by Robert B. Ward
illustrated by Jared Hamby
Thee First Garden is a PARABLE dedicated to the child
within us. In it fictional characters entertain us as they pre-
sent non-fictional truths found in the Biblical stories of the
Creation and the Flood. But let Uncle Buck explain it.
"This is a story about the beginnings of the brier patch
and the rabbits in it. It starts in a garden of my imagination.
God planted some of it to teach me about His Garden in
Eden. I planted the rest of it just to get ahead of Henry Allen
and to glory in the love of God. But I better not tell you the
story before I tell it. In the meanwhile I will teach you a new
word, LOANSOME. If we 'rabbit hunt' we will find what it
means."
"What's the matter, Papa Rabbit?" Crow said, "you look
sad. Just made yesterday and you are all ready long faced."
"I'm l-o-a-n-s-o-m-e, 'loansome'," Papa Rabbit replied.
"You mean l-o-n-e-s-o-m-e, 'lonesome'."
"No, loansome. That means my spirit has gone broke and
I borrowed from the bank in my heart."
The rabbit hung his head.
"Now I have a loan which I can't pay back. One on the
inside. That's being loansome."
Robert Ward is a retired minister preaching in
small rural churches. He and Jean, his wife, are
professional grandparents with 23 grandchildren
and 6 great grandchildren. The Wards live in LaFayette,
Georgia. Mr. Ward's education includes seven years
in a log cabin elementary school in Montana, a
degree from Atlanta State University, and a post
graduate degree in Theology from Emory University, Atlanta.
to order send $5.00 to
Timeless Treasures
225 Lee School Rd.
LaFayette, GA 30728
postage is included
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