Letters from Hillside Farm

by Jerry Apps

  I put my hands under her arms and dragged her toward the door. Slowly I made my way through the smoke. Now the flames were crawling along the ceiling above the stove.

  When I finally got to the door with Grandma Woodward, my eyes hurt so much I could hardly see. I was coughing so hard I had trouble pulling her. But I lugged her through the door and onto the porch. Trying to be careful, I pulled her out onto the lawn, several feet away from the burning house. Depot lay down next to her and licked her face. I fell over on my back, trying to catch my breath and focus my smoke-filled eyes.

  “George, George, you all right?” It was Pa. Behind him were Amos Woodward and his pa. I could see tears streaming down Amos’s face as he put a handkerchief on Grandma Woodward’s forehead. He had wet it at the pump. Grandma Woodward was moaning and coughing, but color was starting to return to her face.

  By this time a dozen or more neighbors had arrived. They began throwing pails of water on the fire. Ma had noticed the fire about the same time I did, and she had called telephone central to put out a general ring on the party line phone. The general ring had summoned neighbors from miles away. One came with a pickup truck filled with cans of water. Another placed a ladder against the house so the roof could be soaked with water. Others went into the smoky kitchen and doused the flames with pails of water. Within a few minutes the kitchen fire was out, and Grandma Woodward was sitting up, concerned that so many people were fussing over her.

  “You feeling better, Grandma?” Amos asked. I noticed that he had slipped his jacket under her head for a pillow.

  “My gosh, yes. I must have passed out.” she said. She sounded confused.

  “The smoke got ya, Grandma,” Amos said.

  “Mercy me, I do remember that old apron falling on the stove and catching fire,” she said. Her voice was raspy. “I thought I could put it out, but I guess I didn’t. Trying to do a little canning today. Sweet corn is ready, you know.”

  “You gotta take it easy for a while, Grandma,” Amos said. “You could have died in there.”

  “Mercy me. Mercy me,” she said.

  I was feeling better, too. I had stopped coughing, and my eyes had quit stinging. Depot seemed okay, too.

  Pa was telling the neighbors about how I had dragged Grandma Woodward out of the house just as he, Amos, and Amos’s pa arrived on the scene. Some of them came over to me and patted me on the back, telling me I had done a good thing. Others were petting Depot.

  “Couldn’t have done it without my jackknife,” I said, holding it up so everyone could see.

  When everything had quieted down and it had been decided that Grandma Woodward will stay with Amos and his family until her house is repaired, Amos came up to me, holding his hat in his hand. “George,” he said quietly. I saw that his face was dirty and streaked with tears.

  “Yes, Amos?” I said, not knowing what to expect.

  “Thanks for saving my grandma.”

  “It’s okay,” I said. “I like her, too.”

  “Could I have a look at your jackknife?” Amos asked.

  “Sure.” I pulled it back out of my pocket and handed it to him.

  “Nice knife,” he said. He handed it back to me.

  “It sure comes in handy,” I said. “I use it for my leather work, too.”

  “Suppose you could show me how to make things out of leather?”

  “I could,” I said, surprised. “Anytime. Be glad to.”

  Do you know what, Grandma? Amos held out his hand and shook mine. Can you imagine that? Then, as Amos followed his father and Grandma Woodward to their car, he turned, smiled, and waved to me.

  Pa and I headed back toward our house. “Say, George,” Pa said, “how’d you get over here so fast? I thought you were going after the cows in the far pasture.”

  “I ran,” I said.

  “But I thought you couldn’t run.” Pa said. I answered that I had thought that, too, but I surprised myself. I hadn’t realized how much better my leg has gotten. I felt better than I’ve felt in a long time.

  I hope you can come to visit us yet this summer, Grandma. There are so many things I want to show you and a bunch of people I want you to meet. This farm is really a nice place.

  Love,

  George

  Dear George,

  Oh, my, what a lot of ups and downs you have had during the past few weeks. I’m glad you like the pencils and writing paper I sent. Your letters mean more than you will ever know.

  And happy birthday, once again. Just think, you are thirteen years old, a young man. I wish I could have been with you on your fishing trip. It sounds like it was lots of fun, except for falling in the lake. I’m not sure I would have liked that. It sure was a big fish you caught, though.

  I guess I predicted that Amos would find a way to pick a fight with you. I’m glad that neither of you got hurt badly. A black eye is no fun, but it could have been worse. There is just no sense in fighting. No sense at all. I’m sure you are well aware of that now.

  As for the fire at Grandma Woodward’s house, you, young man, are a hero. You can’t know how proud I am of you. And I’ll bet you a nickel that you have a new friend. His name is Amos Woodward.

  I will see you in just a week. I’ve checked the train schedule and look forward to seeing all of you on August 27, at the depot in Link Lake. Be sure to bring Depot along with you. I’m looking forward to seeing him along with the rest of your family. It has been a long, lonely spring and summer here in Cleveland. I’m so looking forward to spending some time in the country.

  Much love,

  Grandma S.

  Afterword

  The Importance of Letter-Writing

  Although today many people use email, text messaging, and other electronic means of keeping in touch, letter-writing is an important form of communication. Writing a letter gives you time to develop an idea or thought or share a story of any length. Letters can be long or short, depending on what you want to say. Besides providing you a way to share your ideas with someone, a written letter becomes a historical record. A historian might someday read a letter you wrote “way back when” to learn about what life was like when you were growing up.

  Kinds of Letters

  • In this book you’ve had a chance to read personal letters. George is writing to his grandmother, and she is writing back to him. They are informative, friendly, and valued by the person receiving them.

  • Many people send letters on special occasions. Birthdays and other holidays are a fun reason to write a letter and send along a picture you have drawn or a project from school.

  • A thank-you letter is a great way to tell someone thanks for a present or for doing something nice for you. Thank-you letters are often short, but they are very much appreciated by the recipient.

  • In a request letter, the letter writer is asking for something. When you apply for a job, writing a letter is often a part of that process. Another kind of request letter might ask for a donation for a good cause.

  Letter-Writing Exercises

  • Just as George did in this book, write letters to your grandparents. Tell them what you’ve been doing in school and at home. They will love receiving your letters and will probably be excited to write back to you.

  • Write a letter to a cousin who lives in another city. Tell your cousin what you are studying in school, what books you are reading, and what it is like living where you live.

  • Do you have a friend who has moved away or changed schools? Having a pen pal is a fun way to keep in touch and learn about life in a different place. The letters will help you continue your friendship until you can see each other again.

  • Write to the author of one of your favorite books. Tell the writer what you like about the book and what it means to you. You might even mention some of the things you didn’t like about the book! Authors like to hear from their readers.

  • Write to the president of the United States about an issue or problem in your school or community t
hat you feel strongly about.

  • Write a letter to your school principal or the mayor of your city. Describe a change or an improvement you think is needed and explain why.

  • Write a letter to students who will be in your grade next year. Tell them about the classes they will have, the homework they should expect, and what you like about being in your grade (and what you don’t like, as well).

  If you are already writing letters, keep it up! Writing a letter is not only fun, it is an important skill to have.