The Life and Adventures of Betsy

About the Book

The story about Betsy is of a time long ago when life everywhere was simpler and slow-paced. That was especially true in the farm country where Betsy lived as a little girl. You will learn about all the animals, and all the wonderful fun Betsy enjoyed with her family in every season of the year. Springtime brought baby animals -- fluffy yellow chicks, funny baby pigs with curly tales, and many others. Summertime brought the “threshers.” Included is an adventure where an animal chased Betsy, really frightening her. A happy time was when Betsy shared her excitement about Christmas. This was a time before television sets, computers, cell phones, and video games. You might ask “what was there to do? Sounds pretty dull, doesn’t it?” Not so. As you read this story imagine that you were living then. Imagination can take you any place you wish to travel – even back in time. This story can be entertaining and effective for bringing together little ones and their grandparents or great-grandparents that also have had interesting and unusual childhood experiences. Talking and listening with young children can be a most exciting and enlightening adventure. I choose not to teach, but to inspire.

About the Author

Although this is my first published book, I do plan to have other books published. I have written short articles for church, volunteer organizations and school activities. Because of a college professor’s high praise of “Betsy” which was written as a children’s literature project, I want to share it with young girls and boys. “Betsy” is really my story. The time was the 1930’s and early 1940’s. The place was a county in southeastern Indiana – a time and place where time and people moved slowly; a time for truly knowing and caring about one’s family and neighbors. There was always much work to be done; however, there was always time to sit and rock “a spell.” My maternal grandmother was my #1 Angel. She would have protected me with her life, had it become necessary. Very tragically my mother passed away when I was fifteen. I had spent a great amount of time at my grandparents' farm since I was a baby, so moving there did not seem unusual to me. My grandfather also had passed on much earlier. In our home were my grandmother, my uncle, aunt and little cousin, plus two great uncles and me. We had many other relatives visiting from time to time. Mom was the matriarch -- not domineering, just greatly respected by family and friends. She was wise in so many ways and guided me very gently. I always had the freedom to think for myself and make choices. If the choices were not in my best interest, Mom quietly showed me why they were not the best. She had never lived anywhere else since she married my grandfather. A few weeks before I began my sophomore year in high school my grandmother and I moved from the farm into the small town where I attended high school. Mom and my uncle had made arrangements for the two of us to move to town for the school year. They rented a house owned by Mom's cousin. It was less than two blocks from school, so I could come home for lunch, and it was very convenient for me. I began getting more involved in school activities. At the time I didn't realize how much Mom and my uncle were willing to do for me. That was a sacrifice of her time and being away from her home of 50 years (never before or after). She loved me so much that she was willing to do whatever it took to help me. My uncle (Mama's brother) and aunt plus a number of others also gave so unselfishly to make my life easier -- to make sure I had every advantage. Desire` Mercier said, "We must not only give what we have; we must also give what we are."