After Father’s death, young Ralph became the man of the family in a West that was still not fully tame. He and his older sister Grace valiantly helped their mother to keep the family together. It wasn’t easy, there were heartbreaking disappointments and anxious moments. But there were also exciting episodes, amusing developments, real accomplishments, and exhilarating triumphs.
Ralph engaged in a number of daring and challenging pursuits. He earned his spurs as a genuine cow puncher, rode in cowboy races, picked cherries and gathered coal, helped his mother operate a successful bakery route and he devised an unusual business which brought the family a steady income and revealed Ralph was quite an inventor! All this and school too. Though Ralph worked hard to help support his family, he had more fun and adventure than most boys.
