Mountain Born

The children and I started a new book tonight called Mountain Born by Elizabeth Yates. It was originally published in 1943. It is about a young boy named Peter who raises a lamb under the watchful eye of a wise old shepherd. The first chapter was so sweet about how Peter's mother Martha revived the lamb at birth after being announced dead. Here is an excerpt that brought tears to my eyes, ( the girls think it is so funny when I cry while I am reading aloud!)

-Sitting down in a low chair by the stove, she took the lamb up in her arms and held it close to her, remembering how she had felt when Peter was born and she had held him in her arms for the first time. Once the boy had come safely into the world, she realized how her prayers for him had changed. It was not for life and a strong body to hold its treasures she prayed, for he had these; he was a sturdy, shapely baby from the first. It was that he might be caring and useful in this world. Such a short way could she go with him on that path that was his life; only a few years she would have his hand in hers. For a few more years he would walk beside her; then he would be a man going his way alone, but if it were a way of kindness, the memory of that first day would always fill her with joy.