Rural Heritage April/May 2026

VIrginia, the oxette, is happy doing her job pulling the stone boat as the farmer picks up rocks until they come upon a rock too big to shift. Despite her best efforts, the small cow cannot get the rock out of the ground and is frustrated until it occurs to her ask for help from her sister cow, Miss Hannah. Yoked together, the two cows move the

stone and the cows and farmer rejoice in having accomplished such a difficult task. The story has all the elements of a successful narrative. We learn to identify with the characters and become invested when they encounter an obstacle or conflict. Finally, they work out a solution and learn from the experience.

Too many of us refuse to ask for help or see it as a sign of weakness. That's a particularly American instinct. By asking another for assistance, you provide them the opportunity to help. Watch the face of a person being asked for help and you’ll usually see a flicker of anticipation. It is a gift, not an imposition, for the helper to be asked. Don’t believe me? Go for a drive in a nearby county and stop at a convenience store where a group of locals gather each morning for coffee. Ask for directions and you will immediately see most of them come to life, wanting to help. It doesn't matter that you already know the way, just being asked to help, their day is brightened. It is a lovely book, a sequel to her first book, simply named Oxette, which we also recommend highly. The drawings are emotive and the writing rhythmic. It is a great book for young readers to enjoy on their own, and a real treat for adults to read with younger children. The best books are those that cultivate discussion, impart a meaning and are enjoyable to read again and again. Oxette, and Oxette: The Power of Two are two books that tick all those boxes. —jm Lea and her partner, Brian, sell the book at pasturepinepress.com. There, you can also find some beautifully illustrated cards that include a gift of heirloom marigold, tomato or huckleberry seeds. We also offer the book on our website and on the bookstore page of this issue on page 83.

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