The story begins in 1855; after a sailing ship from Ireland docks at Ellis Island. A young lady, we will call her Rose, hopes to join her sister's family that now lives in a New York suburb. The struggle of the Irish people to find a better life had been going on for 10 years. The New Beginning tells the story of how one family handles the disaster of their crops and the disappointment that plagued the country. Decisions that were made didn't always turn out in their favor. Rose, her sister, and her brother suffered the loss of their parents within a few months of each other, and their loss fueled their desire to leave Ireland to find a better life. Upon Rose's arrival in America, she is surprised to find that the members of her family all have a mutual desire to become frontier people. They were willing to take the hardships that might come with homesteading and developing land that would support all of the family. They came to America seeking a brighter future, a better life, and most of all, a new beginning.