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Country Road Chronicles #3
Till Morning Is Nigh
It is December of 1932, just one year after the Worthams and the Hammonds lost Wilametta Hammond and Emma Graham in one terrible night. The Christmas spirit seems largely absent again this year. George Hammond has disappeared, and Julia Wortham's house is filled to overflowing with the Hammond children, several of whom are coming down with a mysterious illness. As Christmas nears, the children's homemade nativity scene takes on a life of its own, bringing comfort in the midst of uncertainty and hard times. This heartfelt novella lets readers share Christmas with the Worthams and the Hammonds and discover the strength of faith, love, and family.
160 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2007
51 people are currently reading
244 people want to read
About the author
Leisha Kelly
16 books73 followersaka L.A. Kelly
A resident of Clayton, Ill., Kelly authored 11 books, including the best-selling historical fiction series centered around the Wortham and Hammond families—published by Revell/Baker Publishing Group. Her most recent book, The House on Malcolm Street, was published by Revell in September 2010.
Kelly, who home-schooled her two children, served as children's ministry director and youth minister at her family's church.
On January 25, 2011, Leisha and her son, Justice, were killed in a traffic accident.
A resident of Clayton, Ill., Kelly authored 11 books, including the best-selling historical fiction series centered around the Wortham and Hammond families—published by Revell/Baker Publishing Group. Her most recent book, The House on Malcolm Street, was published by Revell in September 2010.
Kelly, who home-schooled her two children, served as children's ministry director and youth minister at her family's church.
On January 25, 2011, Leisha and her son, Justice, were killed in a traffic accident.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
October 13, 2021
This is a beautifully-written historical Christmas story set in 1932.
Highly-recommended for those wanting to read about a loving, kind family dedicated to making Christmas special for a family of ten siblings who are need of some good news.
I borrowed this book from the local public library.
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This book is completely clean in language and content. :0}
Highly-recommended for those wanting to read about a loving, kind family dedicated to making Christmas special for a family of ten siblings who are need of some good news.
I borrowed this book from the local public library.
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This book is completely clean in language and content. :0}
July 23, 2012
A sweet story with a good message, but very obviously the middle of a series and was not marked at such . There was nothing anywhere in the book to indicate that I was coming into the middle of a story in progress, and believe me I looked, as it was a little confusing. Finally, I looked online and found that indeed it is book #4 in a series of 7. I would not have started the book if I had known this. I did really like the overall message of the story, but it really didn't "stand alone" as some books in a series can sometimes do. Maybe I would give it a higher rating if I had read books 1-3 and understood what was going on from the beginning.
January 3, 2016
I LOVE Leisha Kelly stories! While the stories uplift me, my heart is still saddened to have lost such a wonderful writer at such a young age. I cannot recommend her stories for those who like old-fashioned tales, and tales of simple Christians who truly live their faith.
December 19, 2019
Till Morning Is Nigh: A Wortham Family Christmas by Leisha Kelly comes about in the middle of her six-book series about the Wortham family. I finished the series back in September but wanted to save the Christmas story until now.
The Wortham family had been down and out during the Depression. With their last hope of a job fallen through, they hit rock bottom. They took shelter in an abandoned house, then got the idea that perhaps the owners would let them stay there in exchange for fixing up the place. The owner was an elderly woman named Emma who took a chance on the family. She had not been able to live home alone, but the Worthams eventually moved her back into her home with them, and she became a grandmother and mentor to the family. That was back in Book 1, Julia’s Hope.
This story opens several years later. Emma has passed away as has the Wortham’s neighbor, Mrs. Hammond, a mother of ten children. George Hammond had been devastated and unstable after his wife’s death, and the Hammond children often spent as much time at the Wortham’s house as their own.
George had seemed to settle down for a while. But now it’s the first anniversary of his wife’s death, and he’s missing. The older children think perhaps he has drowned his sorrows in a drinking binge, but they fear worse. Some of the middle children are angry. The younger children are just sad and afraid. The Worthams take them all in and try to help. On top of everything else, some of them have the flu.
While nursing the various sick ones, keeping everyone fed, praying and worrying, Samuel and Julia Wortham try to prepare a meager Christmas and discuss what they should do if the worst has happened to George.
When a friend tells Julia, “I don’t know how you do it,” Julia responds, “I don’t. Whatever you think I’m accomplishing, I really can’t manage at all. Nothing but the good Lord could have gotten me through this holiday.”
Someone suggests that they make a Nativity scene out of what materials they have. The project starts out as a diversion but eventually becomes meaningful in various ways to different ones.
This story is a reminder that not all Christmases are giddy parties. Sometimes deep grief and stark need prevent the usual Christmas we’ve come to expect. But joy, love, and light can shine in and touch hearts.
I think this book could be read easily as a stand-alone. Enough of the back story is explained that readers new to the series wouldn’t feel lost. But the story is richer for having read the rest of the Worthams’ books. I enjoyed them all, so I recommend them all to you.
The Wortham family had been down and out during the Depression. With their last hope of a job fallen through, they hit rock bottom. They took shelter in an abandoned house, then got the idea that perhaps the owners would let them stay there in exchange for fixing up the place. The owner was an elderly woman named Emma who took a chance on the family. She had not been able to live home alone, but the Worthams eventually moved her back into her home with them, and she became a grandmother and mentor to the family. That was back in Book 1, Julia’s Hope.
This story opens several years later. Emma has passed away as has the Wortham’s neighbor, Mrs. Hammond, a mother of ten children. George Hammond had been devastated and unstable after his wife’s death, and the Hammond children often spent as much time at the Wortham’s house as their own.
George had seemed to settle down for a while. But now it’s the first anniversary of his wife’s death, and he’s missing. The older children think perhaps he has drowned his sorrows in a drinking binge, but they fear worse. Some of the middle children are angry. The younger children are just sad and afraid. The Worthams take them all in and try to help. On top of everything else, some of them have the flu.
While nursing the various sick ones, keeping everyone fed, praying and worrying, Samuel and Julia Wortham try to prepare a meager Christmas and discuss what they should do if the worst has happened to George.
When a friend tells Julia, “I don’t know how you do it,” Julia responds, “I don’t. Whatever you think I’m accomplishing, I really can’t manage at all. Nothing but the good Lord could have gotten me through this holiday.”
Someone suggests that they make a Nativity scene out of what materials they have. The project starts out as a diversion but eventually becomes meaningful in various ways to different ones.
This story is a reminder that not all Christmases are giddy parties. Sometimes deep grief and stark need prevent the usual Christmas we’ve come to expect. But joy, love, and light can shine in and touch hearts.
I think this book could be read easily as a stand-alone. Enough of the back story is explained that readers new to the series wouldn’t feel lost. But the story is richer for having read the rest of the Worthams’ books. I enjoyed them all, so I recommend them all to you.
July 5, 2020
George Hammond and his 10 children have been through a very tough year after his wife died. Many did not think that George would be able to live without his beloved wife and they were very close to being correct a few times. Now that Christmas is approaching, the Hammonds are struggling with the anniversary of Mrs. Hammond's death...and with illness among the children. Julia Wortham and her husband Sam have been doing all they can to help the Hammond children, but will it be enough against this new sickness, the Depression, and the disappearance of George Hammond. Can Julia keep these children healthy while bringing a bit of the Spirit of Christmas back to them?
This was a good little novella. I read it in a few hours and really enjoyed the story.
This was a good little novella. I read it in a few hours and really enjoyed the story.
January 30, 2020
Here it is, 1932; everyone is dirt-poor and Julie has her hands full. Her house is full, since a neighbor goes missing, and his 10 children are at her house to be cared for. Their mother died a year earlier. Christmas is coming, but where is the joy? However, Julia, her husband and children know the Bible. They focus on the hope of the story of God's love. The children make their own nativity set out of paper, and each day the characters are moved closer to the manger. Mysteriously, baby Jesus is placed with the person who needs Him most. This is a book of hope, love and joy that does not need to be missed.
February 15, 2023
A new Christian author to recommend to my wife and others though tragically she died in 2011 in an automobile crash with her 16-year-old son. But what I understand is still left us with at least 11 books that if this book is any indication, they will all be worth reading. This one is part of a series and even though you do not need to necessarily go back and read the first one it probably would make more sense to read them in order. Having said that I enjoyed it on Hoopla and read it in two settings. Great message without being pushy about religion or God. A special book to read around Christmas as well.
December 10, 2023
I love other books in this series. But this one in particular overwhelmed me to read. Mostly becuase it’s a mom taking care of 8 kids from another family… who are all sick… and they’re poor and can barely feed their own family. So I was just stressed out the entire time thinking of this poor mom. 😂 but really… I just wasn’t really into this book like I was the other books that she has written.
November 26, 2016
Till morning is nigh
What a sweet Christmas story of faith and family a lesson in how to make do with what we have and the joy of sharing
What a sweet Christmas story of faith and family a lesson in how to make do with what we have and the joy of sharing
December 6, 2021
That do you do if the widowed neighbour with ten children disappears just before Christmas? This is the story of how one family handles it while praying this mourning father will return.
January 7, 2022
A little too sappy for me and it just dragged on and on. Nice and clean though.
December 2, 2023
This is a lovely and heartwarming Christmas story. It is so refreshing to read a story that embraces the true spirit of Christmas.
September 17, 2024
This book almost made me cry!! It's so sweet!!
January 6, 2025
Book was different wording was different but enjoyed the book
March 29, 2025
Good story! Will read other books in this series.
April 10, 2025
A perfect story based around Christmas and not just a chapter or two. I would love to read the other books in the series. The characters were so likeable and relatable.
December 2, 2025
Absolutely the best Christian Christmas story. Yearly Christmas read 📚 bonus Snickerdoodles recipe 🍪
December 5, 2025
kind of a repeat story from the series.
February 20, 2024
I plan on rereading this one during Christmas of 2024. Such sweet children and caring adults.
April 24, 2021
I agree with a previous commenter, I did not realize it was part of a series and was a little confused. But it was a good story; what a wonderful couple Sam and Juli were to take in all of the kids, even though they were struggling, too.
January 2, 2015
Till Morning Is Nigh by Leisha Kelly is set in December 1932, and told in the first person of Julia Wortham, a mother of three (two of her own, and Katie, whose mother left her to be a singer). This makes the reading of the novel much more personal, as the reader can identify with the character a Julia. The novel is a Christmas Wortham novel, I had not read any of the other novels in the series, but that did not hamper my enjoyment.
A year previously Wila Hammond had died, leaving ten children motherless, and a grieving father. George Hammond, unable to live with his grief, had been about to take his own life, when his neighbour Samuel Wortham found him and extracted a promise from George, never to try that again. Over the year, George had turned to alcohol, and his children had become reliant on the Wortham's.
As the novel opens, George has gone missing and the Hammond children turn up on the Wortham's doorstep. Julia Wortham takes them in, and soon realises that three of the children are sick. In the days leading up to Christmas it is Mrs Wortham's job to keep all thirteen children entertained. There is no money, but a making and a re-enacting of the nativity helps the children to focus their minds on the real meaning of Christmas.
Till Morning Is Nigh is a delightful Christmas novel, that emphasises the simple joys in life. It is set during the American depression, a time of poverty for many, but neighbours and friends all pull together. The mainstay of the family is the mother, who has oodles of patience and love to hand out to all who need her.
Inspite of there being thirteen children, they were all individually drawn. My particular favourite was four year old Berty, whose childish language was charming.
Till Morning Is Nigh is the first novel that I have read by Leisha Kelly, but it is definitely not going to be the last.
A year previously Wila Hammond had died, leaving ten children motherless, and a grieving father. George Hammond, unable to live with his grief, had been about to take his own life, when his neighbour Samuel Wortham found him and extracted a promise from George, never to try that again. Over the year, George had turned to alcohol, and his children had become reliant on the Wortham's.
As the novel opens, George has gone missing and the Hammond children turn up on the Wortham's doorstep. Julia Wortham takes them in, and soon realises that three of the children are sick. In the days leading up to Christmas it is Mrs Wortham's job to keep all thirteen children entertained. There is no money, but a making and a re-enacting of the nativity helps the children to focus their minds on the real meaning of Christmas.
Till Morning Is Nigh is a delightful Christmas novel, that emphasises the simple joys in life. It is set during the American depression, a time of poverty for many, but neighbours and friends all pull together. The mainstay of the family is the mother, who has oodles of patience and love to hand out to all who need her.
Inspite of there being thirteen children, they were all individually drawn. My particular favourite was four year old Berty, whose childish language was charming.
Till Morning Is Nigh is the first novel that I have read by Leisha Kelly, but it is definitely not going to be the last.
August 30, 2013
Well done story of a poor mountain family struggling with the first Christmas holiday after the death of their mother. The loss of his wife has unsettled their father, and he abandons them to the care of a neighbor, Mrs Wortham, and disappears. The story centers around the family bond and the need to keep going in the face of despair.
There were only 2 things about the story out of place, but the first one made it real - Rorey is not a likable child. She is all about herself and her feelings.
The second - TILL is where your friendly storekeeper puts his money, or what your neighboring farmer does to his fields. It is NOT part of the song. The song is "stay by my cradle 'til morning is nigh". 'til as in an abbreviation for UNTIL.
Samuel, the main male character, was a man of great quality (or to quote a phrase "a male of worth".
Overall, I was not sure if this was a coming-of-age for the older children, a rite of passage for the younger ones, or just a sad tale of the Great Depression years. Perhaps it was all of those, plus a bit of religious dogma, as the central tale wove around the coming of Christmas and what the story really meant, and how we can relate it to our own lives.
There were only 2 things about the story out of place, but the first one made it real - Rorey is not a likable child. She is all about herself and her feelings.
The second - TILL is where your friendly storekeeper puts his money, or what your neighboring farmer does to his fields. It is NOT part of the song. The song is "stay by my cradle 'til morning is nigh". 'til as in an abbreviation for UNTIL.
Samuel, the main male character, was a man of great quality (or to quote a phrase "a male of worth".
Overall, I was not sure if this was a coming-of-age for the older children, a rite of passage for the younger ones, or just a sad tale of the Great Depression years. Perhaps it was all of those, plus a bit of religious dogma, as the central tale wove around the coming of Christmas and what the story really meant, and how we can relate it to our own lives.
December 24, 2016
I have read and loved many of this author's books. They are simple but full of heart.
The Worthens have settled in Emma's old home and continue to take care of their neighbors, the Hammonds. There are ten Hammond children who take care of their drunk, mostly useless father. Their mother died last Christmas and that is in each child's heart as the day approaches. The father has run off in his depression, so the Worthens have taken in all the children, plus their own. It's a pleasure to read about good people successfully dealing with well-meaning children. Everyone helps, everyone pitches in, and everyone suffers heartache but holds it together.
I'm so sorry the author lost her life in a car accident a few years back. I'll miss the opportunity of reading more of her writing.
The Worthens have settled in Emma's old home and continue to take care of their neighbors, the Hammonds. There are ten Hammond children who take care of their drunk, mostly useless father. Their mother died last Christmas and that is in each child's heart as the day approaches. The father has run off in his depression, so the Worthens have taken in all the children, plus their own. It's a pleasure to read about good people successfully dealing with well-meaning children. Everyone helps, everyone pitches in, and everyone suffers heartache but holds it together.
I'm so sorry the author lost her life in a car accident a few years back. I'll miss the opportunity of reading more of her writing.
November 25, 2008
Another really good book in the Wortham family series. This book apparently bridges the gap between the first three and last three books. I read it before the holiday season as part of the Winter Reading Challenge, and it was a perfect book for this time of year.
Taking place in the Great Depression, it reminds me of just how truly blessed we all are now. We don't have to scrape for food and make our own clothes and gifts. This is a story of family and faith. Loved it :)
Taking place in the Great Depression, it reminds me of just how truly blessed we all are now. We don't have to scrape for food and make our own clothes and gifts. This is a story of family and faith. Loved it :)
September 20, 2009
Another nice story about the Worthams and the Hammonds. I think I would have enjoyed it more to read it at the point in the series where it belonged time wise though. I had just finished the series and many of the characters were grown up. In this book they are all little, so it was hard to remember they were little kids again.
January 23, 2009
I got this book for Christmas from my mom - otherwise I probably wouldn't have read it. It was a sweet enough story but there were some missing details so I think it is either part of a series or the author is jsut not detail oriented! Not sure that I really cared enough about the characters to read more books in the series to fill in the gaps, though!
July 19, 2016
This book was a great quick read and I would have given it 5 stars but you have to figure out the order on your own... this not book 3 in second set its book 4 in the first set(after Katie's dream) before you start the second set... even the librarian was confused when I pointed it out... but all in all its a great story line and an awesome message.
December 12, 2007
This old-fashioned Christmas takes place in 1932 in
a very difficult time in our country. The Wortham
family manages to have a blessed holiday in spite of
having too many mouths, too little money, and having
children ill. This is a Christmas of healing.
a very difficult time in our country. The Wortham
family manages to have a blessed holiday in spite of
having too many mouths, too little money, and having
children ill. This is a Christmas of healing.
September 20, 2008
This was a really cute little book. A book dosn't have to be epic to leave you feeling better for having read it. This is one of those books that is part of a series, but that you can read in any order I like that.
December 26, 2011
Set in the hard times of 1930s (?) rural America. Nice Christmas story about friends, neighbors helping each other in times of need. Good characterization especially with some of the children in the story. Nice job....sweet story.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews