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Ridgely Rails Legacy in the name of Love and Mercy for all demonstrates that kindness, courage,
God’s creatures.” and determination can make the world
Book Two of the Ridgely Rails a better place. Following is the back

“Although she was only fi fteen that day,
Legacy cover synopsis:
Sophie understood that the signifi cance
The Ridgely Rails Legacy series tells the of the fountain was not just to slake the It may be forever we part, little girl,

fictional story of three generations of thirst of the farmers as they went to sell And it may be for only a while.
women living in the town of Ridgley, their produce at the railroad station with But if fight, Dear, we must, Then in God

Maryland. The second book in the series their team of mules or horses, or to give is our trust.
is a coming-of-age story set against the relief to dogs wandering through the So, send me away with a smile.
backdrop of the Great War and features town’s dusty streets on a hot summer’s
Ella Mae’s daughter, Sophie. It begins day. No, the value of the fountain lay -- John McCormack, 1917
in 1915, when she is only fi ft een years in its purpose to demonstrate love and
old and the community club, Band of mercy. Sophie is seventeen when the United
Mercy, unveils the fountain near the States joins the Great War and the
Such platitudes would not have meant
railroad station for which they had mandatory conscription is enacted. All
so much if across the ocean there wasn’t
been collecting funds and planning her dreams hang in the balance when
a horrible war waging which had taken

with great dedication. The occasion was her fiancé is drafted and sent to France
the lives of thousands upon thousands

a highlight in the small town, complete to fight in the trenches.
of men and would take the lives of many
with a parade, songs, and speeches.
more before it ended. In the face of Searching for comfort and purpose,
As a work of historical fiction, the unspeakable hatred and brutality this Sophie turns to her love of music,
novel is based on national and state fountain was a monument to celebrate and through it, finds more than she
history, as well as local events recorded kindness, and a statement of hope that ever expected. As she discovers new
in the newspapers preserved by Tommy one day peace would reign again.” strength, Sophie feels compelled to take
Rampmeyer and obtained from the on a greater cause. While the young
I don’t want to give the plot away, but the
Ridgely Historical Society. Th e fountain men are battling overseas in the name
war would change the course of Sophie’s
remains today where it was placed in of democracy, she joins the crusade at
life as it did for so many others. Her new
May of the second year of World War home for women to have a voice in their
path includes joining Alice Paul in the
One. government.
fight for suff rage and participating in

The large iron fountain was embellished the Watchfire Demonstrations in D.C., Persevering through her own personal

with the raised picture of a horse on which results in her being jailed and fears and losses, Sophie clings to the
the front, beneath which was a large learning firsthand that freedom and hope that the world—and her life—will
tub with four separate canisters for democracy are noble words, but not one day be at peace again.
the animals to drink from. At the base, always lived out in the same way they
on either side of it, were small bowls are preached.
for dogs. And at the top, on the left-
A romance story which captures the
hand side, was a spigot exclusively for
humans. On the rear of the fountain is struggles of the era and the impact
a plate bearing the inscription: “Erected it had on the families of the Eastern
Shore, ALONG THE WAY also

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