"The Storm"

For her first assignment from the Institute of Children's Literature, Grandma was asked to write a 500-word story using one of five pictures as an idea-starter. She chose the picture that appears below, of the children and animals running toward a barn as clouds gather.

The story focuses on themes that are seen throughout her work, such as examination of animal and human instincts, and how, if we pay attention and think quickly, we will know what to do in times of danger.

Also note that one of the characters is named after her daughter, Sandy. Several of Grandma's characters were named after children in her life.

The story also ends, as many of her stories do, with a lesson.
-KW


The Storm
by Vedah V. Wilson

In the state of Indiana lived a typical young farmer and his plump little wife, Lida. Bart raised some of the most beautiful corn you have ever tasted or seen, called Peaches and Cream.

His land was as flat as a table top, and you could see for miles and miles in every direction.

It was in the Spring of the year. His young nephew and niece had just arrived to spend a few days. Sammy was a brilliant lad of ten. His sister Sandy, a lively, joyful, pretty little blond, was just a year older.

The day was warm and humid, not a stir in the air. Bart had been working in the field all morning. Around noon, clouds began to form in the sky. A slight breeze was felt. Then a rumbling sound was heard.

"It don't look good," he said to himself. "I must call the children."

The children were busying themselves watching the big fluffy white chickens, and playing with Snap, the huge collie, and Miff the barn cat.

Suddenly, Sammy looked up at the sky and said, '''Sandy, look at those big black clouds! We'd better get inside."

Just then, Bart appeared at the door. He called the children, the dog, and the cat. "Sammy! Sandy! Snap! Miff! Come! You had better get inside. Looks like a storm is brewing."

The children and the animals came scampering into the barn, all seeming to sense the coming storm. Bart led them to a place of safety. A special place he had build under the barn floor for such a time as this. He opened a trap door and led them down a flight of steps to a cozy room. The dog, cat, and even the chickens followed. All acting like they knew just why.

Lida, Bart's wife, saw the oncoming storm and went to the basement of the house to wait the outcome.

Bart talked to the children about his farm. How animals and chickens seemed to have a built-in instinct, making them seek shelter. They were like humans in many ways. He talked about the many farm tasks--joys--of being a farmer. He was trying to keep their young minds off the storm.

Suddenly they heard a loud noise, as of a great explosion. Crash! Boom! Clatter! Bang! everywhere. After a while, the storm subsided and all was quiet again.

When it was calm again, Bart opened the trap door. All went outside to survey the premises, only to find the silo that had stood by the red barn was strewn all over, leveled to the ground. Many pieces had landed in the spot where the children were playing before the storm.

Thanks to Uncle Bart, who spotted the storm in the nick of time, and who led them to his secret place of safety. Quick thinking saved their lives. You could say, as the old saying goes, "A stitch in time saves nine."

"Let's Get Acquainted"

When my grandma, Vedah Wilson, signed up for the Institute of Children's Literature in 1983, her first assignment included a request for a short sketch about herself.

Grandma was asked to write a short piece that talked about "where you grew up, some memorable experiences you have had, your particular interests and concerns--anything that will help give you dimensions as a person."

The assignment was designed so that the editor with whom she would be working would know her as more than a name on a page.

In response, Grandma wrote the following piece. It is both beautifully simple and, at times, surprisingly frank, as she sums up the richness of her whole life in just a few concise pages.

It offers a portrait of a strong, humble woman who has lived with joy, with loss, and above all, with faith. -KW


Let's Get Acquainted
by Vedah V. Wilson

Michigan my Michigan, I count it an honor to be born in this beautiful State. It is known as the State of many wonders, because of its many lakes and bodies of water.

I was born on a farm near the little village of Elmira, in Antrim County. The second in a family of six, which consisted of three boys and three girls.

The farm that I was born on was the same one that my father had been born on. His parents had taken up homesteading on this property, clearing the land for farming, building their own buildings, which included a carpenter shop where most of their own furniture was made. It was virgin timber when my father was a young child, and many wild animals roamed the woods.

Shortly after my birth, father secured his own farm of about one hundred and fifty acres. My parents moved with my brother and I, and here they built their own small dwelling place. We lived here until I was eight years of age. I attended a one-room school house for a short time. I was a very frail child in my early years. A red-headed curly top, mischievous, none-fearing child. But the pride and and joy of my young parents. My father taught me much at home. At the age of four I spoke my first piece at the country school house.

Father was offered a job working and overseeing several farms, owned by a banker in a small town a few miles south by the name of Alba, where I lived until I graduated from high school. Moving from one farm house to another was always something new.

During this time my parents gave up farming for a couple of years. They operated the only Hotel in town. What a change from farm life. Always hustle and bustle so it seemed. Because of mother's illness, we returned to the good old farm again.

I spent nine years in 4H club work. Clothing, handicraft, canning, and potato. Which were really fun years, but a lot of work. Picked potatoes, beans, and berries to help earn my school clothes.

After graduation I went to work for a Doctor caring for his invalid parents. Cooking and housework included, though only a slight girl of seventeen. These were Depression years! So I thought myself fortunate to have a job as jobs and money was scarce.

At this time Franklin Delano Roosevelt's New Deal came out, can you guess? It was the three C's to make jobs for young men. Would you believe it, they were sent into our locality? To build roads and fire lanes through the forest. Camp was set up at a wee little lake just outside of Alba.

At the Methodist brick church on the corner, the group who met for choir practice began to enlarge. A few males began to show for practice. I am not sure they just came to sing; A HA, what ever a few romances began to blossom. I for one was married that fall. Thanks to F.D.R. and his plan.

To this union ten children were born, one dying in infancy and a beautiful teenage daughter with the dreadful disease Leukemia. I have known both joy and sorrow. It has helped me to be able to sympathize with others in time of need.

The same year our Sandy left us, a special little boy came to be a part of our family, a wee mongoloid. He has taught us many lessons--love, joy, patience. He is wholly dependent on others. We have always cared for him ourselves. He is dearly loved by all.

My husband returned to college in the forties, during war time.

I took two special classes, sight singing and hymnology, and worked in the grocery and variety store in town.

After his graduation, we pastored several churches in the following States: Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, and South Carolina.

I have enjoyed working with children in the different churches, often keeping some in our home. Although my children are grown and have children of their own, my happiest times are when spent with them.

I enjoy music, gardening, and people. In 1980, we retired in the beautiful tulip city of Holland, because of my husband's health. I still want to try to shed a few rays of sunshine and thought I might try to put some of my thoughts in writing.

-Just Vedah


(Note from KW: Coming Soon--Assignment #1: "The Storm")

Introduction to Grandma Wilson's Stories

In the early 1980s, my Grandma and Grandpa, the Rev. and Mrs. Donald L. Wilson, had retired to Holland, Michigan, after years of caring for their churches, their children and grandchildren, and the many other lives they touched.

But Grandma Vedah still wanted “to shed a few rays of sunshine,” and writing children’s literature was the way she chose to do it.

For the next 2 years, she studied by mail with the Institute for Children’s Literature, where she wrote a series of stories that reflected her deep faith, her exuberant joy, and the great love she had for children—particularly her children and grandchildren, who appeared frequently in her writings.

Years later, I was blessed to come into possession of a box of Grandma’s writings, containing those stories and other ideas she had written down.

I am finally posting those writings here, as quickly as I can get them formatted for the computer.

I hope they are a blessing to you.

-KW