Sylvie Quotes

“There is Sylvie, the oldest, the cleverest, and-most days at least-the responsible one; Joey, who though only twelve is the man of the house...sometimes.”

“Sylvie was the oldest Moffat. When Mama introduced Sylvie to the ladies who came to try one, she always said, ‘this is Sylvie, my oldest child.’ Sylvie was sweet sixteen. On her last birthday her aunt had sent her sixteen lumps of sugar tied with pink ribbon all in a cluster.”

“Baby Rufus is growing up, and Sylvie is getting ready to marry Reverend Mr. Abbot. Soon Joey will be taking a full-time job.”

Now everything looked so bleak - the siding with its ramshackle buildings, the flat, empty desert and Sylvie’s own dreams - until she saw, dancing towards her, a small, swaying light.

Twelve-year-old Sylvie, lives on the railway siding in outback South Australia with her parents and younger brother and sisters. It’s a tough and isolated life.

“Sylvie was very excited to be running in the wood. ‘Everything’s so lovely and fresh and green,’ she laughed. ‘Look, is that starling?’ She hadn’t notice the long-eared hare who had been watching them. Suddenly Oskar saw the hare and chased after it.”

Sylvie has never enjoyed school much until the current teacher, Clive Scott, came to town. He’s caught her interest and she loves learning. This one room school caters for all the local children.