The story starts out with a Mormon family living North of Salt Lake City in the early pioneer days. This story is told though the eyes of an 11 year old girl living a very lonesome life as far as friends her own age. Her nearest friend was a Indian girl in a village near by however neither could speak the language of the other.

One day out of know where a black family (with a girl her age) stopped at their house for help. Finding that the family was Mormon the black family set up camp a far distance from the Mormon home. The black man had a difficult time accepting the generosity of the Mormon family even though his wife's health was involved.

As the story gets deeper we find that the black man was involved in the pursecution of the Mormons in Illinois. The book I think did a very good job describing the forgiveness that the Mormon family demonstrated to the visiting family. I would hope that under the same type of circumstances that I could do half that good.

This book for light reading was very enjoyable. The writing style was enjoyable to read. I want to quote a couple of paragraphs just to give a flavor of the writing.

"I didn't believe ya when ya said yer name as Millennium, but yer ma said it's the truth," she spoke with words so full of the South that they almost startled me, though I don't know why it should have, seein' that her pa had spoken the same. She was fidgetin' with her hair and scratchin' at her leg with her foot and drummin' her fingers that weren't in her hair on her leg so that she seemed all motion even though she wasn't goin' anywhere.

"She's not my ma," I said. "My mother died birthin' my only sister when I was four years old. The baby died too. A while later my Pa married my ma's sister so Hat's my aunt. Jacob here is hers and Pa's but I'm only Pa's."

I find this style refreshing. I find this book thought provoking and would make a good discussion for family home evening. Think about it. I have loaned the book out already and will have another report hopefully this week.

Thanks
Bob in Southern Arizona