I have added some books to my list but I am still adding them weekly...
25. The Town that Forgot How To Breathe
26. Sookie Stackhouse 10
27. Sookie Stackhouse short stories
28. Little Men
29. Collection of Emily Bronte Poems
30. House of Night 6
31. House of Night 7
I have read more but I want to stop and talk about Louisa May Alcott's "Little Men". I read it because I was hoping for some good love stories but it turned out to be nothing but stories of 12 boys who live together in Jo and her husbands school. Jo and her husband have students who pay to be there but there are a few who Teddy pays for because they are homeless children who want to learn and need a home. One of the first scenes is so beautiful it kept me reading the whole way through.
Jo's son is showing a new student around the school. His name is Nat. This new student was homeless and fiddled in the street for money his whole life. Never had a mother, a family, or even friends. He walks with Jo's son upstairs to look at the dormitory. Nat sees a picture on Jo's sons bed of Jesus playing with children.
Nat asks "Who is that?" Jo's son, Demi responds..."That is Christ, the Good Man, and He is blessing the children. Don't you know about him?"
"Not much, but I'd like to. He looks so kind," answered Nat.."What makes Him bless the children?"
"Because He loves them!"
"Were they poor children?" asked Nat wistfully.
"Yes I think so. He liked poor people, and was very good to them. He made them well, and helped them, and told rich people they must be cross to them, and they loved him dearly."
"Was He Rich?" asked Nat.
"Oh No! He was born in a barn, and was so poor He hadn't and house to live in when He grew up, and nothing to eat sometimes, but what people gave Him, and He went round preaching to everybody and trying to make them good till the bad men Killed Him."
"What for?" asked Nat.
As this conversation was going on Jo walked up to tell the boys to go to bed and she overhears this conversation.
"Mrs. Bhae had meant to go and talk with Nat a moment before bed...she saw Nat eagerly drinking in the words of his little friend, while Demi told the sweet and solemn story as it had been taught to him, speaking softly as he sat with his beautiful eyes fixed on the tender face above them, her own eyes filled with tears, and she went silently away think to herself
:Demi is unconsciously helping the poor boy better than I can, I will not spoil it by a single word. If a single day of care and kindness had done so much, a year of patient cultivation would surely bring a grateful harvest from this neglected garden, which was already sown with the best of all seed by the little missionary in the nightgown. "
This book was so moving and beautiful I could not help but think of Bulgaria. I will be near little ones who are poor, hungry, and needing love and family. I pray that I will not only help fill their physical needs but as well help "harvest their neglected garden". This book was basically a guide to loving difficult and needy kids. It was one of the most beautiful books I have ever read. Please read it one day.
