An elderly man found three abandoned babies on his farm, and when he approached, he was stunned to observe something unusual…
The sun was barely rising over the mountains surrounding the small homestead where John Peterson lived, a seventy-year-old man who had dedicated his entire life to the land. His face, etched with deep wrinkles and a reserved smile, reflected the wisdom and sacrifices accumulated over decades of work.
That morning, like many others, he set out early with Bella, his faithful dog—a mutt with bright eyes who never left his side. The fog still covered the field when John noticed that Bella, usually calm, suddenly began to bark and agitate, pointing towards a small grove at the edge of the property.
What’s wrong, Bella? — he asked in his hoarse voice, following the dog. The air grew colder as they advanced into the grove. Bella ran ahead and stopped near a bush. From there, a faint cry broke the silence.
John’s heart pounded as he approached and carefully parted the branches. To his astonishment, he saw three babies, wrapped in tattered blankets and placed on a makeshift bed of dry leaves. — Dear God! — he murmured, bending down to ensure the little ones were breathing. They were two girls and a boy. They appeared exhausted, their cheeks red from the cold, and their small bodies shivering.
The old man, paralyzed by shock, looked around, searching for someone or at least a clue about who could have left them there.
— Who could do such a thing? What kind of scoundrels?! — he whispered, running his trembling hands over his face.
The dog looked at him with a sort of urging, as if telling him to act. John sighed deeply and carefully took the three babies into his arms, wrapping them in his old wool coat… and then he froze, seeing something unusual.
As John cradled the babies, he realized that each of them wore a small silver chain with a tiny charm. Though they were too small to read the inscriptions on his own in the dim early-morning light, he noticed they were all shaped differently. One was a little moon, another a sun, and the third a star. That was peculiar enough, but what really caught his attention was how the babies all quieted at the same moment when he drew them close. It was as if they recognized a shared bond or found comfort in each other’s presence.
Though he was a strong-willed man who rarely hesitated, he found himself stuck for a moment, unsure of what to do. He was alone on this farm. Yes, he had a couple of friends in the village down the road, but no one who could step in and care for three tiny infants at a moment’s notice.
— We have to do something, Bella, — he said at last, trying to steady his voice. Bella whined softly, nudging John’s leg as if to encourage him. The nearest hospital was about twenty miles away, and John’s truck was old, but it was the only option he had. The babies needed warmth, nourishment, and medical attention fast
He carefully placed the three little ones in a large basket he found in his barn, lining it with blankets and old shirts for padding. Then, with Bella at his side, he rushed them to the house. The heating stove was already running, so he set them near it, hoping it would chase away the chill that had nearly frozen their small limbs. He found a few cans of condensed milk in his cupboard and started warming some water to prepare a makeshift formula. John had raised goats, chickens, and even rescued stray dogs—but he had never cared for abandoned infants before.
As he warmed the milk, he couldn’t stop thinking about the unusual situation. Who could have left three babies on his property? And why here, of all places? His farm was pretty isolated, halfway between a dusty back road and a dense forest. It wasn’t a spot that travelers frequented. There must have been an act of desperation involved for someone to leave these precious children like this.
Once he fed each baby with a tiny spoon, letting the milk dribble into their mouths until they swallowed weakly, he wrapped them up again. They looked so peaceful. For a moment, he just watched them. A quiet sense of responsibility settled over him. At seventy, John was not expecting to be thrust into such a situation. But sometimes life surprises you in ways you never imagine.