Chore Boy
by
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Chapter 1
A CHORE BOY
Charlie tried to stand tall beside his father. He mustn’t miss a word of what they said.
“This here is my boy, Charlie. He was ten years old the other day, and he’s a right good chore boy. Does what I tell him and I think you’ll find him a big help, Mr. MacDuncan.”
Charlie squinted his big blue eyes against the sun. He held his breath. Mr. MacDuncan slowly shook his head. “I’m sure, George Whitman, if you allow he’s a good chore boy, then he is.”
Mr. MacDuncan reached out a big bony hand and gently squeezed Charlie’s upper arm.
“A little muscle there. A tall boy for his age, eh?”
“All my boys are a little on the tall order,” Charlie’s father replied.
“Does a quarter a week, we’ll give him the necessary things and send him to school, does that sound reasonable to ye?” Mr. MacDuncan asked.
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About the Book
It is the 1930s, in the midst of the Great Depression, and ten-year-old Charlie Whitman is about to become a chore boy. He will work and live on a neighboring family’s farm while his family will receive a small amount of money each week for his work.
Charlie is a bit homesick and misses living with his brothers and father, although he’s glad to be away from his stepmother, stepbrother, and three young sisters. As he gets used to his new duties with the MacDuncans and follows their instructions carefully, he grows to love all the animals on the farm, especially one small calf who particularly needs his help. Charlie also goes to church with the MacDuncans and begins to learn about God and about Jesus. But when his brother Lloyd gets very ill, Charlie must do his best to remain hopeful and find love and forgiveness in his heart.
This historical novel for middle readers follows ten-year-old Charlie as he becomes a chore boy on a nearby farm, learns about taking care of animals, and plans for the future.
About the Author
Jeannie Edwards grew up on a small farm in rural Missouri in a family without brothers, in which girls were handy with chores and field work. She heard stories from old farmers who remembered their days as chore boys and decided to share their stories and her own. She currently lives in Westboro, Missouri.