The Wind Blows Free

Author - Loula Grace Erdman

Erdman wrote 21 books and numerous articles and short stories. Her novels
about the settlement of the Texas Panhandle rank among her best and most
popular works. Miss Erdman's family donated a collection of her papers and
possessions to the Friends of the Cornette Library organization in 1991.

The Book

´The Wind Blows Free” is the first book in Erdman's trilogy about the Pierce
family of "nesters" who homesteaded in the Texas Panhandle in the 1890s.
The novel follows their difficulties as they try to wrench a living from the dry land. The Pierce
family has three daughters, and the first novel tells the story of the oldest daughter, 14-year-old
Melinda.

When the family store burns, they don’t have so much money to live in East Texas and they need
to emigrate. The oldest daughter – Melinda – can’t stand it. She doesn’t want to leave her
friends, her school, their big white house with beautiful garden and her grandmother. Texas
Panhandle seems so far away from her old life.
Melinda’s twin brothers, Robert and Richard (Bert and Dick), don’t feel the same. They are very
excited, and they can’t wait to see their new home. All the time they are discussing about
Indians, cowboys and horses. They both want to ride a horse or to shoot an Indian, that’s an
adventure for them. Their little sisters – Katie and Carolyn - see it positive too. Girls want to
have new friendships, they aren’t so upset about leaving old home.
Their emigration is very big challenge for all family, especially for mother and father. They need
to solve their money problems and they need a place where live in. Their sod hut in Texas
Panhandle is very small, they even don’t have a place for all beds. There is only one room,
kitchen, bedroom, living room and room where to study in the same time. In East Texas they had
big rooms and they didn’t have to worry about water, about light.
Family is working hard to make their life in Texas Panhandle better. Melinda even understands
that life in country isn’t so bad as she thought. She finds joy in the wind, in the sun. She learns
how to be good sister, good daughter and good friend.
Main Ideas
 Doesn’t matter how hard it is, we will have our family with us always.
 Material values are not the main in our life.
 Sometimes we need to sacrifice our expectations to help others.