Born to Immigrants from the old country, Ferdinand grew up when life was more simple, people tended to help each other and life was good. Speaking only the German dialect until starting to school, they lived off the land, hunting, farming, trapping all without electric lights, running water, indoor plumbing, good medical care and the automobile. The Author makes it all sound like an adventure, which it was. The reader can learn how to hunt game, do some trapping in the high mountains, put up hay, harvest spuds and wheat, round up the cattle and fight fire. Ferdinand learned the best way to deal the school bully and to just hanging out with friends of all ethnic backgrounds. His dry wit and sense of humor will delight you.