Abstract:
The Mother Tree is a portrait of daily struggles in the changing West of the late 1800s. Alone in the world, Blackie Sims leaves Idaho after outlaws who murdered his father. Throughout his adventures, he follows his parents’ teachings—common decency and respect for life, readily helping the less fortunate—gamblers, prostitutes, orphans. Blackie arrives in Kansas City and falls in love. Putting aside revenge, he goes to New Mexico to ranch. An admirer and friend of the Native Americans, he purchases 60,000 acres for a wandering tribe. With straightforward purpose and neverfailing humor, Blackie faces death, blizzards, outlaws, etc.