# A Thunderbolt explained — Driven Back to Eden > Chapter companion for Driven Back to Eden by Edward Payson Roe. ## What happens In the midst of a busy July, the family works hard harvesting crops and fruit, with Mr. Bogart's regular payments bringing hope. A severe thunderstorm strikes, terrifying the children, and lightning sets the barn on fire. ## Themes in this chapter ### Self-Reliance and Hard Work The family works tirelessly through July, managing crops, fruit, and hay, with the children contributing despite the holiday. ### Community and Neighborliness Neighbors like Mr. Jones and Bagley work alongside the family, and Mr. Bogart's regular payments support their success. ### Health and Wellbeing The family thanks God for health, the children are described as 'brown as little Indians,' and the storm's terror affects everyone's nerves. ## Character check-ins ### Merton Sets off rockets on the Fourth of July and swims in the creek with Junior. ### Bobsey Has firecrackers for the Fourth and wades in the creek; later cries from fear during the storm. ### Winnie Has firecrackers for the Fourth and wades in the creek; later cries from fear during the storm. ### Mousie Gathers and prepares vegetables; is pale and trembling during the storm. ### Mr. Jones Works early and late like the family; receives interest on the mortgage. ### Junior Sets off rockets with Merton and swims in the creek. ## Key lines > From the experiences just related, it can be seen how largely the stress and strain of the year centred in the month of July. The previous events show that July was the most intense and demanding month of the year. _Highlights the central pressure of July in the farming calendar._ > The results of our labor were cheering. Our table was supplied with delicious vegetables, which, in the main, it was Mousie's task to gather and prepare. Our hard work paid off, and we enjoyed fresh vegetables that Mousie mostly harvested and cooked. _Shows the reward of effort and Mousie's domestic role._ > The strange, dim twilight soon passed into the murkiest gloom, and we had to light the lamp far earlier than our usual hour. The eerie half-light turned into deep darkness, forcing us to light the lamp much earlier than normal. _Describes the ominous atmosphere before the storm._ > At that instant a blinding gleam and an instantaneous crash left us stunned and bewildered. But as I recovered my senses, I saw flames bursting from the roof of our barn. A flash of lightning and an immediate thunderclap stunned us, and when I came to, I saw the barn roof on fire. _Climactic moment of the chapter—the lightning strike and fire._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/driven_back_to_eden_se/chapters/xxxvi-a-thunderbolt - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/driven_back_to_eden_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/driven_back_to_eden_se/chapters