Summary: Clem’s Chances by Sonia Levitin
Clem was orphan when his ma and his sister
died took a fever in Fort Kearny.
He was a handsome man like his father, Fontayne and clever like his mother. His
father was gone to California to find gold and never comeback or heard some
words or letters. After his mother’s death, he has to struggle toward his life
and forced him to continue his life alone. He leaves his town to search his
father in California with uncertain feeling about his father’s life whether
life or not. First, he met Molly and her degenerate brother and work at her
house as animal keeper. In Molly’s house, Clem almost spent his time with Molly,
read a book together in the Barn, look after the cow and horses. Draw a sketch
of Molly and he felt in love with her. Unfortunate also came to his life, he
was driven out by Molly’s family. Molly’s brother was calumniate him that Clem
was killed their horses.
Clem continue
his journey and suffered with his economic condition forced him to became a laborer
and a cheat and try many careers to fulfill his life. Then, Clem found some
friends also enemies in his journey and for very first time he chased by Indian,
running with friend to avoid the Indian and learnt about Indian. He could get
along well with his friends (Hank, Gabriel,
Ruski, Adam) and continued his journey with his friends, became
a bullwhacker, go hunting a buffalo. Clem looked for information about his
father and someone tell him to go to a Pumpkinseed Station. Clem got many
trouble toward the Station and finally he could reached the Station and he
parted with his friends. He said goodbye and felt thankful of his friends’
help, so he could reached the Station. He found many things during his journey,
learnt from Gabriel’s story about his suffer while Gabriel and his beloved wife”Sara”
arrested by Indian, how his friend”Adam” faced a real life while he lost his
daughter, his two daughters died when his wife deliver the baby.
Clem arrived in
California and his new boss showed him to a person who knows his father named
Libby. Libby was ever met his father and let Clem to live in Libby’s house.
Libby told the story about her meeting with Clem’s father, how Clem’s father
gave Libby a wish to found a doctor for her husband, but Mr. Fontayne denied the
promise. Clem felt disappointed with his father from Libby’s story. Clem
thought it was the same when his father leaves him and his mother to find a
gold field.
After that, Clem
met his boss”Bud” to see cannon (horse’s name). Clem tried to tease cannon and
chat with Bud, reading a book in Bud’s house, but suddenly Indian came and
hurted his boss. Bud order Clem to brought Cannon and leaves him. Clem
confused, he has to leave his boss in that condition. Bud said that he will
tell Libby about this incident. Clem just gone with cannon only brought some
bread and cookies. Clem arrived in unknown place, just sand everywhere, dry,
and there is no trees there, and he also lost cannon. Perhaps Cannon was died.
Clem has to find water, he was suffer, starving, he even eaten insect and
snake. Clem didn’t realize how long he has been there. Then, he finally found water
and met a group of Mormon. Clem was saved by the Mormon. Clem met a new people,
learnt about polygamy. The Mormon offered him to join, but Clem decided to keep
looking for his father to California. After that, Clem has to across the
terrible mountain to reached inhabitant settle. Finally, Clem arrived in
California; try to ask someone about his father’s place. Someone said that his
father go to San Francisco. He felt happy to heard that and immediately looking
for a mount to San Francisco. He met his father, still can’t believe Clem seen
his father in his own eyes. Clem’s father was curious why Clem could reach the
place. Clem told about his journey, mother’s death and his sister’s death, and his
suffering. Fontayne just said, you will understand what the adult thinking.
After he could met his father and told the whole story, Clem decided to come
back home to Fort Kearny and met Molly, his beloved girl. Clem promises will
show off Molly to his father sometime.
