Summer Magic

Financial problems force widow Margaret Carey and her three children to leave Boston and seek a fresh start in Beulah, Maine. Nancy remembers the large yellow house and persuades the family to inquire about it, hoping for relief and stability. They sell the cherished piano 'Flitterin'' to help finance the move.

Before moving, the family learns the yellow house is vacant and within reach, making Beulah seem like a promising haven. They hope the rural relocation will ease their money troubles and improve daily life for the children. The decision marks the start of their new chapter in Beulah.

The Careys arrive in Beulah to a warm but cautious reception from the town. They discover the yellow house is neglected, requiring work to make it livable. Osh Popham offers cheap labor and free goods, presenting himself as a neighbor who will help them stay.

Osh concocts a plan to keep the Careys in town by claiming that the house owner, Tom Hamilton, has agreed to rent under one condition: a Halloween ceremony for his dead mother and a place for her portrait. Margaret and the children reluctantly go along, hoping the arrangement will stabilize finances. They prepare for the ceremony, unaware of the deception.

Mariah, Osh's wife, has been wary of the lie from the start and tries to warn the Careys. Osh feigns a fall to avoid exposing the scheme, pleading an injured leg and relying on Mariah to help him get home. The ruse continues as the family settles into Beulah.

After church, Nancy and Julia spot Charles Bryant, the new Beulah schoolteacher, and invite him to a lawn party at the yellow house. Both sisters compete for his attention, with Julia leveraging her charm and Nancy using her wit. The moment sets up budding romantic tensions within the family.

Julia's presence sharpens the clash between city manners and country life, and she even pushes Lally Joy to dress and behave according to her own standards. A rough welcome includes Peter's dog Sam jumping on Julia in the night and forcing awkward adjustments. The household tensions test the Careys' harmony.

Peter enjoys helping with the house, and Osh entertains him with stories of bugs that astonish the city boy. Osh treats Peter with kinship and teaches him practical carpentry and life lessons. The bond deepens, tying Peter more closely to the Beulah project.

Following church, Nancy and Julia spot the new teacher, Charles Bryant, and invite him to a lawn party at the yellow house. The sisters compete for his attention while the town prepares for the community event. The party promises both social intrigue and new friendships.

At the lawn party, Julia wins Charles's affections, fueling Nancy's jealousy. The sisters' competitive dynamic resurfaces, threatening their camaraderie. Despite the tension, they continue to share the responsibilities of making the house a home.

Later, Nancy learns that Julia's adoptive parents gambled away their money and abandoned her, raw truth that shakes the family. Margaret reveals that her own finances are improving enough to consider Julia's future with them, and Julia's place in the family seems secure. Nancy realizes she has grown to love Julia and pleads for her to stay.

Encouraged by the talk of stability, Julia agrees to stay and move in permanently, strengthening the bond among the siblings. The household settles into a renewed sense of warmth and belonging as they embrace country life.

As Halloween approaches, Lally Joy frets about her ugly dress, and Nancy and Julia promise to redesign it and help her act more confidently around boys. They rally the family and neighbors to prepare for the party with new outfits and a renewed sense of fun. The house hums with anticipation as Beulah embraces the festivities.

A handsome man arrives at the yellow house to attend the Halloween party and is revealed to be Tom Hamilton, the owner who Osh claimed to be renting from. Osh confronts the real owner with the lie and is challenged by Tom's presence. The deceit creates tension that tinges the festive night.

Tom Hamilton reveals his true identity to Nancy and asks her to dance, signaling the unraveling of Osh's scheme. Osh's deception is exposed, and the party moves toward reconciliation as the Careys find renewed faith in their new life. The story closes on a hopeful note about family, resilience, and belonging in Beulah.