Inside the Story
Forever a Farmer
Ralph was finally back on the farm that he so missed. However, after graduation from High School, he decided to go to Cleary College, in Ypsilanti, MI. There he studied accounting. Trouble was accounting jobs were in the cities. So, Ralph decided to help his Pa on the farm instead.
Once married, Ralph and his wife, Edith, moved to the farm. This wasn’t without its problems. His dad, Millie, didn’t appreciate Ralph suggesting that he try new ways of farming. After all, his way of farming had worked just fine. Ralph found this to be frustrating. Not to mention that his Pa and Grand Father were no longer speaking to each other over a disagreement about the farm.
Ralph would go on to raise his family on this farm that he loved and hoped would one day be his. He also hoped that his Pa and Grand Father would be able to resolve their differences. But he had little hope because of the Setterington pride and stubbornness.
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Language : English
Print length : 248 pages
ISBN-10 : 1958920118
ISBN-13 : 978-1958920114
Item Weight : 12.9 ounces
Dimensions : 6 x 0.56 x 9 inches
Inside the Story
The Mischief Maker
Ralph, nick named Rate, sat on the front porch with his faithful dog, Bruno. Gosh! Why’d Pa have them move to town? Farm life had been so full of adventure; all kinds of activity and places to explore. He knew the answer. It was so his sister didn’t have to drive the buggy from the farm to get to school.
Blanche was too good to go to the country school according to his grandmother, Setterington, and since they left Elsie, this was the solution Pa came up with. This pleased Ma too, since this had been her home as a child. It just seemed that no one ever cared about his feelings. Some things would never change.
He guessed he and Bruno would just have to adjust. After all, he was sure he could come up with some fun ways to make life in town a bit more exciting.
This is the second book in the series of the Setterington Family, from Elsie, Michigan, back in the early 1900’s.
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Edition : Large type / Large print
Language : English
Print length : 270 pages
ISBN-10 : 1956742212
ISBN-13 : 978-1956742213
Inside the Story
Rate
On this wintry December night in 1893, Millie had lots of time to think. His wife, Mina, was with child; and tonight, looked like the baby would arrive. His first child was a girl named Blanche, who was four years old. He was truly hoping for a boy, even knowing that Mina and Blanche both wanted a girl. Millie had thought back to the time when he and his family came to Michigan from Canada in the late 1870s. He reminisced about events and adventures this move had brought. He loved life on the farm. To him it was a very rewarding life. He hoped to be able to pass this passion he had for farming on to a son. He had dreamed of being married and having children. He remembered how his pa and ma favored his sister over him and his brother. He never wanted to do that to his children when he had them. He thought how nice it would be to have a son to carry on the family name. A son to help on the farm and eventually inherit it. A son would just make him feel complete as a man. Then came the words. “It’s a boy!” Millie heaved a heavy sigh. A son! He couldn’t wait to see him. He would call him Rate to honor his dad. Now he could look forward to this new chapter in his life. Only time would tell how this chapter would unfold.
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Language : English
Print length : 210 pages
ISBN-10 : 1958920010
ISBN-13 : 978-1958920015
Item Weight : 11 ounces
Inside the Story
The Lad Called Rate
As a young lad, Rate realized how content he was living on a farm. Why there were intriguing places to explore, several animals to tend to and chores to be done. His favorite animals were: Mikey, the driving horse and Grip, the family dog. His chores consisted of: churning butter, hauling kindling for the woodstove, turning the crank on the wringer washer and going to the corner, to fetch the mail. He knew it was only a matter of time till his pa would let him drive the buggy or a team of horses for field work by himself. This was much more appealing to him than all
those “wimmen chores” as he called them. However, one thing Rate never understood, was the reason why his folks and grandparents favored his sister, Blanche, over him. Guessed they mostly didn’t care for boys. ‘Peared to him to be the “Setterington way”, whether he liked it or not.
The characters’ origins are constituted well in conversation, wherein inflections are present and included authentically. With candor and firm precision, the Southern turns of phrases and slang result in additional background. Occasions of dithering and heavy pauses further enhance the dialogue, as when Milly constantly pauses as his wife shares her fazed view of their son’s antics.
Indeed, Rate by Donna Gene Stankey is a heartfelt read that throws to the beat of the turn of a century. It is certainly a welcome addition to its genre and a great start to a series.
— Hollywood Book Review
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Language : English
Print length : 208 pages
ISBN-10 : 1958920150
ISBN-13 : 978-1958920152
Item Weight : 11 ounces