The Adventures of Horace Tidwiddler by jlee smith (book suggestions txt) 📕

told them that when he and his wife had returned with Baby Morris many years
ago, this was the largest tree on his property. It was on their first night home that a
terrible storm had come up and during the night lightening had struck this tree.
The top of the tree had been completely blown off and all that was left was the trunk.
Ulee said that he had decided to cut down what remained of the tree and have his oxen
drag it away with the other branches. It was then that he noticed that the wood had
changed color. The white oak was now a bright yellow. The wood was also much harder
than normal oak. Ulee said that he saved a large piece of the wood and from this he had
carved his new son a present, a violin. He told them that this was Morris' first toy. He
himself had played the violin since childhood and thought Morris would like this
too. He said that by the time Morris was three he could play and by six, he was as good,
if not better, than he was. He told them that by the time Morris was a teenager, both he
and his wife knew that this would be their son's calling for the rest of his life.
Horace said, "Does he still have the violin?" "Oh yes", was the reply. "And, there is no
other that sounds as sweet as that yellow violin."
Horace told Ulee about his chance meeting with his baby sister, Marguerite. He said that she had asked Horace to give Ulee all her love when they met. Ulee was indeed surprised to hear that Horace had met his baby sister. He told Horace that she was such a wonderful person and looked just like their mother when she was young. Horace nodded his head in agreement and said, "Your mother must be a beautiful woman." "She was, she was", replied Ulee. "She passed away almost three years ago, I still miss her smile." "I am so sorry", said Horace. Ulee smiled and said, "All things have a time to live and a time to die. Those left behind hopefully have wonderful memories and , if they do, this person lives on in these memories. It is god's way of easing their passing."
Horace said, "Oh my gosh, I forgot to tell you, we are traveling with your nephew. He is your older Sister's son. His name is Blanco. Do you remember him?" Ulee had a wide grin on his face and he said, "How could I forget Blanco? Does he still travel with his bear?" "Yes", said Horace, "and he also is a good friend of mine." Ulee said, "Be sure to tell him I send my best and that I hope to see him while you are here." "I will, I promise I will", said Horace.
As they were walking back to the house, Ulee said, "Now to the problem at hand. I do not have the gold coins I owe your mother and father but please know that I have not forgotten my debt to them, I still plan to honor this debt." Horace said, "Sir, please, know that I have not come about this debt, I am here only to see my brother." Ulee smiled and patted Horace on the shoulder, He said, "I did not think so, but I had to tell you anyway." Ulee told Horace that it took all that they had to pay for Morris' education. He said it was very important so many sacrifices had been made to insure Morris could have this chance for an education. Horace asked how long Morris would be away at the University. To his surprise, Ulee said that Morris was expected home any day now for his holiday and break. Ulee smiled and said, You will meet him soon." He told Horace that as soon as Morris returned home he would send word to the gypsy camp of his arrival. Goodbyes were said by all and the travelers set out on their return to Mottlee. As the three of them were walking down the trail, Aunt Matt said, "I sure like that man." Horace and Abbasonn both nodded their heads in agreement.
When they arrived at the camp an evening meal was being prepared and people were sitting near the cook fires having coffee and discussing events of the day. Bruno was sitting with Dylan on his lay. Dylan was chewing on a stick and Horace could tell he was glad to see them return. Bruno said, "This puppy has put on some weight." Horace looked at Dylan and said, "You know, I had not even noticed, but you are right, he has grown a bunch." Dylan jumped from Bruno's lap and almost knocked Horace down he was so glad to see him. A group of children came by with a rubber ball, Dylan grabbed it and the chase was on. Horace looked at Bruno and said, "He sure is a happy puppy" as Dylan disappeared between the wagons with a mob of children in tow. Bruno said, 'Boy, when he grows up, you are going to have your hands full." Horace smiled and said, "I know, I know."
Bruno sat silently sipping his coffee, then he looked at Horace and said, 'Are you ready for some real magic?" Horace smiled at him and said, "I think so."


CHAPTER EIGHTEEN - A LITTLE MAGIC, A LOT OF RAIN

It was just beginning to get dark when Bruno rode up on his unicycle. He told Horace to get his as he handed him a clear glass jar with a lid. The lid had small holes poked in it. Bruno had one just like it in his other hand. Horace got on his unicycle and peddled after Bruno. They peddled from the camp out to a field where there were small flowers everywhere. Bruno stopped and sat still for a minute then he laid his unicycle down and took off running across the field. He was grabbing the air like a mad man. Horace stood still and watched in complete amazement. Bruno walked up with his fist closed and smiled, took the lid off his jar, placed his closed fist over the open jar and deposited a fist full of air inside. Horace was not quite sure what was going on. Bruno smiled and said, “Magic, magical lightening bugs.” Horace looked at the jar just as a small yellow light came on inside it. It blinked out for a moment then it came on again. Horace looked out over the field and, for the first time, noticed these lightening bugs were everywhere. They were blinking off and on all over the field. Bruno yelled, “Bet I can catch more than you”, and he was off running through the flowers after another one, Horace caught on real quick, he was running across the field chasing bugs and soon realized it was a lot harder than it looked. He finally caught one and was placing it in his jar when Bruno yelled out, “I have six, how many do you have?” They chased lightening bugs until way past dark. Finally, both were out of breath and sat laughing in the middle of the field of flowers. Bruno had eleven and Horace had five. Horace said, “Ok, I have never seen lightening bugs before. We don’ have them where I come from. But what about the magic?” Bruno smiled and said, “Ah ha, that happens while we sleep.” They peddled back to camp each holding a jar of captives. Horace was eager to show them off to Blanco and Aunt Matt. Horace and Bruno laid down on their blankets and watched the little bugs’ yellow lights blink on and off until they were overtaken with sleep. The next morning, Bruno was the first to awake. He grabbed Horace’s shoulder, shook him and said, “Wake up, see I told you so.” Horace sat up on his blanket and stared at both jars, they were empty. Horace’s mouth fell open. “See,” Bruno said, ‘I told you they were magical lightening bugs, they have all disappeared.” Horace looked at Blanco and Aunt Matt, they both nodded their heads and said, ‘Yep, looks like magic to me.” Bruno told Horace he had been catching lightening bugs since he had been a small cub and, they always disappeared by morning. Surely this must be magic. Blanco and Aunt Matt smiled at one another and both said, “time for cakes and coffee.”
They were still sitting around the camp fire when a fine mist of rain began to fall. It soon turned to heavy hard rain. After about three hours of this, the gypsy wagon master came around and told everyone that it may be best to move the wagons away from the small river they had camped by, just to be on the safe side. There was a small hill just west of town that would provide safety in case the river got out of its banks. This river ran right through the middle of Mottlee and Horace could see that a problem could arise if the rains continued like they were.
The wagons were moved and a shelter constructed out of all the small tents tied together for a common area at the top of the hill. This provided a large area for all the gypsies to gather and a place where food could be prepared. The rains continued throughout the day and into the night. The next morning when Horace awoke, it was still raining hard, Horace looked toward the river and could not believe what he saw. The place where they had camped the day before was completely under water. Logs and all types of brush were being washed down stream by a river of brown churning water. Horace had never seen a river current this fast in his life. It was frightening to say the least. Horace sat with Dylan on his lap and Aunt Matt by his side. He noticed that Durant and Bentaub were kneeling with Abbasonn. It appeared there were all lost in prayer.
The rains continued all day and throughout the night. Horace noticed that everyone was very serious and he could no longer hear the gypsy children at play. The next morning the sky was very dark and lightening could be seen flashing from the dark clouds that hung very near the ground. When there were lightening flashes, Horace could tell the river was even closer than the day before. Around noon on the third day, the river was at least a mile wide and most of the city of Mottlee was gone or under water. Several hundred citizens of Mottlee had joined the gypsies on the little hill. Horace was not sure but there seemed to be a feeling of safety in numbers. He did not know if everyone felt this way, but he sure did.
It was on the forth day that the rains began to subside a little and, by Noon, there was even a break in the clouds with