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Celebrate Life With Dew Drop and Toy

by Twila June Alger

179 pages; quality trade paperback (softcover); catalogue #03-0386; ISBN 1-4120-0023-8; US$18.50, C$21.00, EUR15.50, £11.00

Join in the fun and excitement of two children living in the hills of rural western Pennsylvania during The Great Depression. Having little material wealth, but believing they were the most fortunate children in the world.

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about the book      about the author      sample excerpts or Table of Contents      catalogue info

About the Book Celebrate Life With Dew Drop and Toy is a whimsicle fantasy world of children. The book travels through the mind of a child. The fantasy they enjoy helps protect them from a world that has brought poverty and great loss to many people. The year is 1930. The village of Nannyglow is nestled in a valley surrounded by beautiful mountains. The children live on a farm outside of Nannyglow. They face the world with a pure heart, and their adventure brings tears and laughter to the world. A kind old hermit living at the egde of their family's property helps them see a wonderful world through the eyes of a child. Each adventure they share is sure to delight every reader. There is a reflection at the end of every chapter that describes how a parent would feel if faced with similar circumstances. The children's father enters their bedroom after they are asleep, and whispers to them that everything will be all right. The children see the shadow in their room and in their child-like minds sees him as the candy-colored sandman. Actually in reality it is their father. A father who loves them, shares their dreams, and gives them hope for a bright tomorrow. The father leaves their room and leans against the door and reflects on the days events.

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About the Author Twila June was born and raised in the mountains of Pennsylvania. She grew up in a big family and was raised with Christian values. Twila has worked in Christian Children's Ministries for over twenty-five years. She currently writes Christian fiction for children and beleives that each child is special in the eyes of God. Her goal is to reach children with the knowledge that God loves them and want to be a part of their lives. Twila is living in North Central Ohio with her husband Rich. She has two grown children and two precious grandsons.

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Sample Excerpts

The Beginning:

You are about to enter a world seen through the eyes of innocent children. This is a secret place where the hearts and minds of children dwell. Let us open the pages and travel throug the mind of a child. The year is 1930. The world was in turmoil. The breakdown of the banks and the loss of personal income sent the world into a great depression.

The children in this book escaped poverty and despair by dwelling in a secret place where only love and joy existed. They lived in the hills of rural western Pennsylvania believing that they were the most fortunate children in the world.

CHAPTER 3

FLOATING ON A CLOUD

The days were happy and bright for the two little girls. They had no idea what daily struggles their parents and grandparents had endured.

Grandpa Daveys worked so hard to keep his business from falling into ruin.

Every night Sweet Pearl prayed with all her children and read God's Holy Word from her old tear-stained Bible. The name that Mr. Warts had given her was perfect. She supported and loved all her children. She certainly was a Pearl of Great Price.

The girls loved to visit Mr. Warts. He would push them on a swing that was attached to an old oak tree. Every push seemed to take them higher and higher.

Honey Bee would fly up over the trees and dream what it would be like to fly like a bird.

Dew Drop would fly almost up to the sky and dream what it would be like to ride in an air balloon. It was bright yellow balloon with purple stripes. How beautiful it would be to fly over the mountains and the hills.

Toy would fly so high she dreamed of floating on a white fluffy cloud. They each had their wishes and dreams. The girls laughed and played bringing a ray of sunshine into the lives of every person they touched.

One fall afternoon the girls were playing with their dog Laddie in the pile of leaves that their brothers had just raked. Toy seemed to have very little energy. She had caught another cold and her chest felt heavy.

"I don't feel very good, Dew Drop. Maybe Mum can give me something to help me feel better."

"You never feel very good. Why are you always sick?" asked Dew Drop. "Mum will probably make me stay inside with you. I want to play a little while longer. I have been in school all day and I need more exercise. "

"That's okay Dew Drop. I can go in by myself."

Slowly Toy walked toward the house. Her head hurt and her legs felt heavy. Mr. Blew-it saw her and watched her sway as she walked. He picked her up into his arms and carried her in the house.

"Mum hurry! Toy is real sick."

Hurrying to the kitchen her mother reached out to touch her forehead. She was burning up with fever. "Take her upstairs. Run and tell John we need the doctor."

The whole family was worried. Toy always had a sore throat or an earache, but this time she was really sick. The doctor arrived and Dew Drop was sure he could make her better, after all that's what he was there for.

The doctor closed the door to Toy's room and came into the kitchen. The look on his worried face made Dew Drops' heart sink to her toes.

"I'm sorry John, but Toy is going to have to go to the hospital. She has pneumonia and her fever is very high. Her lungs are filled with fluid and must be drained."

The doctor looked at the worried faces of the parents and knew they were wondering how they were going to pay for her care. Smiling at John he said, "I know money is real tight and in most cases there just isn't any. I will see that the hospital will work something out with you. My main concern is for Toy. Her condition is very serious. I will go with you and see that Toy gets the care she needs."

"Boys! Run down to Aunt Free-da's house and tell her we need her to help out with your baby brother. You boys do the chores and take care of Dew Drop. Free-da will cook and take care of things around here. I don't know when we will be back," said Daddy Waggs.

Aunt Free-da arrived and the kids were glad to see her. Claude de Ball was crying for his food. Mum had goat's milk ready to feed him along with some applesauce. Aunt Free-da was very happy to be able to help with the children.

After the third day Mum came home and was so tired she couldn't even eat. Tears filled her eyes when the children asked how Toy was feeling. She just shook her head and sobbed. She had been at Toy's bedside and didn't want to leave. Mum had just come home to get some rest and check on the baby. Aunt Free-da had him so spoiled that Mum knew she didn't have to worry.

Daddy Waggs looked at the faces of his children and just said, "Pray that she gets stronger. Only God knows if she will get better."

Dew Drop was frantic with fear. This was all her fault, she thought. She ran up the stairs and fell on her bed sobbing until she had no strength left to cry. Mum came into her room and with all the love in her heart told Dew Drop that this was not her fault. Hugging her and kissing her forehead, Mum just held her in her arms.

Mum went to her room to rest and Aunt Free-da fixed supper. No one was very hungry. Two more days passed and Toy wasn't any better.

Dew Drop knelt beside her bed and begged God to make Toy well again. "PLEASE GOD I KNOW YOU HAVE THE POWER TO HEAL MY SISTER. I MISS HER VERY MUCH. SHE IS PART OF MY HEART. I FEEL EMPTY WITHOUT HER. IF I COULD JUST SEE HER AND TALK TO HER MYSELF, I KNOW SHE WOULD GET WELL FOR ME. SHE LOVES ME A LOT, YOU KNOW. I PROMISED YOU BEFORE THAT I WOULD BE GOOD AND FAILED. PLEASE GIVE US ANOTHER CHANCE. HELP DADDY AND MUM, TOO. THEY ARE SO WORRIED AND TIRED. EVEN MY BROTHERS HAVE BEEN GOOD. THERE IS NO JOY IN OUR FAMILY ANYMORE. I LOVE YOU! PLEASE HELP US; WE NEED YOU NOW MORE THAN EVER. AMEN."

Dew Drop crawled into her bed and turned out the light. The moon was shining bright and it looked like a big ball of fire. The shadow filling her room made Dew Drop shiver with fear. The branches from the big oak tree filled her room with scary shadows and made her heart skip with fright.

Closing her eyes she could see herself sitting on the big swing. Mr. Warts was swinging her higher and higher. She was laughing and the higher she swung the louder was her laugh. She kept telling Mr. Warts to swing her higher and higher.

She swung so high clear up to the sky.

Dew Drop and Toy they sail on high.

Dew Drop was flying high in the sky, but she couldn't find Toy. "Toy, where are you? I can't find you!"

"Here I am, Dew Drop."

"Where?"

"Right beneath you on a cloud."

Looking under her swing, Dew Drop saw Toy lying on a beautiful white cloud.

"Look Dew Drop! Here comes a cloud for you! Just let go of your swing and let yourself fall."

"I can't; I'm afraid!" Dew Drop hung on so tight to the swing that her hands were bright red.

"You are never afraid. Come on its fun, just let yourself fall."

Dew Drop closed her eyes real tight and let go of the swing. It's only a dream she thought, it can't hurt too much! Falling, and her heart pounding at a rapid pace, she had never felt so free or so alive. PLOP! She fell right into the center of a beautiful cloud. The cloud was warm and soft.

Drifting toward Toy, she saw her sister's beautiful face. She didn't look sick. "What are you doing here Toy?"

"I'm reaching for the hand of God," she said. "I can feel Him close by, but I can't see Him."

"NO! NO! TOY! Reach for my hand instead. I need you. Please don't leave me."

"You worry too much, Dew Drop. Just keep floating on this beautiful cloud. It is so peaceful up here and God is close by to keep us safe."

Toy's right leg was hanging over the cloud and she was just swinging it back and forth. She didn't seem to be afraid at all.

"It's time for you to go back, Dew Drop. The swing is flying high for you to grab on to it. Hurry! You don't want to miss your ride back to the farm. Give everyone a big kiss for me and tell them I am reaching for the hand of God. Don't cry Dew Drop, please don't cry!"

"NO! NO!" cried Dew Drop.

"The swing is coming Dew Drop. Hang on real tight." She could hear Toy sing:
DEW DROP AND TOY
HEARTS FILLED WITH JOY
THEY SING SO HIGH
CLEAR UP TO THE SKY
And they sing
In the sweet bye and bye

Toy's voice was fading and so low that Dew Drop couldn't hear it anymore. Broken-hearted Dew Drop let go of the swing and started falling to the ground. Screaming and crying, her heart pounded wildly as she fell. Through the fog, she heard Mr. Blew-it speaking softly to her.

"Wake up, Dew Drop. You had a bad dream."

Dew Drop opened her eyes and let the tears roll down her face. "What time is it?"

"It's around four o'clock. You won't have to get up for a long time. It's Saturday and you can sleep in. Are you all right Dew Drop?"

"I don't know! I feel like I lost something precious but I don't know what it is."

"Go back to sleep! Daddy didn't come home last night but I have a feeling when he comes home, he will have some good news to tell us."

"Oh I hope you are right," said Dew Drop.

Tears spilling on her pillow and with a terrible ache in her heart, Dew Drop pulled the covers up around her head. She tried to remember her dream but she couldn't bring it back.

The next morning everyone was eating breakfast when Mum and Daddy came in the door. Every eye was on the face of their father. Their hearts beating faster and faster they were sure it was about to explode.

Aunt Free-da was the first to speak, "How is the little lamb?"

Mum sat down and started to cry. "Toy was so sick. Her temperature rose higher and higher. They told us that she couldn't live through the night. We just held her and prayed. We were trying to prepare ourselves for the worst. She started to come out of her coma just before four o'clock this morning. Toy mumbled something about a cloud and talking to Dew Drop. She didn't make much sense, but we were so excited she could talk we didn't care what she said."

Dew Drop was stunned. She heard the words that Toy had said, and her dream started coming back to her. The clouds ...listening to Toy sing. She was reaching out for God's hand for healing, and Dew Drop thought she was reaching for His hand to go to heaven.

Dew Drop knew no one would believe her if she told them her dream. She was going to keep all these things close to her heart. Raising her eyes to heaven she whispered, "Thank you, God, for all the miracles you have given us. Sometimes you give us blessings and we miss them. I always look to you when I am in trouble. Help me to look for you even when things are good."

God's word tells us ...You will seek me and find me, when you seek for me with all your heart. JEREMIAH 29:13 (NIV)

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Catalogue Information

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