One Small Blue Bead

A band of men sat huddled in a cave

Where coals of fire glowed warm and red.

Boy lay curled on a bed of leaves

But he sat up when an old man said: "This thought keeps spinning in my head.

There must be caves just like our own

Somewhere

And other axes made of stone

Somewhere

And other men like me."

Though only Boy shares his dream, the old man leaves the tribe to search for what the world may hold. Boy does the old man's work in his absence and watches hopefully for his return...

For any good thing

Can happen when

The world is full of

Tribes of men

Who know that they have brothers.

First published in 1965 and long out of print, Byrd Baylor's powerful story is newly illustrated with Ronald Himler's vigorous yet tender pictures.