Little Britches

I finished this book a couple months ago and loved it so much that I suggested that Chris should read it to Jared after the girls go to bed. This started a new tradition in our house that will not quickly fade. Growing up in a house full a girls, Jared often feels left out and misunderstood. He has always loved golfing because that was something he could do with Dad, but golfing isn't always convenient. Reading a good book, that's convenient. And this book is more than good.

Little Britches was written by Ralph Moody and it is an autobiography. Unlike many autobiographies, it is riveting. From the first line to the last I was interested in this story about a young boy and his adventures and trials while living on a ranch in Colorado. It's not so much the context the story is set in, but the lessons that are learned that make this timeless. Early in the book, Ralph learns about building character in a way that is unforgettable. After lying to his mother and doing a very dangerous thing, his father is left to discipline him. This is a little of what he says, "A man's character is like a house. If he tears boards off his house and burns them to keep himself warm and comfortable, his house soon becomes a ruin. If he tells lies to be able to do the things he shouldn't do but wants to, his character will soon become a ruin."

This true story teaches lessons such as earning trust, earning respect, and giving a good day's work. A review on the book's cover reads, "Ralph Moody's books should be read aloud in every family circle in America," and I would have to agree. I will consider this a classic on our bookshelf and read and re-read it. I think our future generations would be full of strong leaders, parents and teachers if they could be raised with the same character and morals of Ralph Moody.