Ben MacDonald lives with his family on a farm in Winnipeg, Canada in 1870. Ben is the youngest, at six years old. The boy is undersized and his behavior is often odd. Although he's not mentally retarded, the boy barely talks - even to his family. Ben spends most of his time following animals around, imitating their sounds. Esther MacDonald is understanding of her son's differences, but his father wonders if there is something wrong with the child. When the family's new neighbor, George Burton appears, he terrifies Ben by hoisting the tot high into the air. Frightened, Ben flees to the comfort of the animals in the barn. When Ben wanders away from the homestead, he is caught in a drenching downpour and takes refuge in an empty badger hole. When the badger returns, she accepts Ben as if he was one of her cubs.

The...