This story tells about Christina (Tina) Fisk, who is the oldest child in her family. Her younger brother, Charles, likes railroads & walking along them. Tina doesn't think it's safe. Tina likes the Ohio River because of it's peacefulness, but Charles says that it will never compete with the railroad because of it's power & speed. Also, with the railroad you can go anywhere! Tina thinks the south is pretty because of the magnolia trees, but Charles doesn't think that slavery is beautiful. Their Uncle Tim wants to move to Kansas so he can vote against slavery there, but Aunt Dot doesn't want to move. Tina & Charles' father, Dr. Kevin Fisk, was also opposed to slavery.