Winter Sunrise

A snowshoe rabbit, white as the world it inhabited, darted out from a tree stump, looked with interest at Peter, then wheeled and snapped his hind feet on the hard crust and disappeared into the woods. Standing still and leaning on his ski poles, Peter looked back at the country he had put behind him.……

Autumn Welcome

They reached their home in the mellow twilight of a September day. The fields were ruddy with harvest, apples hung red on the trees, wood stood piled by the door, and the neighbors had prepared such a feast to welcome them as filled Lucy’s cupboard for many days. That autumn was long and warm, and……

Hospitality

The early dusk of November was seeping over the land when a bend in the road brought before him a well-set two-story house. One room was already warm with candlelight, and the glow of it came out to the night like a friendly hand. Jared reined up at the door. The Gray One, used to……

Sounds of Summer

The two children walked along in a silence that was no silence, for it was the time of day when the birds had much to say to each other and to the world. As they drew nearer the cottage, the sound of the spinning wheel came out to meet them, drawing them toward it with……

Coming Home

Jared took three days for his journey into New Hampshire, three days over the winding roads. The clean fields, lying fallow for next spring’s planting, offered him the satisfaction of familiarity; but when the road began to climb and the fields gave place to woodlands and the bare trees to the deep green of the……

The World Beyond Home

In a last glance, Jared saw the twisted shapes of the apple trees before the house; over the hill he saw the thin spiral of smoke from the Thaxter’s chimney. Those things were home, and his heart felt a pang of longing at leaving them; but he had learned early to steel himself against bodily……

Autumn

Jared left the house and went across the meadow and up a lane that led into the woods. The low-lying sun had tipped the world and every growing thing with gold. Heraldic streamers of red and gold, sable and green waved in splendor from oak, maple, beech and darkling pine. He breathed deeply and lifted……