The Flag-Raising

In Short

Kate Douglas Smith Wiggin’s small-town tale captures the arrival of young Rebecca Randall in Riverboro, Maine, where her creative spirit clashes with and eventually softens the rigid expectations of her austere aunts, Miranda and Jane Sawyer. When the village prepares a grand civic celebration to raise a handmade flag, Rebecca is chosen to represent her state. Through quick thinking, she recovers the stolen banner from a local swindler and delivers it safely to the ceremony. It has endured as an affectionate portrait of New England village life, childhood innocence, and patriotic community spirit.

The Story

When young Rebecca Randall arrives by stagecoach at the brick house in Riverboro to live with her aunts, Miranda and Jane Sawyer, she enters a world bound by strict routine and heavy expectations. Stern Aunt Miranda views the child as a burdensome responsibility needing rigorous discipline, fearing she will prove messy and unmanageable. Aunt Jane, far more sympathetic, quietly attempts to soften the transition by decorating Rebecca's room with flowers. Rebecca quickly proves to be an unusual child—imaginative, garrulous, and given to composing expressive verses that reflect both her dramatic view of her new life and her deep longing for her childhood home, Brookside Farm.

At the local school, Rebecca struggles with routine arithmetic but excels in reading and original thought. Her vivid personality, expressive eyes, and decisive nature quickly make her a central figure among her classmates. She draws the attention of admirers like the hesitant "Seesaw" Simpson and forms a firm friendship with Emma Jane Perkins, even while managing the delicate balance of schoolroom discipline enforced by the young teacher, Miss Dearborn.

Community life centers on a grand project proposed by the minister's wife, Mrs. Baxter: the creation of a massive, homemade flag for a regional rally at Riverboro Centre. Rebecca embraces the effort with solemn devotion, hand-sewing stitches into the star assigned to represent her state. Touched by her poetic devotion to the banner, the organizers choose Rebecca to represent the State of Maine and recite an original poem during the dedication ceremony.

Crisis strikes on the eve of the event. Mrs. Peter Meserve accidentally leaves the folded flag on her steps, where it is picked up by Abner "Slippery" Simpson, a local man notorious for questionable dealings. Spotting the bundle in the back of his wagon, Rebecca bravely hitches a ride with Simpson. Using tact, charm, and gentle appeals to his patriotism rather than accusations, she manages to persuade him to hand over the bundle, saving the flag without provoking his anger.

The morning of the raising begins with panic when Rebecca’s hair is ruined by a classmate’s failed attempt to crimp it. After her aunts frantically wash, dry, and flat-iron her tresses on a skirt-board, Miss Dearborn uses pins and flowers to transform the tearful girl into a radiant figure. Before a cheering crowd, the flag is raised, and Rebecca successfully recites her poem. Her quiet bravery is publicly honored, leaving a lasting mark even on the disgraced Abner Simpson as he drives away into the night.

How It Unfolds

An uncertain arrival Rebecca Randall travels by stagecoach to Riverboro to live with her unmarried aunts, Miranda and Jane Sawyer. Miranda anticipates a troublesome, poorly trained child who will ruin the house, while Jane holds out quiet hope for the girl's potential.

Adapting to school and town At the village school, Rebecca quickly makes her mark through her remarkable imagination, poetic writing, and bold personality. Though she struggles with basic math and faces punishment from Miss Dearborn, her peers and teacher are captivated by her unique spirit.

The grand patriotic project The women of the Dorcas Society gather to craft a large American flag for an upcoming regional rally. Rebecca throws her entire heart into sewing the star representing her home state, inspiring the minister and his wife to grant her a prominent role in the ceremony.

Intercepting the missing flag On the eve of the festival, the completed flag goes missing from a porch and ends up in the wagon of Abner Simpson. Rebecca bravely climbs into his wagon and uses her earnest logic and charm to persuade him to return the national banner.

A triumphant flag-raising After surviving a hair-styling disaster that requires her aunts to iron her hair on a board, Rebecca steps onto the platform as the State of Maine. The flag ascends smoothly, Rebecca recites her poem to resounding applause, and the town minister leads three cheers for the girl who saved the flag.

The People

• Rebecca Rowena Randall: A bright, dramatic, and deeply sensitive ten-year-old girl who moves to Riverboro. She longs for her family farm, expresses her feelings through poetry, and defends what she loves with passionate determination.
• Miranda Sawyer: Rebecca's stern, no-nonsense aunt. She values order, hard work, and strict obedience above all else, constantly worrying that her niece's lively nature will disrupt the household.
• Jane Sawyer: Miranda's gentler, softer-hearted sister. She provides Rebecca with quiet sympathy, subtle encouragement, and gentle comfort against Miranda's harsh judgments.
• Miss Dearborn: The eighteen-year-old village schoolteacher. Though occasionally overwhelmed by Rebecca's sharp intellect and unpredictable behavior, she deeply admires the girl and uses her own ingenuity to help her succeed.
• Abner "Slippery" Simpson: A local wanderer with a reputation for petty theft and shady trades. Though hardened and opportunistic, he finds himself disarmed by Rebecca's polite, earnest appeal during their wagon ride.

In Its Own Voice

"This house is dark and dull and dreer / No light doth shine from far or near / Its like the tomb."

In a letter to her mother, Rebecca includes a dramatic poem capturing her initial loneliness and despair upon arriving at her aunts' austere Riverboro home.

"Your star, my star, all our stars together, / They make the dear old banner proud / To float in the bright fall weather."

While painstakingly stitching the white state star onto the blue field of the flag, Rebecca composes lines that express her deep, poetic patriotism.

"There wa'n't nothin' but flags layin' roun' loose down Riverboro way, 'n' whatever they say, I ain't sech a hound as to steal a flag!"

Returning home after his encounter with Rebecca, Abner Simpson defensively insists to his wife that he never intended to commit a dishonorable theft.

What It's Really About

At its heart, the book explores how genuine warmth, imagination, and uncorrupted sincerity can soften rigid social structures and bring out the latent goodness in a community. Rebecca's uncalculated earnestness repeatedly disarms those around her—turning her strict aunts into protective caretakers, transforming a clumsy schoolroom incident into an opportunity for fellowship, and prompting a dishonest man to act honorably. The story demonstrates that true civic strength relies not on military might or political speeches, but on the quiet integrity, shared labor, and creative ideals of ordinary individuals.

Why Read It Today

Readers who appreciate classic American regional literature, gentle domestic humor, and spirited young protagonists will find much to enjoy in this tale. The narrative captures the crisp atmosphere, distinct rhythms, and tight-knit community life of late nineteenth-century rural New England.

The story moves at a leisurely pace, relying heavily on period dialect and traditional moral frameworks that reflect its era. Modern readers may find the heavy emphasis on patriotic sentimentality and regional speech patterns somewhat quaint. However, the book remains deeply engaging due to Rebecca's lively personality, distinct voice, and sharp humor. It delivers an uplifting, charming portrait of childhood resilience that lingers long after the final page.