Excellent read!! This story speaks to people in all walks of life. It is encouraging, sweet, and funny at the same time. I would recommend this book to anyone needing to see what it means to “treat others as you want to be treated.” — 5 Stars, Kindle verified purchase reviewer
A charming tale of a simpler time. Yet, the message is ageless. I congratulate Ms. Spence on this her first effort and look forward to more entertaining reads from her in the future.— 5 Stars, Kindle reviewer
EXCERPT FROM CHAPTER TWO
OF THE ENCOURAGEMENT LETTERS
BY SHANNA SPENCE
Mrs. Cromwell was home cutting up a few vegetables that she managed to get that day. She had a couple of good days of work, repairing some work trousers for an older gentleman and made a few aprons that she sold. Work was getting harder to find. Most days, he thought she would skip eating just to make sure he could get enough to eat. After all, he was a growing boy!
As she prepared a small meal, Will studied his mother for a moment. She had grown paler and thinner. She had dark circles under her eyes and hollowed cheeks. Her dress hung from her thin shoulders. He felt a pang of desperation. I just don’t know what to do for her, he thought. Suddenly, a coughing spell hit his mother after she cleared her throat and had a sip of water.
“Tell me what you are thinking, my son,” Mrs. Cromwell said.
Will wasn’t good at hiding his emotions. Mrs. Cromwell looked at him and saw what she thought was fear. William’s father died with a cough; not his mother too!
“Nothing at all, Mum. Why do you ask?”
“Well, the look on your face is troublesome to me. I know you must be worrying again.”
“I won’t lie, Mum, you look thinner to me. Have you been eating?”
“Now, William, you know I do!”
“You must not be eating much. You look like you have lost some weight.”
“Tsk, stop worrying about me. I’m fine! Now, go wash up for dinner.”
With that, he went to the wash basin and washed his hands, still feeling uncomfortable with his mother’s response. I will keep an eye on her.
As the days passed, Will noticed that his mother took her tea and ate nothing for the mornings. He could not tell if she ate anything for lunch while he helped Uncle Henry. For the evening meal, she ate, but he was unsure if it was enough.
He had to do something to get more food for them. He could not allow them to starve. It was one thing for his mother to have no work, but not to be able to eat was another thing.
I know what I can do! I’m going to plant a garden! Will thought. At least we will have vegetables to eat. Let’s see, I have to figure out where to get some seeds.
Will lay down after reading some of his father’s letters that evening. He knew he had to get another letter out and was wondering to whom he could write a letter. What I will do tomorrow is go to town to scout out some seeds for the new garden and I will look around for inspiration to write a letter. With that as his last thought, he fell fast asleep.
The morning came early for Will. He jumped out of bed, dressed, and was out the door before the morning tea.
“Have a good day, William. Don’t forget to pick up your school work for the day!”
“I won’t, Mum. See you this afternoon!” Will said as the door was closing behind him. Will ran most of the way to town. Again, he stopped from time to time to get the pebbles out of his shoes. The holes in his shoes were getting bigger.
I’m going to have to try and patch those holes soon.
—————————————
Signed Copy + Bookmark + $10 Amazon Gift Card
2 Runners-Up: eBook Copy
October 10-19, 2018
|
10/10/18
|
Notable Quotable
|
|
|
10/11/18
|
Review
|
|
|
10/12/18
|
Excerpt
|
|
|
10/13/18
|
Review
|
|
|
10/14/18
|
Author Video
|
|
|
10/15/18
|
Notable Quotable
|
|
|
10/16/18
|
Review
|
|
|
10/17/18
|
Author Interview
|
|
|
10/18/18
|
Character Interview
|
|
|
10/19/18
|
Review
|
