Over the week ends we’d go to Tiber where we’d cut holes in the ice and gig fish. The boys and I would rabbit-hunt up and down the Tiber Valley in the old stubble fields now covered with snow and swept by wind. We’d track minks, possums, raccoons, weasels, and foxes to their dens. We’d climb the mountains and get spills over the rocks into the deep snow. This took our minds from books and taught us another kind of education. It was as much fun as reading books. Now that a big contest was before us, we needed diversion. And we got it. Our state was not usually cold enough for winter sports. This winter was an exception, and we took full advantage of it.
When we hunted the girls didn’t go with us, but when we skated, fished, and rode sleighs they went along. There was a long gentle slope not far from the schoolhouse, we found ideal for our sleighs. It was almost a mile to the end of our sleigh run. We went over the river bank and downstream for many yards on the Tiber ice. We rode sleighs during the noon hour, before and after school.
On winter days when the snow had melted, leaving the dark earth a sea of sloppy mud, we designed floor games for our little one-room school. They were simple games such as throwing bolts in small boxes. And we played darts. We also played a game called “fox and goose.” We made our fox-and-goose boards and we played with white, yellow, and red grains of corn. We had to make our own recreation. I never saw a distracted look on a pupil’s face. I never heard one complain that the short, dark winter days were boresome because there wasn’t anything to do. I think each pupil silently prayed for the days to be longer. We were a united little group. We were small but we were powerful. We played hard, and we studied hard. We studied and played while the December days passed.
—The Thread That Runs So True written by Jesse Stuart
The book written by Stuart shares stories from his time teaching in his home state of Kentucky and beyond. I enjoy the book so much that I chose to share it on our Celebrating Appalachia channel. You can hear the readings here.
I love the imagery of Stuart as a young teacher enjoying the cold winter with his students. I would loved to have been part of the sleigh riding that took place three times a day 🙂
Today’s Thankful November giveaway is a used copy of The Thread That Runs So True written by Jesse Stuart. To be entered in the giveaway leave a comment on this post. Giveaway ends November 4, 2025.
Last night’s video: The Panther on Cold Mountain & Other Stories 1.
Tipper
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I loved this book when you read it to all of us! You pick the best books!
Tipper do you read this here as well? and excerpt was beautiful?
Mary, thank you! The readings are only on YouTube 🙂
That’s my kind of book 🙂
Sounds like a good book. I love stories about old country schools.
I would love to win this book!!!
Would love to win this!
I grew up in eastern Kentucky and I loved reading books by Jesse Stuart. I am a retired teacher. I would love a copy of this book.
I really enjoyed when you read this book, Tipper! I’m looking forward to the cozy season of winter. We are expected to have a very cold and snowy winter. We have a lot of nice oak wood stacked up in preparation. Can’t wait for that first fire!
Sounds like it would be a very interesting read. I love hearing stories about old country schools.
With a one room schoolhouse teacher in my ancestry, this passage was very interesting! I look forward to reading more from this book.
oops just realized I mentioned the Tombigbee incorrectly. The Tennessee River empties into it and they call it the Tenn-Tom Waterway. The swamp I mentioned in my story was maybe 8 to 10 miles east of it. I’m in my 80’s and sure have crossed a lot of old rickety wooden bridges going across the bottom where ole slew foot might have roamed. I’ve also had a lot of fun fishing on the Tombigbee Waterway when it first opened too:)
As a retired teacher I can’t wait to read this book. I am listening to it but I’m not patient and I will have to get me a copy. LOL!
I enjoyed listening to your reading of this book. I’d love to have a copy.
This book sounds like an excellent read-a-loud for my children. Praying for Granny
I was shut in with rheumatic fever for about a year at age eight. As an only child I had one playmate, my dear Mama. We played together in “The Land of Counterpane” as Robert Louis Stevenson called it. We played Colonial Williamsburg paper dolls and she read me delightful stories from “The New Wonder World”, an old set of reference books given to me by an elderly friend who had used them as samples when she traveled as a colporteur (book seller) in the early 1900s. I shall always cherish those precious memories when Mama homeschooled me before it was even heard of in 1948!
Sounds like a interesting read!
Hoping you get snow this year! Prayers for Granny.
Today is my 78th Birthday. I am so thankful for God and my family. I have never read any of this author’s books. I would love to start reading Stuart’s writings. How have I missed this author. I love a good book. God bless everyone and I hope Granny is well.
Drama-Happy Happy Birthday 🙂
I would love a copy of this book.
I would love a copy of this book as well. Thank you so much for the giveaway.
Hi Tipper and other Acorns. I missed reading some of these stories and will get to them as I can. Years ago in the early 1980’s I was a substitute teacher in the Johnson County, TN system. I mostly worked in the Mountain City Elementary School and the County High School. Then years later I went to college at East Tennessee State University in Johnson City and earned my BS in Mass Communication in one year after studying for a degree in Health Administration for 1 year. While earning my BS I started my Masters in Liberal Studies and needed 2 classes to graduate by the end of the net year, when I fell ill and could not continue. I was also homeschooling my son thru high school after obtaining my BS and working on my Masters. It was a rough 3 1/2 yrs but I loved it. I was also working 3 part time jobs. That is also the time when SPC Fred Greene came into our lives and became my second son and my son, Ed’s, brother/soul mate. That is bitter sweet story in itself.
Once I obtained my Masters I was to teach at North East State Community College in Carter County TN. Sadly I’ve never been able to return to school and finish my degree. I am the only one of my parents 5 children to obtain a college degree. My two older sisters graduated from Cosmetology School (Sandra) and Practical Nursing School (Nancy.) I also graduated from Practical Nursing School in 1987. My younger brother Studied Accounting at ETSU but dropped out in his final year to be an Auto Mechanic. My younger sister (Deborah), entered Nursing school at Cauldwell Community College in NC but never attended.
Daddy never finished high school until 1974. He and my oldest sister graduated the same year. Both Mama and Daddy dropped out of high school after the end of their Junior yr in 1954. The both grew up here in Johnson County, TN. Daddy joined the Army when he was still 16 and Mamma was 17.
Sorry, I could go on forever. I just wanted to say that I really enjoy the reading time with Tipper on Fridays. I used to read to my little brother all the time. When I had both of my kids I made sure I read to them until my daughter was kidnapped by her Dad when she was 9 yrs old. And that’s another tangent.
I’ll keep y’all in my prayers. May you all pray continually and read The WORD every day. I love Y’all.
As always, praying for Granny.
Brrrr!!! I don’t want to read about snow yet because I’m enjoying Autumn so much. The bitter cold will come soon enough. I drove around earlier this week and just took photos of all the pretty leaf colors here in NE Tennesee……..
Would really enjoy having this book!
When I hear about/read about communities like the one in this book, I feel that I missed out. I prefer a simpler life than most people in the first world live today. In many ways I would have fit right in back then.
I’d love to read this. My Mom grew up in Kentucky. She’s 97 and full of colorful stories from Beaver Dam Hollow.
I love reading about Appalachian Life in those beautiful mountains. I had a small RV site for years about 4 miles from Brasstown Bald in Blairsville Ga. I loved looking at those beautiful mountains and talking with the locals. I always wished I could have been so fortunate to have grown up there in the mountains. I can imagine how much fun it would have been.
The “Stuart” book was the first of your readings that I listened to thru the entire book. Tipper, you read out loud so well and it’s so soothing to listen too. I know we don’t see all the behind the scenes flubs and restarts….but the final product is lovely. Keep it up. I’ll always listen.
We had our first frost this morning here in eastern NC
My mother taught school in the East Kentucky coal mining camps around 1943. She told of having to paddle boys who were head and shoulders taller than she was. Times were hard in that part of the country but my little mama proved to be tougher just like Jessie.
Now I have a new author to look for next time I go to the library. HIs books sound wonderful.
Well-rounded education – most importantly students were taught to think for themselves and to make the most of every situation.
would love to read this book
What a nice story! Thank you for sharing.
I read this book when I was very young and absolutely loved it, though I don’t remember much about it now. I would love to read it again and rekindle those feelings of nostalgia.
That sleigh run sure sounds like a lot of fun.
This sounds like such fun! I have never lived somewhere with that much snow. I would love to read this book. Thank you for all you share with us. God bless you.
I love Granny’s pretty purple sweater in the picture. My favorite color. And to see the boys growing up so much. I had a new great grandson born recently. He’s healthy and handsome too. I’m bias. God has blessed my family so many times. May God continue to bless your family too.
My freshman English teacher in 1962 required us to read The Thread that Runs so True by Jesse Stuart. This should be required reading for today’s young people who know little or nothing about what Mr. Stuart experienced. I hope you and your family are well and are enjoying the weekend, Tipper. Continued prayers for you all, especially for sweet Granny.
Winter time in New Hampshire was always fun. By the end of of the month we had snow on the ground which was great for hunting and building snowmen. When I was about eight years old my dad pilled up a big hill of snow (about six feet high) and he made slides on both sides. After doing this he watered down the snow who h turned it to hard as ice. My brother and I used that snow slide all winter long.
As we grew older my family bought a house on the outside if town. My brother and I made our Saturday afternoon movies trip by shoveling our neighbors’ driveways. Also we had a skating rink near our house that my brother and later in my two sisters would go ice skating. almost each night.
For nine years I worked for the state at a ski resort that the state owned and I spent many fun hours working with the Ski Patrol.
Now being a little older I cannot stand the cold as much as I did 70 years ago. My wife mentioned the other day as we were coming back from leaf looking on Blood Mountain that soon the brown would return.
I told her that we needed the brown bare trees to truly appreciate the many different shades of green that would return in the Spring.
Each season is a blessing from God and we need to appreciate the differences each one has has. Our Creator is so wonderful that if we don’t open our eyes we will miss His beautiful creation.
Have a blessed day.
Sounds like such a good book!
Tipper, I loved listening to you read this wonderful book every Friday night! ……… and would love to own a copy! Your collage for November is beautiful, and I was so pleased to see Paul included. I always enjoy his music and his commentaries. Thank you, as always, for sharing your love of Appalachia with all of us! Much love to everyone!
As a young person I never thought about the value of play and now that I am not able to play I try to get my grandchildren to play any chance that they can, no matter where they are.
Jesse Stuart was a contemporary of Byron Herbert Reese. Georgia’s great Mountain Poet.
Oh my goodness how Jesse Stuarts raising brought back memories of stories my Daddy told me growing up in NE MS and even the sledding brought back memories of escapades my cousin and I survived growing up in NE ILL:)
There were 5 brothers that grew up together on a farm in NE MS and Daddy’s job was to get up early and build a fire in the old cook stove. He had to cross the hallway which in a dogtrot house was open on both ends to get to the cook room. Getting out of that warm bed and dashing across the cold hall in the winter months was not something he loved but he sure did love the dishes his Momma would cook on that old stove. I don’t ever, ever, remember my Mother, Daddy or me EVER saying we were bored.
Your video story on Panthers brought back memories of sitting scrouched up in the middle of the front seat of my Daddy’s old truck, with Daddy driving and my Brother riding shotgun. He was driving us down an old dusty clay road that crossed Tombigbee Slew in NE MS going out to the old place. No traffic out that way and we were just enjoying the fall scenery when a black panther jumped across the road and we clearly saw it as it disappeared into the dense forest. I’m thinking this was back about 2002 and people then and now would say no Panthers in MS. Your wrong, cause we three saw it.
My Daddy told me stories and one was about Ole Slewfoot. I was young and didn’t ask him what kind of critter it was but I thought a bear. Our oldest son is here for a visit, and just as I was watching your video, I asked him did Granddaddy tell you the story about Ole Slewfoot, he smiled and said yes he did. I said well did he tell you what it was and my Son said it was a Bear. Don’t know if that story was read to my Daddy by his oldest brother or told to him by his Grandfather. My third Greatgrandfather in my Daddy’s line was born 243 years ago in Georgia – Nov 29, 1782., and MS became a U.S. Territory in 1798. I know there were American Indians living there and Painters in 1836. Love all the stories.
At first I thought it was written by a girl ( “the boys and I”). Then I thought it was written by a boy (“the girls didn’t go with us”). I was surprised to learn it was a teacher who (“rode sleighs at noon, before and after school”). What a role model!
You always pick the best books, and I thought The Thread That Runs So True was one of the best you ever shared with us on your channel.
Although I only experienced a small part of what he is writing about it brings back memories of the special times in my younger life that helped make me who I am. I loved spending every minute I could in the woods hunting. I had dreams of growing up and being a “mountain man” living in the wilderness. I don’t hunt anymore but I still like to spend as much time as possible as far away from civilization as I can. I love the world God created before man messed it up so bad.
A delight to read & think about !!! I would love to read more of this book !!! Thank you for sharing it & the chance to win a copy !
I enjoy all your videos, but most recently I especially enjoyed Epic October & Katie’s video of the rain & fall leaves ! So beautiful!!! Have a wonderful thankful November 1st everyone!!!
I read that book when probably in about 4th or 5th grade and could identify with a lot of it. I went to a two room school for the first 8 grades. (My mother taught in a one room school with 5 grades for a couple of years. She was hired even though she only had a high school education.) In 7th and 8th grades there weren’t enough students to have two teachers so I was an assistant to the one teacher. I worked with the first 3 or 4 grades in reading, spelling and arithmetic. She paid me 50 cents a week for cleaning the boards, sweeping and burning the trash after classes ended. Years later I realized she was keeping me behind so I wouldn’t be fighting on the way home. Sometimes one or two fellas would wait for me at the bottom of the hill so we could fight anyway.
Growing up on Vancouver Island, we didn’t see snow every year but when we did it was magical. All we had for mitts was dad’s old work socks and a homemade sled for sledding. The town would close one street off (Franklin St.) for the kids to sled. Up and down we’d go. The snow there is very wet, so you’d be drenched by the time you got home. There was also lots of kids in the neighborhood to play with, we were outside all day. We sure slept well at night, lol. Fun times for sure! Sounds like a great book to read.
Florida children had a different experience. But I do remember a winter in north Florida with a pretty good snow. My dad, born in Buffalo, woke me up in the night to build a snowman in case the snow was gone by morning. It wasn’t. He made snow ice cream, eaten with an icicle. I haven’t all that many good memories of my dad, but that was one of them.
The heavy snowfalls started in November and lasted until early spring when I grew up in eastern KY. I can’t remember not ever having a white Christmas. Neither my parents nor the teachers let us play outside in the snow very often because they thought it was dangerous and that we might fall or catch a cold. It’s funny how the grown-ups never thought the jump board was dangerous.
The Thread That Runs So True by Jesse Stuart is an inspiring and heartfelt account of his experiences as a young teacher in rural Kentucky. I would love to read this book.
What wholesome fun they had! So much beauty, so many outdoor activities right at their fingertips. A delight to read about…makes me remember our childhood antics with a smile on my face.
I would love to read that book! Sounds interesting!
I would love to have a copy of your book giveaway. I love to read and always have a book by my side. Love the books you pick out and read. Thank you for finding books I would miss. See you in 2 weeks at the book signing!
The book speaks to a resourceful, healthy outdoor time in history. But I keep thinking about how cold I would have been! We are very blessed to have central heating.
Well I am so very Thankful for you Tipper & for the Blind Pig & all the wonderful stories you share each day!!! I sure would cherish this book! Praying for Granny. One of my husband’s caregivers is teaching me to crochet & I am forever thinking about her .
I love Jesse Stuart’s writing. It has a rhythm to it almost like poetry. It’s been in the high 30’s this week in eastern Kansas. No freeze yet (it’s late this year), so I’m still enjoying flowers.
I think the book is going to be delightful. I am looking forward to listening. Prayers for everyone.
We have a serious frost this morning! The other two were teasers.
I was a teacher but my experiences surely were different. A much simpler time often sounds wonderful.
Every book you have read we have truly enjoyed! The thread that runs so true was a great one. You hooked us from the beginning with Mountain Path. We hope that you continue to share your wonderfully books with us….Happy November from the thankful Shooks!
Would love to read this book especially since it has stories of Kentucky where I grew up, thank you Tipper.
I am just loving g the photographs you’re sharing in thankful November. I love the one of the twin girls hugging and holding hands. I love seeing the babies pretty heads too and mothers big grins! I love seeing granny in pink and her lovely smile and the rest of those photos too. You’ve got a terrific family, “Tip Top” Tipper! You’re the tops! Have a listen to an oldie and moldie by Cole Porter. It’s my song to you, gal pal!
Tipper–I’ve got the book, and pretty much everything else Stuart ever wrote, so don’t include me in the drawing. He’s one of the greats among Appalachian writers–simple yet eloquent and a man who knew how to write of his beloved Kentucky hills and hollows in wonderfully evocative fashion. When I was in undergraduate school at King College (now University) in Bristol, TN he came to campus to speak. I heard him in the chapel that served the campus and in a smaller setting in a classroom. He had been invited to campus by an English teacher, Inez Morton (later Wagers), who exercised considerable influence on me in providing encouragement that eventually led to me becoming a writer. I think folks will enjoy your reading from what is one of Stuart’s finest efforts.
Jesse Stuart was a fantastic writer..this book is definitely a keeper for your home library. Hopefully the next generation will read it!
Sometimes when I get sentimental about “the good ole days” I remind myself that one day TODAY will be the “good ole days” for someone.
Jesse Stuart is what I call rich reading. Not sure if this is the same book I read in many years ago but its wonderful! Didn’t realize this is what you’re reading now. What a treat!
This reminds me of my Parents telling me stories from their childhood. They were born in 1905 and 1913. They didnt get much education but were to me so brilliant. They were very smart when it came to raising a family and farming and raising their own food. My mom said when you went to a dance 2 of her brothers tagged alone to make sure she stayed safe. I so enjoyed reading your blog today as I do everyday.
I enjoyed reading Jesse Stuart’s book “Daughter of the Legend”. I seem to recall also a book of short stories by him.
This reminds me of Laura Ingalls Wilder books which I have enjoyed over and over. Thank you for sharing.
Oooohh a mile long sleigh run…bet that was fun for them. I’d love to read the book!
We have never had winter weather that would allow us to do many of the things Jesse wrote about. There would sometimes be snow, but not often enough to buy or make sleds. I remember my neighbors using an old car hood for a sled, going down hill was fun, dragging it back to the top wouldn’t. We got our first frost last night, but our power went off for a little while and it has done something to my heat pump even though I turned it off until the power came back on. Can you image the problems it would cause in today’s schools if students did things like this? I already have the book so don’t consider me.
I loved reading this story about youth enjoying nature and the simple pleasures in life. Instead of sitting plunked in front of computers and cell phones, kids interacted with each other, ran and played, invented games. I would love to read the whole book. Thanks for sharing this….sometimes “the good ol’ days” really were.
Sounds like a nice book to read in winter!
Would love to have that book.
Those words conjure up all kinds of memories. Thank you for sharing this with us! Many things to be thankful for. I’ve been listening to a song and some of the words go like this “there’s a roof up above me and good place to sleep, food on my table and shoes on my feet”….thank you Lord for Your blessings on me.
I truly love to read about everyone’s gratitude as it reminds me of my own. God bless!
God bless Granny Wilson, thank you for praying for my brother,
I wonder if Jesse is still on a reading list in KY schools. Or the bigger wonder is whether America generally has “got above it raisin’ ” That excerpt shows a simpler time and a much more relaxed time but – as he notes – “we were a united little group”. Don’t want to put a damper on anybodies spirits. Those are the kinds of things I think about.
Ron, I just say me too, this is an example of what I am referring to when I mention going back to the good old days. Last night I was reading an article about bobbing for apples and how it started, we did that at elementary/grammar school every year at Halloween and didn’t give a thought to it being dangerous and somebody catching something that would make them sick- sorta like everyone drinking water out of the same dipper. I guess back then we had enough common sense to not do it if we were sick.
I would love to read that! Sounds like a nicer way to live than with all the stuff today!
Love your blog and YouTube. And the girls. Praying for Granny
When I read that excerpt, my mind was taken back to our neighborhood during the winters in Indiana. The snow would be knee deep. The kids would get together and sled down the I only real hill in the area. We didn’t seem to feel the cold.
I remember hot Campbell’s tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches; sitting at the kitchen table doing our homework; looking at the Special Christmas edition of the Sears catalog and dreaming of having my own room, (when I did get one, I was depressed because my two older sisters had moved out to their own. apartment); riding horses and sitting on the floor in the living room watching the Ed Sullivan show with my family.
Loved the story!
Thankful for all the things the Lord has aloud us to have. Thankful for family, friends, and the home we have.
Y’all are such a awesome family I look forward to my emails of all the great stories that you share with us, Thanks Tipper , you and Matt have 2 beautiful daughters and I love when they share things with us also have blessed day
I enjoyed your reading of “Panther on Cold Mountain”, written by my father. Thank you for “keeping him alive”.
I noticed one error in the text. Wesley Pless, the noted bear hunter, was the husband of the cousin of the narrator of the story about the panther, my grandfather Talmadge Fletcher, not his cousin. His first cousin Pearl Fletcher was the wife of Wes Pless. They lived on Cold Creek, which runs off of Cold Mountain.
~~~ Gary Fletcher, 01 November 2025
I have loved all the books you have done reading on. I can just picture that time.
Jesse Stuart was an exceptional writer. I’ve enjoyed reading several of his books through the years.
Thankful every day that the Lord allows my family, friends, others and myself to wake up to see another day. Hoping and praying we all use the gift of today to love God, love each other and make wise choices in all we do throughout the day.
Looking forward to your reading of this book!
I first read Jesse Stuart when I was just starting my teaching career in the early 70’s and thoroughly enjoyed his writings…
Reading this excerpt you provided made me think of some of the games my dad must have played when he was a boy. He definitely hunted rabbits and squirrels and my sister and I went with him a few times when he squirrel hunted. When he brought home squirrels to cook I was usually the one who helped to skin them. They were good to eat too! Thinking about those squirrel hunting trips, my dad is tall and of course we were not near his height at all. He told us to step into his footsteps so that we didn’t make too much noise in the woods. That was kinda hard to do, but it was fun to spend the time with him, eat the rewards, and to know now, like my dad, that it’s more fun watching the squirrels being squirrels running around. Thank you everyone for your prayers for my dad, there have been some divine appointments and connections made. He’s not out of the woods yet, but progress is being made. Thank you again!
Good morning. The Thread that runs so true sounds like such an interesting book. I will have to go back and listen to you read it. It reminds me so much of my own two-room school house where I went from first to sixth grade. It did not matter the season, it was never boring there. I have the sweetest memories of just doing lessons and reading all the books I could get my hands on…of playing softball and making forts at recess..of candle making and sledding on a cold winter day…of learning to crochet during winter recess…of delicious hot lunches and school parties and socials in the evenings. I had the best elementary school experiences, and they are all etched in my mind forever.
The stories remind me of ones my grandmother used to tell.
We all have much to be thankful for not just in November but all year long. Blessings to all.
The Thread That Runs So True would be nice to have. So interesting!
I will watch last nights video later. We were celebrating my great granddaughter’s Halloween birthday last night and today.,
Continued prayers for Granny
Happy November
With this droght we’re experiencing, how has it affected your garden? Matt seems to have a good pail of green beans there in one of your photos
This draught has driven some of the deer into urban areas, we caught one on camera just a few days ago. The draught and development into areas not used for homes before have driven wildlife into the neighborhoods.
Ted, we didn’t experience drought in our area so our gardening was really good. I’m sorry you are having drought and hope you get some rain.
I so enjoyed the reading this morning. Will be continuing to pray for granny.
We seldom get snow in Northeast Mississippi; and NEVER have hard enough freeze to get onto ice. At basic training on Ft Knox KY we had some big snows; one was on the ground when we qualified on the rifle range. Without it don’t know if i could have seen the targets. And a time or two when we lived in southern IL we had a huge snow. We had a picture of a tall student standing beside a snowball as tall as he was that had been rolled by the snow plow.
My goodness, Tony, you must have been drafted, and in winter at that! I picked my season and enlisted in the spring of ’55, during the Cold War. To pat myself on the back just once, I recorded the high score for our company at Fort Jackson, SC,and won a weekend pass. I’m still proud of that. We shot M-1 Garands left over from WW II and Korea. Great old rifle. Wish I owned one.
Read this book as a teenager and marveled at his experiences. I am now seventy one.
I can’t imagine having such fun at school! Today’s permission slips and legalities would surely squash this kind of fun.