The thunder egg

the long version

What in the world is a thunder egg? Red-headed Peter Blake could have told you. It is a large, egg-shaped rock found in certain areas and collected by "rockhounds," as those who look for unusual stones are called. Sometimes, when cut open, a thunder egg is found to have a beautiful design inside, and then it is very valuable. Peter wanted a thunder egg very much, and he managed to get one for his collection, although not in the usual way. There was something Peter wanted even more---a horse. In the small yard of the house where he lived there was no place to keep one. So when his family moved to a new farm near a big dam, where desert land was being opened up by irrigation, Peter was overjoyed. He thought that now he would surely be able to get a horse. Later, when he saw a new colt on a neighboring ranch, he decided that it was exactly the one he wanted. But there were difficulties. The farm as yet did not have enough water for stock, and the family was short of money. In the meantime, the day by day happenings of life on the farm went on. From burning heat the weather turned to bitter cold. Peter began school in town. His parent joined a group that was planning to start a church in the area. Then Peter got his thunder egg cut open, and almost lost it altogether in the process. How it finally helped him to get his wish forms the exciting climax of the story. For those teachers who wish to use this book in a study program with children, there is an accompanying leader's guide entitled, Junior Teacher's Guide on "Churches for New Times," by Mildred M. Hermann.