Cordelia learns a lesson about the rights and abilities of girls and women when she spends time taking care of Jules, a horse belonging to nineteenth-century feminist Elizabeth Cady Stanton.
Mirette learns tightrope walking from Monsieur Bellini, a guest in her mother's boarding house, not knowing that he is a celebrated tightrope artist who has withdrawn from performing because of fear.
While traveling with her mother cross-country by train in 1896, a young girl unexpectedly shares Thanksgiving dinner with the notorious outlaw, Butch Cassidy.
Determined that their daughter realize her musical destiny, her poor but devoted parents send her away as a baby to the Venetian "ospedale," knowing she will be raised as an orphan and will never again be allowed to return home.
Stagestruck Blanche would like to be a part of a theatrical bear troupe's new play, but, her shyness causes problems until she discovers a special talent of her very own.