Do I Want To Be Rich?

Photo Credit: George Eastman House 

It has been two months since our second son, Samuel was born. He is a lot more demanding than Benjamin was and is. Benjamin is God's gift to me for a first child. He is sweet and loving and does what he is told. Even as an infant he was easy to care for. It is gardening season and I am out in the garden much of the time. When Lola offers to care for Samuel, I can take Benjamin out with me. He follows along with Peanut and me and helps in his own way.

Twice I have seen Ruth since she came here after Samuel was born, to tell me about a man looking for Lola. She said that man has been back twice to see if a woman had shown up. He told Mr. McCleary that the woman he was looking for might come to a hotel looking for work. Now it makes me wonder why he thinks she would go to a hotel to find a job. Even though we have become closer to William and Lola since the night they told us their real story. Lola still isn't that open to us. She talks about what is going around right now, with the children, with the animals, the garden, food. Not  a word about her past or about William and her.

I was out in the garden weeding when Avery came riding up. He was excited about something, "Rachel, I've just got the biggest contract of my life!"

I wiped my hands on my apron to get the dirt off them, "What are you talking about?"

"Mr. Bernstein, the man I told you about. The one who is opening a line of hotels with stores along the trail out to the plains."

"Yes, what about him?"

"He hired me to deliver the freight to the hotels and stores. It is a big contract and will make us rich!"

"Rich? " I paused, I realized Avery was thrilled about this contract and I should be too. But what did it mean? Did it mean that Avery had to go back to driving the freight wagons again because we only have three drivers? If so, it would be difficult for me to accept it on the basis of making us rich. I feel as if I am rich already.

"Well Rachel? What do you think?" He grabbed a hold of me and lifted me off my feet and swirled me around. I couldn't help but laugh as he was in such a mood. "I'll be able to finish this house for you and you can decorate it however you want."

"Avery, I like it fine the way it is."

"Woman, you need a house to suit you. You are a very beautiful woman and you need a beautiful house. And we will fill it with more young'uns."

I had to laugh in spite of myself. I got caught up in Avery's mood. In my mind, I was already rich being married to man I loved with my whole heart. To have my two sons who are healthy and happy. My life is certainly turning out to be blessed with good fortune.

Copyright © 2011 Kathleen G. Lupole
All Photographs Copyright © 2011 Kathleen G. Lupole
Updated  2016

Baking Bread And Thinking

Photo Credit: Powerhouse Museum Collection

Today I worked all day in the kitchen baking bread and pies. Tomorrow Avery's family is coming to our home after church for dinner. They did not want me to go to all this trouble for them. Said they could eat sandwiches. I told them, "Not at my house." Mother would not like to hear that I fed my husband's family sandwiches after church. No, she would not like that one bit. I am making a roast chicken for dinner, with lots of vegetables that I grew in my garden. Homemade bread, fresh creamy butter, apple pies and lots of fresh cream. Oh, they will be very surprised. I am sure everyone thinks of me as a youngster who has to learn these things. I have been making food like this my whole life.

I have been doing a lot of thinking today. I am having my first child. What shall I call her or him? I want to make a list of names and see what Avery thinks. It must be a special name for our first child. What kind of a mother shall I be? I pray I can be as good a mother as Mother was to me. She taught me so much and I didn't even realize how important it all was when she was teaching me. Now I know. It is important for a girl to learn as much about housekeeping as possible, before she gets married. It always appears to everyone that the boys are the most important because they earn a living or make a living from your farm. In the Bible, it tells how important a wife is to her husband. How important a mother is to her children.

Mother hinted to me the last time she was here that my sister, Esther will be next to get married. I cannot believe it. I don't think she knows about it yet. I can't help thinking who will it be? Now Avery would have been the last person I would have guessed to be marrying me. So who is it Mother and Father have in mind for my skinny little sister, Esther? Esther who sneaks away to play dolls with Lorraine. Who sticks her finger in the bowl when she is supposed to be mixing up frosting for a cake. I can't imagine who it would be. Maybe Avery would have an idea. He seems to know everything but never offers me any information unless I ask him a few times. Then he looks at me a certain way and I know he knows the answer I am looking for. I have grown to know him pretty good. And I like the fact that I can tell what he is thinking.

Copyright © 2010  Kathleen G. Lupole
Updated 2016

A Broken Heart

Photo Credit: Magnus Rosendahl

Yesterday Kent Osbourne came to our church with his grandparents, Nelsen and Ellie Osbourne. He tipped his hat outside the church door as we walked past him and winked at me. I felt butterflies in my stomach. Then I felt guilty for feeling that way since I am almost a married woman now. He sat behind us with his grandparents. When we stood up to sing the opening hymn, he leaned forward and passed me a piece of paper. I quickly hid it so my sisters would not see. They would run and tell Mother I am sure. Or tease me later about it. They knew I used to like him. The paper burned in my hand. I wanted to take a peek at it so bad. Finally, during prayers when I saw my sisters were all properly keeping their eyes shut tight, I opened the paper very quietly. It read:

My dear Rachel,

I am distressed to hear the news of your soon to be marriage to Avery Longworth. In my mind, I always thought you favored me and never saw you showing interest in anybody else. Most especially, Mr. Avery Longworth. I figured I had some time to talk with you on this. Are you sure this is what you want to do? 

Sincerely,

Kent Osbourne

I looked around and put the note in my pocket. There was really not much to say about this to anyone. I had already promised to marry Avery Longworth and he was expecting it. Mother and Father had really made my choice long ago and Kent Osbourne had not asked in time. I stole a glance at him and he looked very serious at me. I just nodded no to him. And he got up as soon as the preacher was done and was out the door leaving his grandparents behind. By the time I came out of the church he was long gone. I felt sad for him, but I never knew he returned the feeling I had for him before.

All of a sudden, Eliza was at my side, "Rachel, please let me give you a wedding shower!" she blurted out excitedly.

"Well, Eliza I hadn't thought of having one yet." I replied, knowing that girls always had showers when they were getting married. Some had several. It hadn't even crossed my mind to have one.

"You are getting married in June and it is already April! You need to do showers now. I want to give you one  because I am your closest friend,"  she smiled at me.

"I'll speak to Mother and see what she says."

"Thanks Rachel. Remember I asked first so I want to give you the first shower," then Eliza skipped off toward a group of girls giggling near the shady spot under the trees. I used to be one of those girls giggling and acting silly. My sisters were with them now. I felt so grown up now and looked around to see who might be grown up enough for me to talk to.

Suddenly Mrs. Nelsen was standing next to me. She looked at me for a minute before speaking, "Rachel honey, I always thought you'd be part of our family married to my grandson, Kent. I don't need to tell you how disappointed he is to find out about your up coming marriage."

"Mrs. Nelsen, I am sorry......" I didn't know what to say to her. I felt bad about Kent. To be honest though, I  am now looking forward to marrying Avery Longworth. I don't know why.

She nodded. "I know honey. It is your folks' doing. Kent knows. Just sorry about it. Sorry about my grandson's heart being broken. I know it is not your fault." She hugged me close and then was gone following her husband through the crowd of people around the sidewalk in front of the church.

Copyright © 2010 Kathleen G. Lupole
Updated 2016

Making Plans

Photo Credit: Lewis Caroll "Through The Looking Glass And What Alice Found There"

I have been putting all my spare time into preparing for my marriage to Avery Longworth. He still has not been in touch or sent a message since he sent me the beautiful jewelry box. How can I marry a man I don't know? I will not know what he likes to eat, his favorite colors, what he expects of a wife or anything at all. His family has not come to call either. This worries me constantly. Mother brushes it off, saying that will come in time. She says I will learn all that soon enough after the wedding.

My sisters helped me to piece four quilts. Mrs. Johnson down the road gave me the cotton and enough lining for two of them. Mother said we can buy the lining for the other two next time we go to town. Mrs. Johnson traded some muslin for some extra meat we had from the bull Father butchered last week. There is enough muslin for four sets of sheets, two pairs of pillow cases, three tablecloths and five towels. After we ate lunch, Leah and I cut out the red and white gingham and the yellow and white flowered cotton dresses. We will sew them together in the next few days during the evening.

Yesterday, Mother and I worked in the kitchen. My sisters and I have always taken turns making our food, such as bread, rolls, cereals, desserts, as well as our meals. Mother has decided that I should be the one in the kitchen every day now. My sisters will be assisting me. She wants to make sure my baking and cooking skills are perfect for my new husband. I am sort of nervous about cooking for him, though I have always cooked for everyone for years. This is different and I would like to know what he likes to eat or does not like. What if he hates the first meal I cook for him? It will be his fault for not coming to call on me. That is what suitors usually do or that is what I always thought.

My sister Esther has been trying to care for my team of horses. Tater and Spud are my own horses and I am planning on taking them and my buckboard with me. I have raised them from tiny foals, having been born on the same day. Father had promised I could have them and taught me how to harness them up to the buckboard. I worked baking and sewing for Mr. Tottle in town who traded the buckboard to me. His wife had died two years before and he needed some new clothing, some mending and was hankering for some baked bread, cake and pies. I still bake for him at times. Esther is not really fond of horses except that there are times she wants to go someplace and needs the buckboard. So during this time she is learning so when I am gone she will be able to use Father's team.

Copyright © 2010 Kathleen G. Lupole
Updated 2016

Just Another Day In My Life

Photo Credit: Mead Clarke

This morning my friend, Eliza stopped by on her way to the Alison's farm. She goes there every week to help Mrs. Alison with her baking. Mrs. Alison broke her leg a couple of months ago and was having trouble doing her baking. Eliza lives with her father and her grandfather. She does most of the cooking but she wanted to learn to bake better. Someday she wants to have a family and thought that would be a good skill to have. Her grandfather taught her how to make bread but she wants to know how to make buns, pies and cakes too. Mother would have taught her or one of us girls could have. We have been baking since we were able to stand up. Eliza never mentioned it to me before. Mrs. Alison got hurt and Eliza worked out this deal with her.

So I was eagerly looking forward to her visit. We talked over some oatmeal cookies and tea. She told me all the news from her family. Her brother, Nathan is married now and he only visits them once a month. He and his wife, Ruth came last week and they are going to have a baby. Eliza is so excited! A baby finally in her family. Her mother died in childbirth when Eliza was born. She was always sad that she didn't know her mother or have any other brothers or sisters except for Nathan. I know she loves children and especially babies.

Today I worked on my sampler. It reads "Bless This House For All Whom Reside Here Trust In The Lord". It has red roses and green ivy along the edges. Someday it will hang in my own home. Wherever that may be.

Copyright © 2010 Kathleen G. Lupole
Updated 2016

A Surprise

Photo Credit: George Eastman House

My name is Rachel and I am fifteen years old going on sixteen in four months. Today my parents have told me that I will be getting married to Avery Longworth in six months. He is considered a good catch though I have only seen him twice. The first time was at a house party when I was about ten and he, nineteen. He did not talk to me because he was with the men and I was still considered a child. I only remember him because I dropped my cake and he told his sister to pick it up for me and get another piece for me.

The next time was when he came to town to talk to my father last year. I didn't know what they were discussing and nobody told me. Not even my mother! He ate supper with us and we used our best dishes during the week. I should have known something funny was going on becasue we never use our good dishes during the week. Only at Sunday dinner or holidays. He told us good bye and I didn't think anything more of his visit. That is until yesterday.

Mother took me to town and we went to Scriff's General Store. They had a new shipment of cloth come in and Mrs. Scriff told Mother she had the cloth she ordered. It was a beautiful satin white brocade. Mother said she'd take it and then she chose a red and white gingham, a yellow with white flowers cotton, a white silk for underclothes and a beautiful robin egg blue cotton. She also bought enough cloth for handkerchiefs and scarves.

On the way home, I finally got up enough nerve to ask Mother who the cloth was for. She looked at me as she clucked to our horses, "Why you of course, Rachel. You are getting married in six months. Gotta send you off with some nice duds."

I gulped, "Married?" I knew better than to tell Mother that I wasn't ready to get married or to tell her that I always hoped that Kent Osbourne would be the one asking for my hand in marriage. Mother always told us what we would be doing and we did it. No questions asked. So that is how I found out about my upcoming marriage to a man I did not know.

Copyright © 2009 Kathleen G. Lupole
Updated 2016