Summer of the Monkeys

1. Summer of the Monkeys By Wilson Rawls Sydney Bearden

2. Chapter One:Sally Gooden’s Gone Again Jay Berry Lee is a fourteen year old boy living in the Oklahoma territory. He came from Missouri when he was little but then moved to where he lives at the time. He has a twin sister named Daisy and she has a twisted leg. Jay Berry’s grandfather is the one that helped give his family land in Oklahoma. Years had gone by, and Jay Berry turned fourteen. He was able to do the chores and things of a boy in the late 18000s. The Lee family has a crazy cow named Sally Gooden. She can jump over just about anything. One day, Jay Berry’s father came inside from morning chores and told everyone that the cow was missing again. Jay Berry was determined to find it and went down to the bottoms, a place sort of like a swamp. Mrs. Lee does not like the bottoms. She says that they are dangerous and not for someone Jay Berry’s age to venture into. But, the boy and his hound dog, Rowdy, went down in the bottoms to find Sally. They found her without losing much time, and Jay Berry decided to walk around and explore the area. When they were looking around, Rowdy smelled something, and went off toward the smell. It ended up being a monkey! Jay Berry got scared because he didn’t know what the monkey wanted or if there were more monkeys. The boy ran so fast that he forgot the milking cow. He went and told his father, who didn’t believe him, and when he did, assumed the monkey was just a pet that had escaped its rich owners. When Jay told his mother, she did believe him, just because of all the things she was afraid of down there.

3. Chapter Two: The Story of the Monkeys That day, Jay Berry went to the store, anxious to talk to his grandfather about the monkeys. He needed to find out about the monkeys and of course his grandpa would know. He went to the store and talked about it, and instantly, his grandfather knew what the monkeys were about. They were from a circus, and worth a lot of money, two dollars apiece. One of the monkeys was one hundred dollars, and Jay Berry was astonished. Jay Berry asked grandpa how to catch the monkeys and after a while, grandpa thought of an idea. Grandpa had one. He took a trap and covered it in something soft. The trap seemed like it wouldn’t hurt a monkey, but the animal wouldn’t be able to escape, either. The only thing they needed to do was test it. Jay Berry didn’t want to stick his finger in it, and Rowdy wouldn’t step in it either. Grandpa stuck his own finger in it, and it didn’t hurt, but he needed help getting if off. Jay Berry thought it was perfect. He was ready to test it out, but he needed to go home. When he was heading out the door, Grandpa reminded him that his mother might want something, and Jay Berry was glad for the reminder. On the way out the second time, Grandpa snuck some candy into his bag and Jay Berry and Rowdy went off.

4. Chapter Three:The Old Man of the Mountains? As Jay Berry went home, he sang a song about catching monkeys. Jay Berry was so excited about his plan that he tried to add all the cost of the monkeys up, but there was too much stuff in his head and Rowdy kept walking all over the equation. When he got home, Jay Berry talked to his dad about the monkeys, and his dad saw them! He believed that the monkeys did belong to the circus, and that they were worth quite a lot. He also knew that it would be hard to catch monkeys, but let Jay Berry attempt to get them anyways. The only thing Jay Berry needed to do was talk to his mama, and that would be the hard part. Mama had never met a real monkey, and if they lived in the bottoms, then they had to be dangerous. Jay Berry needed to talk to his mother, however, and she thought he was crazy. But when Jay Berry began to talk to her about grandpa’s traps, she began to give in a little and finally agreed to what Jay Berry wanted. Then Jay Berry went out to look for his little sister, Daisy, to tell her about the monkeys. Jay Berry went off, excited, ready to find his sister in her play house. When he got there, she was surrounded by animals, as usual. Jay Berry felt weird around these animals, and slightly hurt that they wouldn’t stay around him like that. But, he had to interfere and went out to her playhouse. All the animals left and Jay Berry gave Daisy the candy Grandpa put in the bag. While Jay Berry was with Daisy, he told her what he had learned about the monkeys, and she told him something very interesting. Daisy had never been interested in hunting, and didn’t like the act of killing animals. She told Jay Berry about a man as old as time who watched over the Ozarks. Daisy said that this man was as old as time. Jay Berry did not believe in fairy tales, but what Daisy told him did scare him. If anyone were to be killing animals, they would be punished greatly by the Old Man of the Mountains.

5. Cinch – something done with ease, certain to happen Slough – deep mud, backwater, swamp Rind – hard or tough outer layer of something Gunnysack – bag made of material like burlap Minute – very small and detailed Pertly – assuredly, freely and forwardly Vocabulary :Chapters 1-3

6. Chapter Four:Traps Outsmarted Jay Berry went out the next morning feeling great about his traps. The night before he had a terrible dream about the monkeys laughing at him, but he was sure they would work. He went out early to work on setting up the traps. It took the monkeys a long time to finally come out and see the apples. At first, they went after them, anxious for the breakfast. But then, something squalled at them. Jay Berry couldn’t see it. He didn’t see the thing, and when he did, Jay Berry thought it was a boy. Now that boy certainly was causing a lot of trouble and Jay Berry was becoming irked and was about to yell at him when, suddenly, the figure moved, and it was not a boy at all. It was a monkey. He hopped down and the little monkeys moved aside. The big one fiddled with the traps until he got one of the apples out of it. It intrigued Jay Berry. All of the apples were plucked up by the big one and thrown to the little monkeys. Jay Berry was stunned. When the monkeys went back to the trees, Jay Berry reset his traps in a different position. It hardly took any time before the monkeys were out again. Again, the leader monkey looked at all the apples and figured out the traps. Jay Berry’s traps got snapped open by sticks rather than by the monkeys’ feet. When the monkeys disappeared with the apples again, they were laughing at Jay Berry. The laughing made him angry, but there wasn’t a thing he could do about it. When they left again, Rowdy was sniffing around a log, and Jay Berry’s heart was so happy. Jay Berry had a new plan to make the monkeys get trapped. He put the apples in the logs and strapped the traps to them. Then, he and Rowdy went off to get a drink. Jay Berry should have thought twice about leaving the site, because when he returned, his things were gone. The traps, the apples, and his gunny sack were all gone. The monkeys took them. It made Jay Berry so angry to see all of them laughing and pointing and making a fool out of him. He grabbed some dirt and threw it up in the tree at the leader monkey, and the monkey returned it with an apple. Jay Berry was so angry that he grabbed a bean shooter. He put a rock in it and flung it at the monkey. The monkey responded in a frightened way. Because Jay Berry was fired up, he flung another one at the monkey and hit him on the stomach like the first one had. Just then, the monkeys started dropping out of the trees in a mad attempt to chase Jay Berry and Rowdy.

7. Chapter Five:A Better Idea Than Those Traps Were Jay Berry took off running, and Rowdy came with him. When he reached his father in the fields, his dad wanted to know what had happened. Jay Berry told him it was just a small incident, but his father knew better. Jay Berry told his father about the thieving monkeys, how they had stole all his things, even the traps. Jay Berry told about the main monkey and how smart he was. Finally, Jay Berry got his father to go into the woods with him and look for the monkeys. After a long time of searching, neither of them found a thing. They went back home. When Jay Berry’s mama saw him, she freaked out. His clothes were all torn and he was a mess. Jay Berry’s sister began to laugh at him too, and it was too much for him to handle. Jay Berry needed to see his grandpa. When he went to find him, grandpa was sitting on his porch. When Jay Berry told him what happened, it seemed as if grandpa knew what had happened already. He laughed very hard, but seemed to have expected the bad luck. Jay Berry was dying for a new idea, and grandpa had just the thing. He went inside the barn and came back with a very odd thing. It was like a net, but with levers to use to open and close it. Jay Berry wondered where the thing came from. He had never seen a thing like it before. It was strange. Grandpa said he got it from a butterfly professor that was nearly out of his mind. The mad man left and grandpa got the contraption. Jay Berry learned another thing from grandpa: he had a dog as a boy, and many memories with that dog. Jay Berry wondered why he never found out about it.

8. Gandy was coming towards them quickly and as he came, Jay Berry put the net out. He snapped it shut as Gandy was in it. Gandy assumed it was one of his victims and he attacked it. Realizing that it was something he couldn't defeat, Gandy really started to freak out. The female gees tried to help him, but it was no use. Jay Berry tried to let him out, but he couldn't. Jay Berry's mom and sister came out looking for what was going on. They saw Gandy and helped him out of the net. Daisy was freaking out, but mama was more calm. Gandy took off as soon as he was out of the net. Jay Berry wanted to catch the monkeys, and he thought the net would work. His dad agreed, and said first thing in the morning, it was time to catch monkeys. Chapter Six:The Meanest Goose Alive Jay Berry went inside his grandparents’ house and his grandma served him huckleberry pie. When he finished talking to his grandma, he left the house with Rowdy. Jay Berry went home with his new idea in mind for monkey catching. When he went home, he told his mom he had new plans for monkey catching. After he left his mom, Jay Berry went outside, hoping to catch something. He was walking, trying to think of something, when he thought of Gandy. Gandy was a white goose that Rowdy and Jay Berry didn't like. He lived on his farm. Gandy was a mean goose that didn't like either of them. It was about time Gandy got paid back for all he had done wrong. They went and hid in the bushes and waited for Gandy. He made his way towards them, waiting to attack.

9. After the pests had left, the monkeys came out. It was the head monkey first that came down from the tree. He looked around, but couldn't find the the place where Jay Berry was hiding. He finally decided it was okay and a smaller monkey stepped in it. The trap closed and the monkey was stuck. Jay Berry headed off for home, but soon, the lead monkey started following them and tugging on the net. Soon after, the little monkeys needed to help the big one. They began to go around Jay Berry and Rowdy and the captured monkeys until they finally attacked. Jay Berry and Rowdy were hurt badly, and the little monkeys escaped. Chapter Seven:Holy Smokes! Rowdy and Jay Berry were up and ready for monkeys the next morning. ON their way to the bottoms, they came across Gandy. He was not looking great. He was dirty and unkempt. Gandy wasn't to happy to be seen either. He waddled around them, in an attempt to return to the house. When the boys got to the site, they used apples to put in the net so that the monkeys would go in it. When they had sat for a while, a black snake came and slithered down near them. It was soon scared away. The next guest was a hornet and it wasn't so readily invited. It was just itching for something to sting, and Jay Berry thought he was the thing. Luckily, the hornet left a while after it came.

10. Vocabulary Chapters 4-7 • Goose Pimples – goose bumps • Crosscut – something that cuts across or through • Celluloid – a flammable thermoplastic • Snuff – the charred part of a candle • Gander – a male goose • Flounce – to move in a bumpy fashion • Passel – a great portion • Leverage – the action of using a lever

11. Chapter Eight:Whoever Heard of a Monkey Having a Name? • When Rowdy and Jay Berry came home, Daisy and Jay Berry’s mama saw them. They were scared to death. Daisy seemed to think hydrophobia, or rabies. They thought it was possible that the monkeys carried rabies. Daisy was saying all kinds of crazy things, like that they should be tied to a post. For once, Jay Berry’s mom and dad made Daisy quit carrying on. • Jay Berry’s bites hurt. They needed plenty of medicine, and for that reason, Daisy got to do Red Cross Nursing. It was the terrible consequences of getting hurt. Daisy would give remedies to her “patients” which included Jay Berry and Rowdy. Jay Berry began to get better. He was okay until one day, Daisy came in with water. When he finished the first cup, Daisy went and got more. When Jay Berry stopped drinking, Daisy was afraid. She thought it was another sign that Jay Berry had hydrophobia. • A few days later, Jay Berry was feeling so good that he went to the store to see his grandpa. Rowdy came along, after some coaxing. Jay Berry was all out of ideas. When he got to the store, Grandpa asked Jay Berry how it had gone, and Jay Berry responded with the truth, not so well. Jay Berry told Grandpa all about his accident, and the consequences of it. Jay Berry was so out of ideas, he didn’t know what to do. Grandpa had an idea, though. He had gotten a note from the men that trained the big monkey. They said he had a name, and he was called Jimbo. Grandpa said that Jay Berry could make friends with him. The people who trained him said that his name might actually help Jay Berry a lot, and it would be easier to win their battle. Jay Berry could hardly wait to get started.

12. Chapter Nine: Most Animals Love Sour Mash... • Jay Berry badly wanted to try out his grandpa’s new idea. He went home and got some apples, but his parents never knew he got home. In the bottoms, he began to call for Jimbo to try to catch his attention. When he had got a little along, he reached the smell of sour mash, or whiskey. Jay Berry was afraid that there was someone out there with a whole bunch of it, and he didn’t wish to get near them. Finally, Jay Berry heard the monkeys chattering, and he found the two things at once. • The first thing Jay Berry saw was the monkeys, and then the sour mash barrel. Jimbo was near it, and a small monkey fell in it. Jimbo lifted him out. The other monkeys gathered around and licked that monkey clean. Jay Berry realized that they were drunk. He went to give Jimbo an apple and make friends with him, being that he might be a bit calmer than usual. Jimbo wanted to give Jay Berry some sour mash in exchange for the apple. Jay Berry accepted the trade, but didn’t drink the mash. Jay Berry didn’t want to drink what he was given, but it was the only way that the monkeys would accept the first gift. Jay Berry didn’t like the sour mash at first, but then he began to understand why the animals did so much. Before he knew it, Jay Berry was drunk, and so was Rowdy. Jay Berry fell asleep and when he woke up, he was in for a surprise. • Jay Berry was sick. His head hurt and his stomach hurt. He was cold, and his britches were gone! Jay Berry didn’t think though. It took him forever to get home, and Rowdy too, and he didn’t think about his consequences. They may be bad. Daisy found him first, and told his mother. She couldn’t believe it. She was super mad at Jay Berry and sent him to bed. Jay Berry was too sick to care.

13. Chapter Ten:The Place With All Those Books Jay Berry went to the store to see his grandpa a few days later. Grandpa joked Jay Berry about drinking, and Jay Berry again said he was not a drinking man. Jay Berry was all out of ideas. He didn’t know what there was left to do to catch a monkey. Jay Berry was beginning to think it was impossible to catch them. Grandpa still had ideas, though. It was Grandpa’s idea to go to town. Jay Berry was excited. He had only been to town a few times. What Jay Berry couldn’t understand is what was so good in town. Grandpa said they could go to the library, that place with all the books, and he would pick Jay Berry up bright and early in the morning. • Jay Berry was just as sick as when he went to bed. Maybe even sicker. Papa came in and talked to him about getting drunk, and Jay Berry swore that he would never ever drink sour mash again. Not any kind of alcohol at all. When papa left, Daisy decided to give Jay Berry a little more red Cross nursing. She began to examine him and made him swallow castor oil. Daisy was a little worried about her reputation. She thought that if Jay Berry ever drank any alcohol again, she would never again be respected. Jay Berry wanted to know where Rowdy was and how he was doing. Rowdy was hiding out in the barn. He wouldn’t accept an nursing, but it was no surprise when sick Rowdy lost.

14. Chapter Eleven:Rowdy Isn’t Patient • Jay Berry forgot to wake up early. His papa woke him. Jay Berry got ready as fast as he could. Grandpa was waiting for him in the buckboard. It was time for them to leave, and, despite Jay Berry’s protest, Rowdy came along too. They saw all sights in the bottoms, and Rowdy wanted to chase them all. Jay Berry wished for some hunting, but it was time to go to town. When they got to a stream, Grandpa recalled a painting where the grandson drove the buckboard across the stream. Jay Berry agreed to it and had fun doing it. When they reached the town, Grandpa told Jay Berry what everything was. He had been to town more than once and Jay Berry hadn’t. • When they reached the hotel to stay at, Jay Berry loved it, though he thought it would be a good idea to keep Rowdy away from all the people and animals. He was put in the wagon yard and Jay Berry and Grandpa went around town. When they returned, they had a great meal and went to bed. In the morning, Jay Berry was by himself in the room. He was told to come eat breakfast and met his grandpa outside, and they went to the library. It was a big building, full of books. They put Rowdy outside and went inside. Grandpa hadn’t ever been to a library, either, and he didn’t know what to think. He went to a lady and asked her for a book about monkey-catching, and it was much to loud. She shushed him and took a while finding one. Jay Berry and Grandpa walked around and looked at books. It was obvious it took a long time, because Rowdy started howl and tell them to come out. Everyone laughed. Jay Berry was embarrassed, but the lady at the counter didn’t seem to mind and actually enjoyed Rowdy’s loudness. They were just about to leave the library and town when Grandpa decided to make one last trip.

15. Vocabulary 8-11 • Brier – any plant with a prickly stem • Hydrophobia – rabies, a morbid dread of water • Moonshiner – someone who makes or sells illegal whiskey • Ferment – a state of agitation • Castor Oil – a fatty oil used as a medicine • Buckboard – a four wheeled vehicle with boards as a floor • Spring Seat – a flexible board, usually used for gymnastics • Borneo – a large Asian island off the coast of Asia

16. Chapter Twelve:“Jay Berry’s Hopper” When Jay Berry and Grandpa left for home, Jay Berry talked about the girl and what she did. He told Grandpa what he bought, too. They talked about the book Grandpa read to find out how to catch a monkey. After they had passed through the stream that Jay Berry drove through, the two of them got thirsty. Jay Berry took his Grandpa away from the buckboard to get a drink from “Jay Berry’s Spring.” Grandpa thought that maybe one day, that spring might actually be called Jay Berry’s Spring. When Jay Berry and Grandpa got back to the buckboard, the horses seemed skittish and Rowdy was looking around. Jay Berry saw it first. Up in the trees, the monkeys had taken all of the coconuts and were eating them. They had taken all of Daisy’s ribbon and spread it all over the trees. Jimbo laughed. It made Grandpa mad to have a monkey laughing at him, but Jay Berry advised him to not hurt Jimbo. When they got home, Jay Berry and Grandpa told everyone about what happened in the bottoms. Everyone thought it was funny but Daisy. She was mad at Jay Berry for losing her ribbons. She offered him the silent treatment, but Jay Berry offered her Sally Gooden’s next calf. Daisy agreed and they made up. • Jay Berry and his Grandpa went to a store. Grandpa and the guy that ran the store didn’t get along. Grandpa wanted coconuts for the monkeys, and the guy thought that was weird. In the mean time, Jay Berry needed to buy some stuff. There was a pretty girl at the counter and he needed to find out what he could buy, but the girl was boy crazy. It was hard for Jay Berry to get any help from her. She even asked him if he had a “sweetheart.” Jay Berry bought lots of things: a shaving mug for his dad, a thimble for his mom, some jawbreakers for him and Rowdy, and ribbon for Daisy.

17. Chapter Thirteen:Not To Give Up! There was a storm the night Jay Berry came home. His sister was scared. She came in his room during the night because she was scared. She told a story to Jay Berry about a man named Thor, and when he got mad, he made thunder with his chariot and lightning with his hammer. Jay Berry liked this story but it was the other story that Daisy told him that intrigued him even more. She saw the Old Man of the Mountains. He was pointing his stick at the house and smiling. Jay Berry didn’t understand what was good about that, but Daisy explained how it was a good thing. Jay Berry had a dream about it that night. The next morning, everything was so much nicer than the night before. The ground was wet, but that was the only thing. Jay Berry came down to breakfast and everyone was making plans for what they would do that day. Jay Berry wanted to go monkey hunting again, but it was a no for now. Jay Berry went with his dad to go to the blacksmith shop. Jay Berry liked the blacksmith shop. He did lots of work in there. When Jay Berry was in the blacksmith shop, Daisy yelled at him. With all what was going on at the time, Jay Berry got mad. Papa thought it was the stress of not being able to catch those monkeys. Jay Berry said it was because he wanted a gun and pony. Papa wanted Jay Berry to know that one day, if he worked hard enough, it would pay off.

18. Chapter Fourteen:She Does See Something The blacksmith shop working continued for a while. Daisy went out to her play house with Rowdy. It hurt your heart to watch her “walking”. Papa felt sad. Jay Berry thought soon enough, she’d be fixed, though. Then, Daisy screamed. She called for Mama. Jay Berry and Papa thought there was a snake. While they were running to her, it dawned on Jay Berry that it couldn’t have been, because surely Rowdy would defeat a snake. They went to her anyway. When they saw Daisy, she was standing still, staring at the ground. No one knew what it was. It was a fairy ring. The story so called is that when you see a fairy ring, you make a wish in it. Mama remembered a story she had heard about a person that made a wish with fairy rings. She was going to get married, when the man she loved was brought to war. The bride was heartbroken and wouldn’t speak. One day, she found a fairy ring and made a wish. Amazingly, the man she was going to marry came home. Daisy decided to make a wish. Jay Berry wanted his pony and gun, but he realized that fixing Daisy’s leg was a better wish. He wanted it badly. It was so silent by the fairy ring. Animals gathered around and stood there, just glancing at them. Finally, once everyone had wished, the forest came back to life. Later, Daisy said the Old Man of the Mountains was there. When Jay Berry talked to his mom about this man, she said he could be Daisy’s imagination. Jay Berry hated that thought.

19. Chapter Fifteen:No Bite Left Jay Berry got permission to go look for the monkeys. It took Rowdy a long time to get going towards the bottoms. They searched and searched, but the monkeys were nowhere to be seen. He did see a mama duck, her babies, and a catfish and stork. Jay Berry heard a noise. It was a tiny noise, but he heard it. Rowdy didn’t hear it. There it was again! Rowdy heard it that time. Jay Berry whooped, and that noise followed it. He went in the direction towards the noise, and found the monkeys. They were huddling together in a hole in the bank. Jimbo was sitting near the top. Jay Berry spied one monkey that didn’t look so well. Despite the fact that he might get bit, Jay Berry grabbed the little fellow and dried him off. It seemed to help. He hoped Jimbo would come out, and he did! Jimbo came out and climbed into Jay Berry’s arms. Jay Berry knew he had to help. He dried the other little monkeys off and let them sit for a while. When they had regained their energy, he brought them to the house. The reaction was utter shock. Daisy called for Mama, and Papa came too. The monkeys frightened Mama, especially Jimbo, but Daisy held him and it helped Mama know he wasn’t bad. The monkeys were put in the corn crib. All of them ate some corn. They seemed content, and Jay Berry was ecstatic.

20. Chapters 12 – 14 Vocabulary Mercantile – relating to merchants and trading Spool – spindle which something is spun on Ringtail Wampus Cat - ringtail, animal like a cat Anvil – heavy iron block used in blacksmith Whippoorwill – a medium sized Nightjar bird Blower – something creating air Forge - furnace where metal is heated Kettle – like a pot, used for tea

21. Chapter Sixteen:Johnson Brothers Circus • Jay Berry had never ran all the way to Grandpa’s before, but today, he set a record. When Grandpa was told about the monkeys, he was ecstatic. The mail man was in the store, and when he heard about the captured monkeys, he offered to send a message to them, if Grandpa made it quick enough. They just decided on a telegram. It would say that the monkeys have been caught and are ready to go. Jay Berry told Grandpa all about it, and Grandpa said Jay Berry could have as much candy as he wanted. Jay Berry was stunned, but he didn’t question Grandpa. Rowdy “asked” for a meat rind, and he got a huge bone instead! As he was leaving the store, Jay Berry asked Grandpa if he had ever seen a fairy ring, and Grandpa said no. Jay Berry told him that that morning, he did, and Grandpa was amazed. Grandpa said that the next day, he was going to Indian Tom’s to pick up some horses to sell and Jay Berry could take his pick. The amazement just didn’t end that day. • After Jay Berry got home, and after dinner, it was time for a reading of the Bible. Jay Berry liked the story about Moses parting the Red Sea. He liked the Bible, but he never had questions. It seemed odd. The next morning, everyone was eating breakfast. As they sat down, Rowdy started to bark at something. It was a circus truck! Jay Berry knew the people in it were there for the monkeys. They went out and greeted the men from Johnson Brothers Circus. They went to the corn crib and Jimbo recognized the men immediately. He ran up and he hugged them. Jay Berry knew the monkeys were where they belonged. Jay Berry then got paid, the exact amount. He gave Daisy six dollars, and, boy was she pleased!

22. Chapter Seventeen:Good Bye, Little Girl • Jay Berry ran with his hand in his pocket, hoping that he would not lose his money. He got to Grandpa’s store and asked his grandfather to help him pick the pony the pony. Grandpa said go ahead. Jay Berry ran to the pasture. When he got there, he saw two ponies. One was a roan gelding. He was muscular and strong. The other was a paint mare, and she was tall and fast. He knew he wanted the paint, after experimenting with the horses’ temperaments. Even Rowdy liked the mare. But, upon further inspection, he noticed she had a bad leg and limped. Jay Berry’s heart was broken. He went to Grandpa and seemed frustrated that his grandfather brought a horse home with a limp. Jay Berry thought long and hard, and decided that because the wound would be treated in six weeks, he could have her and ride her then, because he had waited the most of his life for a horse anyway. While he walked her home, he was ecstatic. He stopped and petted her. His dad saw him. Then, Jay Berry heard Daisy. • She was whistling. Then, he thought, and everything made sense. Grandpa’s odd behavior was because he didn’t want Jay Berry to buy a pony, but save Daisy’s leg. Jay Berry went back to the store and returned the pony. It broke his heart, but he thought he should save his sister instead. When he got home, his family was sitting down to dinner and he told them the news. The women in the house got emotional, and as they walked away, Jay Berry’s father told him how proud he was. Jay Berry felt proud, too. Daisy and Mama would leave tomorrow.

23. Chapter Eighteen:And Be Thankful • Daisy and Mama left the next morning. Everyone said their goodbyes. The next day, Papa reminded Jay Berry that anything they ate would have to be fixed by one of them, and, as proved, neither were a good cook. Jay Berry tried to cook some food, but almost set the house ablaze. They ate what they could, and every other day, Jay Berry headed to Grandma’s, and she gave him some food. Him and Papa would live off of that. Another thing they did while Mama and Daisy were gone was read their letters. Letters were sent from Mama and Daisy often. The operation was through. Around the house, though, things were not quite as happy. The animals seemed less spirited and the birds laid less eggs. Grandpa and Papa were not happy. One day, Jay Berry went to Daisy’s playhouse and remembered the Old Man of the Mountains. He prayed for comfort in his family. It soon came. Grandpa came to the house to say that Mama and Daisy would be home soon. They were coming in a train. Papa and Jay Berry were so excited, and so was Rowdy. The next day, they headed to the train station. Jay Berry had never seen a train before and was excited. He was also happy for Daisy and Mama. When they did arrive, Rowdy was barking loudly and excitedly. He was scared of the train. Many people came off the train at the same time. Papa made conversation. Jay Berry saw Mama and Daisy get off. Mama and Papa were so happy to be together, and Daisy came to Jay Berry. She showed him her foot, and he was amazed! Jay Berry didn’t believe that was her foot. He was reminded by her crutch, which Mama put in the wagon to remind her to be thankful.

24. Chapter Nineteen:Someday, I May Write a Story • On the way home from the train station, Daisy talked an awful lot. As they pulled in to home, they could see Grandpa’s buckboard sitting by the house. Perhaps he had wanted to see Daisy as soon as she got back. On the other hand, there was something in the pen by the house, and it wasn’t Grandpa. When Jay Berry saw it, he was so excited. It was the paint pony! He ran to the house and saw that it was her. Daisy thought the horse was beautiful. Daisy was really happy for Jay Berry. She even got him a gun while she was out of town. Jay Berry was ecstatic. He didn’t know what to do. He went to the horse. Daisy asked Jay Berry what he was gonna name her. She said that the pony was a doll, and so Jay Berry named her Dolly. He wanted to ride, and Daisy too, but Daisy had a better idea. She wanted to run. It was the first time in her life she had done so. It made her so happy. Jay Berry was happy for her too. • When Jay Berry was sixteen, he left the bottoms, and went all over the world looking for a thing. He went all over the United States, in all the mountains you could think of, but never found it. It was a miracle his sister ever found one, in the small area of which she lived, but, nonetheless, she did. Jay Berry would wish and wish and wish to see one. He knew what he would want. He wanted to see a fairy ring.

25. Vocabulary For Remainder • Alfalfa - tall plant grown for hay • Jarred - to make a harsh sound • Woodbox - a bin for storing wood fuel, woodbin • Flint - a hard gray rock, used a lot in older times for scraper or weapon • Bib - piece of cloth to keep clothes clean while eating • Tendon - the hamstring of a quadruped • Bull-headed - determined, stubborn • Corn-shuck - a husk of corn