My Sunday Morning Secret, 1885

— By Clarabelle

The morning sun was just starting to peek over our rolling Northumberland hills. Inside our busy farmhouse, it was a typical Sunday morning in 1885. With eight children in our family, the house is always loud and crowded. Every single one of my brothers and sisters has to pull their weight to keep this farm running.

But today, I couldn’t focus on my morning chores at all. I was holding onto a massive, extraordinary secret!

Earlier this morning, I was being as quiet as a mouse near the kitchen. That’s when I overheard Father whispering to Mother. He was talking about the long walk to the chapel we all take every Sunday after breakfast.

Father wasn’t stressed about the heavy farm work or the long trek ahead. Instead, he had a big smile on his face. He told Mother that he had found the absolute perfect stone for a game of Hopscotch down by the rushing water of the Deep River. He didn’t just leave it there, either—he secretly planted it right along the trail on purpose, in a spot where he knew we would easily spot it!

I know exactly what is going to happen next. Once we finish breakfast and put on our very best Sunday clothes, we will set off down the path. Along the way, my sister, Mads, is going to “accidentally” find that exact stone. She will think she is the luckiest girl in the Shire, but I will know the real truth. It’s a little bit of Sunday magic hidden right in the dirt by Father.

I took a deep breath, trying hard not to let the secret slip. If my oldest sister Emma catches wind of anything exciting, she might try to take over the discovery. I have to keep my mouth shut, finish my chores, and get dressed. The trail to the church by the Deep River is waiting, and our adventure is just getting started!

You’ve unlocked the secret plan! Now get back to following the family down the trail, and see if Mads actually finds the stone.

🎒 RETURN TO THE CHAPEL MAP TRAIL l GET INSTRUCTIONS TO PLAY HOPSCOTCH

Continue the adventure with the Broken Sanctuary novel, the first journey into the world of Peckles-Wood Shire. Then discover collectibles and keepsakes inspired by the Whitaker family’s adventure.

Own a Piece of 1885 → | Peckles-Wood Shire Map →

The Illustrator’s Vision—The maps and illustrations of Peckles-Wood Shire are inspired by the real landscapes, places, and traditions of Victorian Northumberland. Created for The Chronicles of Peckles-Wood Shire, they blend historical research with imagination to bring the world of Broken Sanctuary to life and invite young explorers to step into the Whitaker family’s adventure of 1885.