Wow, the housing market must have taken a hefty hit being the property cost only $24.45 (unless this takes place back about four centuries ago, which means that the price of wheat was sky-high for it's time).

This seems too loose and has many holes. There wasn't a tie-in for the change of pace as to how the mother got the job or why the father was gone. There's a beginning, middle and end, but how does it fit? How did all of it become what it did?

Eh... I feel like the prices just didn't match up too well. I mean like, $24.45 for a house? $1.00 for a TENT? I just don't feel like it's realistic.
And there wasn't much of a lesson to be learned from this. It was heartwarming that the family got back together again but you didn't give much information about where the dad went so I couldn't really feel like... I don't know... happy that they were reunited? I felt more confused.
And what did they trade the lady?? They didn't really have anything to trade! Maybe that's the lesson of the story: "Don't believe everyone you meet on the street."
(It rhymes too!)
Sorry for making an actual paragraph about this. I think that it was a great story showing that there's always hope. Even if it seems like you'll never truly have a home... Your dad that abandoned you for 5 years can always return.
Great job!!!