Items related to Lew Wallace: Boy Writer (Young Patriots Series)
The world-famous novel of ancient times, Ben Hur: A Tale of the Christ, was written by Lew Wallace, who grew up in the early 1800s roaming the fields and streams of Indiana. Young readers will meet the renowned author as a child whose daring exploits, coupled with a deep religious faith, foreshadowed the Civil War general, governor of the New Mexico Territory, United States ambassador, and author he would become. Children will delight in young Lew’s rescue of his brother from a runaway carriage, feel a kinship with the boy and his passion for art as he draws portraits of his schoolmates with his magic pencil,” and share his fascination for the exotic places he reads about in the books he loves. Action-packed illustrations enhance a fascinating story that will draw kids into the life of the young country boy who grew up to write one of the best-loved Christian novels ever penned.
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About the Author:
Martha E. Schaaf is a career librarian and teacher who set up more than 25 libraries throughout the United States. She received a BA degree from Indiana University, where she was responsible for helping open the previously all-male Student Untion building to girls, and a master's degree from Columbia University. Born in Madison, Indiana, Martha resides in Florida where she continues her writing career. She is also the author of Duke Ellington, Music Master.
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.:
1. Little Hero
“Wake up, my little dreamer!” A tall woman knelt beside her young son, asleep in a trundle bed. “Wake up,” she whispered again. It was early, earlier than her son usually woke up. The boy stirred slightly. He felt her hand gently brushing back his hair. “Come, Lewis, get up! We are moving today!” His dark eyes opened wide, and he sat up suddenly. Now he remembered his father had said they would be going with the big, white-topped wagons this trip! Lewis Wallace liked to watch the wagon trains as they came rumbling through their town, Brookville, Indiana, on the road leading west. Sometimes they stopped at his grandfather’s inn. “Are we going in a wagon?” Lewis asked. “No, we will go in the carriage, Lewis,” Mrs. Wallace replied. “It is already harnessed and packed. Get into your clothes.” Lewis heard his younger brothers, three-year-old John and Baby Edwin, in the next room. “William is already up,” his mother called, as she hurried to the younger children. “Of course he is,” Lewis thought. Older brother William always did everything right. Lewis loved his brother Bill and tried to be like him, but Lewis was different. Now he was thinking of the wagons. He listened for their sound—bells on the harness tinkling in rhythm with the clomp, clomp of the hoof beats. He could hear them coming. “Ready, Lewis?” his mother called. “Almost,” he answered, quickly pulling on the homespun trousers. They felt scratchy but he was pleased he no longer had to wear a dress. Lewis had grown into trousers on his fifth birthday, a few weeks past. When asked his age, he would proudly reply, “I am five. I was born on April 10, 1827, and I am grown-up! See my trousers?” Now dressed, Lewis went over to the open window to look for the wagons. Upstairs here, in their tall brick house, he was a giant looking over the world below him. The sun was coming up over the hills to the southeast, touching everything with gold. The river was splashing over the wheel of one of the mills. The gold eagle on top of the Court House steeple caught his eye. The Court House bell reflected the golden rays. His father spent much of his time there. Mr. Wallace helped people who needed a lawyer. Lewis wondered if there would be a courthouse where they were moving. He looked at the hills to the west. They looked golden, too. Then he glanced down. Yes, the carriage was waiting below, with trunks and bundles piled on top. The horses were tied to the hitching post. They pulled and strained at it, impatient to be off. He looked at the heavy rear wheels of the carriage. A stone was propped under one of them as an extra brake. Slowly the stone began to move, tugged by a small hand. Lewis’ heart stood still. “John must be under the carriage,” he thought, “playing by the big wheel!” “John, John,” Lewis screamed, as he saw his little brother so close to danger. Dashing out of the room, Lewis slid down the banister, ran out the door, and stooped under the back of the carriage. With all his strength, Lewis pulled John away, just as the stone loosened. The carriage jolted forward. John yelled. The horses reared and jerked free of the post. The horses were running away with the loaded carriage! Lewis ran after the carriage. “Stop the horses! Stop the horses!” he yelled. Heads popped out of the stately houses along the street. Almost breathless, Lewis kept running and shouting. The horses were at the corner of the Town Square now. With two roads to choose from, the horses slowed. In the second that they seemed to pause, a tall man leaped in front of them. He tugged at the reins to stop them. “Whoa, Ball, whoa. Easy now,” he commanded firmly. The horses reared. The carriage reeled, shook, and came to a sudden stop. Lewis ran to catch up with them. The horses were in front of Grandfather Wallace’s inn, at the southeast corner of the Square. The man who had stopped the runaways was his grandfather! “Grandfather!” Lewis shouted, “You stopped the horses!” “I heard you from the doorway. When I came out I saw you pull John from under the carriage,” Grandfather Wallace explained. Grandmother Wallace appeared at the door. “What is all the commotion, Andrew?” “I heard Lewis shouting to his brother. The next thing I knew, the carriage was racing down the street headed this way. I just ran out and stopped it." “Wasn’t Grandfather brave?” exclaimed Lewis. “Lewis, you were the brave one,” Grandfather Wallace replied. “I saw you rescue John.” “Well, bravery just runs in the family!” Grandmother Wallace exclaimed. “Our Lewis might be as famous as brave Uncle John, someday,” she said, smiling down at her grandson. Hearing those words, Lewis found his breath, and his chest swelled with pride. He dreamed of being a hero like his great-great-uncle John Paul Jones—a real hero!
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- PublisherOlympic Marketing Corp
- ISBN 10 0672501201
- ISBN 13 9780672501203
- BindingHardcover
- Rating
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