. This makes Mamma think she's frivolous.

Miss Agnes worries about Marie staying home and not getting an education, but Marie is not worried. She thinks that she already knows everything she needs. Miss Agnes still teaches her. She also helps Plasker's father, who visits her cabin to learn to read and write, as well as Old Man Toby, whom she shows how to write his name.