“Calico Bush” by Rachel Field, illustrated by Allen Lewis
Macmillan Press, New York, 224 pages, 1966 (original publication 1931) Grades 4-6.
In colonial times, many people came to the American Colonies as indentured servants. This usually means the indentured people work for a family from the time of their arrival, until they reach the age of 18.
Indentured young women were frequently called “bound out girls.” The process for each sex was the same. They work for their masters until reaching their 18th birthday. After receiving their freedom, the former indentured servants can go anywhere they want. This, of course, was the happy result of the process. The uncertain parts are the years before reaching adulthood. Though many masters are undoubtedly kind, there is no guarantee that servants will be treated well. This makes life very uncertain for all indentured people.
Rachel Field writes an inspiring account of one bound out girl. Thirteen-year-old Marguerite Ledoux is bound out to a New England family settling in the wild of Maine. The name of this inspiring story is “Calico Bush.”
How quickly life changes for young Marguerite Ledoux. Already an orphan, her free-spirited uncle takes her from the safe confines of a convent school, planning to immigrate to Quebec. Her grandmother is also on the journey, but tragedy strikes and both her uncle and grandmother die of disease off the coast of New England. The ship’s captain puts her ashore and the Stanley family agrees to take Marguerite as a bound-out girl.
Mr. Stanley feels that Marblehead, Massachusetts is too settled and takes the family to a farm in the wilderness of Maine. There, they do the brutally difficult work of clearing the land to begin farming. The French and Indian War is occurring at the same time, with battles being fought between English settlers, Native Americans and the French.
The Protestant Stanley family members hate the French and the Catholic religion. This results in Marguerite having to suppress parts of her culture. But she endures, taking care of the children and actually saving the family during the dramatic climax of the story. How does Marguerite find such personal strength and goodness in this harsh world? To find out, go to the library and read this 1931 Newbery Honor Book, “Calico Bush” by Rachel Field.
As with many older classics, “Calico Bush” presents some issues. Native Americans are presented in a primarily one-dimensional view. They are usually seen as fierce and foreboding people. However, in one remarkable scene, Marguerite and a Native American have a touching encounter in the forest. This is highly unusual for a book published in 1931.
The most enduring quality of this book is the character of Marguerite. We read about her struggles, fears and discovering inner strengths in herself that are inspiring. Rachel Field expertly places her in the time and place of 1760 Maine. The author doesn’t sugarcoat the pain and difficulties, making “Calico Bush” an authentic example of historical fiction.
Though to modern readers, “Calico Bush” has a number of shortcomings, it is still an inspiring novel. All books come from a historical time period. In the original Grimm Brothers fairytales, Cinderella’s stepsisters have their eyes pecked out by birds because of their evil actions. Disney’s versions have Cinderella graciously forgiving the same stepsisters and allowing them to become noblewomen. We don’t seem to want to believe in evil today, which accounts for the silly endings in modern fairytales.
Why is our current value system superior? Will readers 50 years from now see us as dated as we see sections of “Calico Bush”? Who can say? Rachel Field’s book “Calico Bush” can still inspire courage and steadfastness in young readers, which is why I recommend reading the book.
