Book excerpt: Twelve Christmases come to life in the vivid memory of a boy in the small southeastern Idaho town of Montpelier. Ross Peterson is one of six children, living in a farm house with no running water inside and a dread two-hole privy outside. Growing up in Montpelier, Ross learns valuable lessons of service, responsibility, and faith. Years later Dr. Peterson steps into a college classroom to teach American history to generations of students, invariably becoming their favorite professor.--Publisher.