Why were the mountains dear to him and terrible?

The
mountains are dear and terrible to Jody for two reasons. First, he knows little about the
mountains surrounding his home. They remain a mystery to him, and since he is not allowed to
explore them on his own, the mountains take on an added charm for him.

Second, the mountains are terrible to Jody because they are so imposing. They tower
above everything in his surroundings, and all he can see of them are jagged ridges and dangerous
cliffs.

To Jody, the mountains are a mystery. His parents know little about
them and aren't especially interested in the secrets they hold. When Jody voices his desire to
explore the mountains, his father scoffs at the notion. He tells Jody that there is nothing in
the mountains worth discovering. Meanwhile, his mother placates him with a reference to a line
from a popular children's song: "The bear went over the mountain, To see what he could
see."

Jody becomes exasperated and decides to ask Billy, the ranch hand,
about the possibility of there being ancient lost cities in the mountains. Billy's answer
corresponds with that of Jody's father. These unsatisfying answers further increase Jody's
curiosity about the mountains. The mountains are dear and terrible to him at the same time. They
represent an unknown but important aspect of his surroundings. Yet, their imposing heights are
terrifying to him.