The next morning, again it was foggy, moist, and damp. The groups went out searching for the boy. Jason was in one group, Joshua in another, Jonathan in another. As Jason was looking out over the lake, he heard a bark. He motioned to the others to follow the bark.

"N-n-n-now, Qu-Qu-Qu-Qu-it-t-t, m-m-m-makin' all that noise King!" Jeremy said as he heard some bushes move, he jumped into the hollow of the tree and looked at King and put his finger to his mouth. Remaining very still he watched. When he recognized Jason, he jumped out of the tree and ran over to him.

"Well, well, so, here is our little runaway!" Jeremy was never so happy to see his big brother in all his life. Jason picked him and held him; Jeremy was crying. King just ran around and around in circles as happy as a clam. When they got home, Jeremy had something to eat and said that he had wandered off on a walk King and stopped by the very tree they found him at the next day. He had fallen asleep and when he woke it was time getting dark. He remembered to stay put in one place, so he crawled into the hollow and went to sleep.

"And you know something, Da?" Jeremy said
"What is it son?"
"Momma came and watched over me. She put a beautiful blanket on me, it had a lot of stars and King stayed right by me all night! She sang to me as well!" Jeremy said this easily and without stuttering which gave them the idea that he would be better in no time.

Jonathan said to Jeremy: "I knew your mother was watching over you last night. She told me in a dream that you were safe, and I would find you in the morrow!" He smiled and held his son close to him.

Days and weeks and a few months passed it was now almost winter. The cold winds were blowing, and several storms had come and gone. The first snowfall of winter happened rather quickly. Jeremy and Joshua were helping with some household chores that Saturday when the wind tore through the cabin opening the door and rattling the windows. Joshua closed the door and Jeremy closed the window shutters. The soup was on, Joshua had made some soup that night. Jason and Jonathan were on their way down the mountain. They had not gone far when a blast of snow, blocked the path down to the cabin. Both Jason and Jonathan huddled under a large rock for warmth and safety. Finally, the wind slowed down, and they were able to get back to the cabin safely.

"Father, I think we will have to wait out this storm!" Jason said as he took off his gloves.

"Aye! Son! We will do that for sure. Joshua, what kind of soup did you make?"

"Mother's vegetable soup, the kind with no vegetables just broth and dreams!" Joshua smiled as he placed the soup pot on the table. They all laughed and remembered a story about stone soup that their mother had told them. Jeremy had not yet heard the story, so Jonathan said after dinner he would tell them the story before they went to bed. Jeremy reminded his father as he was going to bed:

"Da, w-w-w-w-ill, you t-t-t-t-tell me th-th-th story?

"Yes, I will tell you son." Jonathan said this as he helped Jeremy get into his bed. Jason and Joshua also gathered near Jeremy's bed waiting for the story. Jonathan looked at the two and smiled.

"Oh, and you want to hear it again, I, see? Well, settle yourselves, and I will tell you a story about some stone soup…"
Just then a large tree fell nearby. All the boys jumped but Jonathan took a look out of the window and said:

" 'Tis nothing boys, the wind is howling as usual, the trees are safe. Now, for the story…."

Jonathan told the story, the older boys filled in some parts that their father seemed to have forgotten. Jeremy was fast asleep by the end of the story. Jason and Joshua went to bed after the story themselves. Jonathan sat up near the fire thinking of his wife. He sure did miss her.

The next day was as if the wind and the rain had gone away, the sun was shining, but it was still cold. All the boys were up early it was Saturday, and they had their chores to do while their father went out to see to the logging operation. Jeremy was busy cleaning the dishes and the cabin.

"W-w-w-w-why do I h-h-h-h-have t-t-t-t-t-to do 'W-w-w-w-women's work?" he asked looking at his brothers who had their logging boots on and ready to go out to help their father.

Jason said to Jeremy: "Because Jeremy, you are the youngest and since mom is not around, someone has to do it. You can't expect Da to. He has to go out to work hard. And besides…" Stepping inside, Jonathan heard this explanation that Jason was giving Jeremy.

"Besides what Jason?" said Jonathan curiously

Jason just stood there, not sure what to say to his father. Jonathan chuckled. He sat down and took Jeremy on his lap and said:

"Son, you are the youngest that is true, but don't let your brothers trick you into doing something that you are not ready for yet. Can you reach the top of the sink to do the dishes?"
Jeremy nodded 'no'

"Can you push that broom that is taller than you?"
Jeremy nodded 'no'

"Can you straighten your bed and put your clothes away and take care of your dog?"
Jeremy almost nodded 'no' and then with a smile nodded 'yes'. Jonathan also nodded and then said:

Jason, you will do the dishes, Joshua you will sweep the floor and take out the trash. And Jeremy, you will straighten your bed and put your clothes away and make sure he is fed and has water."

All the boys agreed that was what they would do. Jonathan waited until they were finished with their chores and then they went to the logging camp. At the main camp, Jonathan spoke to the men and had them working on different areas of the mountain; one crew went to the north side to cut the timber there. Another crew went to clear underbrush and prepare the area for cutting timber on the south side. As the boys were present, Jonathan gave them each a job to do. Jason of course was working with the crew on the south side under the leader Blake who was to teach him more about the safety needed to do a good job. Joshua was sent with a small crew to scout out a new location for another camp on the east ridge. Jeremy remained with his father and was sent with messages or water for the loggers during the day. His dog, King was always with him.

When the snow finally came, logging stopped until spring. All the boys seemed to grow a little taller during the winter. Joshua was the one that really sprouted up, he had to have new pants. Jonathan went to town and ordered pants from the Sears and Roebuck's catalogue and a few other niceties for him and the boys as well. Soon Spring arrived and the loggers started to check their equipment and get ready for logging again. Summer came and birthdays for all the boys were celebrated. Jeremy turned five in July and in September he was to start school.