Bearer of a splendid torch

the long version

"This book is about the challenges and triumphs of growing up as the fourteenth child in a rural community in the south. It describes the hardships my parents faced in trying to provide for such a large family during the depression, war years and beyond. The book describes the hard work of farming and the never-ending chores that had to be done to maintain a household. I have always loved books, so the book also details the influence reading had on my life from a very young age to now. The book recounts many of the hair-raising, funny stories I have heard all my life told by siblings and parents. While much is lost in my re-telling, it is my hope that this book will preserve the unique history of the Smith family and will be a resource for future family authors."--P [4] of Cover.