or all their married life, Joshua and Lily Wellcomb lived in a small town in Kansas, where they just managed to feed themselves and their three children. In 1888, Joshua died from influenza, leaving Lily with three children to look after. The family was left with very little money, so when the Oklahoma Land Run was announced in March, Lily had a difficult decision to make. She thought about it for a long time, then she sat her children down at the kitchen table in their tiny house.

What is the purpose of this narration?

to provide a detailed description of a specific event
to provide a history of land runs in the United States
to show how a character completes a difficult task
to provide the Wellcomb family’s backstory

The purpose of this narration is to provide the Wellcomb family's backstory. It sets the stage by giving background information about Joshua and Lily, their life in the small town in Kansas, and the challenges they faced after Joshua's death. This information helps to understand the context for Lily's difficult decision regarding the Oklahoma Land Run.