Cap'n Dan's Daughter

"Cap'n Dan's Daughter" by Joseph Crosby Lincoln is a story located in the coastal village of Trumet, it follows Captain Dan Dott as he grapples with the struggles of his failing dry goods store, family obligations, and money problems. The story centers around Captain Dan Dott, his wife, Serena, and their daughter, Gertrude, who is about to start her last year of college, increasing her parents' concerns. The book starts with Captain Dan feeling hopeless because of the lack of customers in his store during the summer. He thinks about his choice to leave a successful life at sea for this failing business, and tension rises when a letter comes saying that his rich aunt, Aunt Lavinia, has died. The letter suggests he may get a big inheritance, which could cause problems as they deal with new money and try to keep their place in society. This look into the Dott family’s problems and goals sets the scene for more story and character development.