Seeds of New Life — Nona Burroughs Babcock

Inga Johansson, 16, her parents Olaf and Helga, siblings Sophia and Karl, immigrate to Danville, Minnesota, to take advantage of the Homestead Act. Inga begs her parents to stay in Norway and allow her to marry her fiancé Erik Norskaag, but is denied. Their final farewell ends with his promise to join her later, and the consummation of their love. Arriving in America, Inga realizes she is with child. Helga and the children stay with her sister, Emma, in Minneapolis, until the baby arrives. He is born prematurely. In Danville, Inga meets bachelors, George and Tomaas Nilsson. George, immediately smitten, is determined to court her, but carries on an intimate relationship with another woman. Inga rebuffs his courting attempts. Receiving word that Erik's ship sank en route to America, and mourning the loss of her baby, Inga attempts suicide; Tomaas rescues her. Thereafter, Inga and Tomaas meet clandestinely in the apple orchard--until George discovers them. A feud erupts between the brothers, and escalates to murderous events. Traveling to Danville, Inga's uncle Peter Stansruud encounters a trio of thieves. They display stolen jewelry to Peter. He opens a locket, and discovers his parent's pictures. He attempts to capture them, with deadly results. Riding on, Peter finds two covered wagons, and four massacred people, including his sister, Emma. Only a one-year-old baby survives. In Danville, Peter takes the infant to Otto Johansson, Olaf's brother. Bearing a remarkable likeness to her murdered cousin, Carrie, the little boy clings to Inga as his mother. Tribulations, as well as jarring surprises and unexpected friendships influence Inga's fate.