Child and Country: A Book of the Younger Generation

A city dweller’s yearning for a healthier, more purposeful life drives this memoir of a family’s retreat to a lake‑side homestead. Through the practical challenges of building a stone house, tending gardens, and learning the rhythms of the shore, the narrator discovers how simplicity can restore both body and spirit. The narrative weaves together anecdotes of early‑morning chores, the humor of misplaced city habits, and the quiet triumphs of creating a self‑sufficient haven.

Beyond the physical labor, the work becomes a laboratory for a new kind of education, where children learn by doing rather than by rote instruction. The author reflects on the broader social shifts of the post‑war era, suggesting that the younger generation can become the architects of a more resilient, community‑focused future. Readers are invited to share in the gentle optimism that ordinary tasks—building walls, planting roses, caring for neighbors—can nurture both personal growth and a renewed sense of place.