Merle Good - Reuben and the Balloon

Reuben had seen balloons before. Big balloons.

Almost as big as the clouds. Slowly sailing silently across the sky.

How to Pronounce

(Pennsylvania Dutch words which appear in this story)

Datt (Rhymes with hat) means Dad.

Mamm (Rhymes with Sam) means Mom.

Dawdi (Rhymes with gaudy) means Grandpa.

Note

There are nearly 200.000 Old Order Amish persons, including children. living in 22 states and one province In North America. Reubens family In this story Is typical of the Amish in Lancaster County. Pennsylvania.

The religious beliefs of the Amish teach them to be cautious about many modem innovations, such as automobiles, electricity, telephones, television, and higher education. They observe that these modern things often fragment peoples lives and relationships more than they fulfill them. For 300 years, Amish communities have sought a separate way. emphasizing family, honesty, basic values, and faith.

About the Artist

P. Buckley Moss (Pat) first met the Amish in 1965 when she and her family moved to Waynesboro in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Admiring the family values and work ethic of her new neighbors. Pat began to include the Amish in her paintings.

Many of her paintings and etchings of both the Amish and the Old Order Mennonites are displayed at the P. Buckley Moss Museum in Waynesboro, which is open to the public throughout the year. For more information, write to: The Director. P. Buckley Moss Museum. 150 P. Buckley Moss Drive. Waynesboro. VA 22980.

Moss and Good collaborated on the earlier classic childrens books. Reuben and the Fire. Reuben and the Blizzard , and Reuben and the Quilt .

About the Author

Merle Good has written numerous books and articles about the Amish, including Op-Ed essays for The New York Times and the beautiful book Who Are the Amish? He and his wife, Phyllis, oversee a series of projects in publishing and the arts. Merle and Phyllis Good have also co-authored several books, including 20 Most Asked Questions About the Amish and Mennonites and Christmas Ideas for Families . (Phyllis is The New York Times bestselling author of the Fix-It and Forget-It cookbook series.) They live in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and are the parents of two adult daughters.

Text copyright 2008, 2016 by Good Books, an imprint of Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.

Art copyright 2008, 2016 by P. Buckley Moss

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available on file.

Cover design by Dawn J. Ranck

Cover illustration and illustrations throughout the book by P. Buckley Moss.

ISBN: 978-1-68099-149-9

Ebook ISBN: 978-1-68099-152-9

Printed in China

Sometimes in the morning, just before breakfast, Reuben spotted a big balloon overhead, floating over the orchard. He liked to run out of the barn and watch it glide just above him. So, so close.

Reuben was sure that the calves could wait a little. He saw his father by the silo and called to him, Im going to see the balloon. Then he took off across the field toward that purple and gold balloon. Annie didnt understand about balloons.

One evening at chore time, Reuben watched a big purple and gold balloon drift over the neighbors farm.

Suddenly it started to come down. Reuben ran up the hill to watch. It landed in a field close to the farm where his friends Sam and Ben lived.

Two people stood in the basket hanging below the balloon. They asked for some water to drink, Sam explained to Reuben. Must be hot and dry up there, Ben added.

Mr. and Mrs. Johnson looked at each other and then at the three boys as they gulped the water Sam and Bens father handed them. Do you boys want to go for a short ride? Reuben couldnt believe it. That is, if youre not afraid!

By now, Datt and Sadie and Barbie had come to see the balloon, too. Reuben looked at his father. Would he say Yes? He did. Be careful, Datt said. Reuben felt a big smile spread across his face.

One time last year, Reuben was riding in the buggy with his grandfather when, all at once, Dawdi said, Lets see if we can beat that balloon! And off they raced, trying to go faster than the pink and green balloon. And even though it looked as though it hardly moved, the balloon was soon far ahead of them. Dawdi laughed as they turned the corner for home. That balloons a thing of wonder, he said.

But his older sister Annie scolded him. Come and feed the calves, she called. Almost as though she didnt see the big floating beauty.

Mr. Johnson helped the three boys climb into the basket. Mrs. Johnson pulled a cord, and there was a soft hissing sound. The flame shot up, blowing hot air into the big balloon.

The hot air filled the balloon and the basket lifted off the ground. Reuben grabbed on to the high side of the basket as they went up. He waved to Datt and his sisters on the ground below. They were getting smaller and smaller.