pages 57,58,59

When I arrived and walked in, my sister Sallie and Pruden, as he wanted us to call him, were sitting on the sofa in the parlor. (A sofa is like a davenport only smaller in those days.) they were talking and laughing of things that had happened during the day. Pruden’s father was a lawyer and his mother a graduate nurse. A nice looking fellow when well dressed. Even around the house he wore nice, neat clothes and helped if there was something needed to be done. He may have smoked but he never did while in our home. How often I have heard my father say, if you see a fellow standing on the corner with a cigarette in his mouth and a white collar so high you have to knock on the outside to see who is in, never give him a second look. In those days though, cigarettes were hardly ever used, mostly pipe and cigars. My father thought more of the fellow who dressed befitting his hob and could do a good day’s work when called upon. In other words he felt the honest, hard working man would provide a better home than one who just stood on the corner smoking cigarettes.
Time seemed to have gone fast. In a few days school would be out for the summer and I was enjoying the thoughts of it. Two letters lay unopened and unread from Frank, I had somewhat forgotten them with my school activities, Sunday School and church parties. Then too, Jim came weekends for his visits. He was my sister-in-law’s nephew. He was a nice boy and I liked him as a friend. He wanted me to take walks with him but for some reason I never would let myself be alone with him because I felt he wanted to talk love. This I figured from the way he would look at me and I was not ready for that yet. Until Frank’s third letter came did I open the first two. He was excited too, about his school work and activities and his paperwork. When I opened the third letter the heading was, I am pretty blue, I’ll not be seeing you this summer as I had planned after all. I told you of learning to be a linotype operator on my brother’s paper. My brother thought I should stay here for most of the summer and continue to learn the business. However, my folks all plan to spend the summer in our cottage on Coney Island and I plan to go there for a brief vacation. I wish I could somehow find you there for I haven’t forgotten the little girl of my dreams last summer. You owe me some letters so please catch up on them and keep them coming. Remember me to your dear mother and father. I shall never forget the good times I had in your home. You spoke of people wanting to buy your nice home and place. I don’t wonder at it. I’d like to own it myself. Remember I and really going to miss you, he went on.
I was up in my bedroom and mother called from the hall below saying supper was ready. My sister Wilhelmina was getting ready for her date later that evening. Sallie was setting the table and Pruden and my father were having a good talk. My brother and his wife, Ida appeared from outside where they had taken a walk down a county lane. Ida immediately started helping to put supper on the table while mama busied herself dishing it up. I had heard whispers that my brother and wife sere expecting a little one in September to make their home happy. I thought how wonderful that would be.
Again that summer the church had a revival meeting and the ministers were guests in our home. During the two weeks of that meeting, Pruden, my brother-in-law to be, went forward and gave his heart to Christ. I felt so overjoyed I again went up. It made me feel happier than the summer before when Frank said, “now you’ve got to be good.” My sister, Sallie, was happy also. Awhile after that I noticed a diamond glittering on her finger.

That summer seemed to slip past a little faster than usual. Mama had been busy canning vegetables from the garden and fruit she had bought from the neighbors, besides getting my clothes ready for the next school term. Maggie and I visited quite often during the days that followed.
Our young minister was preparing to go away to a theological seminary that fall to finish his ministerial education. He stopped often at our home and had good talks with our folks and us. A good looking fellow with light wavy hair about 23 years of age. I used to tease Maggie about him.. Once he told my sister I was such a nice little girl and in a sincere way said he thought I liked him. “Yes,” I said, “I like him like everyone else. I like to be nice, friendly and treat everyone with respect.”
The days that followed were busy ones. Jim continued to come out on weekends. We had nice visits and once in awhile, at his request, I would go for a short walk but never beyond the road or much from the house. Ocie, Ida’s niece, came also and we had lots of fun together. Ethel, who lived down the road, never came to the house. When she would want to talk with me she’d come down the road in front of the house or up the driveway and I’d go out and we’d have a good visit. Once she said, “I’d come to the house but I am afraid your folks wouldn’t want you going with me.” I said “why/” She said, “because my father drinks so and my mother has to take in washing to support us.” I said, “Ethel, that makes no difference to me so long as you are a good girl. That’s what counts.” Then she went on. “most of the girls that are somebody shun me,” “Now Ethel,” I said, “I hope you are not being imaginative about that. You know one can be. You just be the best girl you know how to be and you’ll not lack for friends.” I have, during my girlhood, reproved many a girl or boy for slighting someone they thought not as good and highminded as they.
September was not so far away and big things were to happen the first part of September. I would start back to school, the first grandchild was expected and a wedding had been planned.
It was along in the last week of August that we hitched the team to the carriage and started the tem mile drive to the county seat and courthouse. The courthouse was most nearly as could be in the middle of the county. A beautiful day, one not to be forgotten. The birds were singing from the roadside and not a cloud in the sky. My brother drove and brother-in-law to be sat beside him, my sister Sallie and I sat in the back seat. Just before we came to the courthouse we crossed a bridge over a small creek. Here we reined the team in and paused for a moment to take in its beauty and listened to the gurgling of the creek as it flowed on its way. Down aways, two barefoot boys with torn straw hats, sat on the bank fishing. A little black and white dog played at their feet. My brother got such a thrill out of it for he had once been that same kind of a boy.
The big old courthouse, sitting on a grassy hill surrounded by trees, with several big oaks, was a grand sight. So cool looking with its well kept ground and there was the hitching rack. We got out and tied the horses. I wandered around the grounds and took in the beautiful flowers, found a swing where I could swing awhile and a bench in a cozy corner where I sat for awhile. All this grand setting, I thought, and no town around it. It was tucked away into the heart of the county.
Finally they came out of the corridor and down the large steps. I was waiting on the walk. I said, “did you get it?” They said, “we sure did,” and with that my brother-in-law to be unfolded the piece of paper in his hand and said there it is,” the marriage license that would one day in the future make them man and wife. My sister blushed a bit as he unfolded it.
Out to the carriage we went. On our return trip home no one said anything. We sat there as quiet as mice while the horses trotted along. The trip seemed much shorter returning than coming. It always seems that way when you make a trip for the first time. Years later I didn’t forget that trip. The sights yet, still plain and vivid, especially when brought to mind. Finally my brother, always as usual, jolly, said as we neared home, “isn’t anyone going to say something?” “Well,” I said, “can’t you see this is a pretty serious occasion?” My brother said, “you aren’t telling me, I thought this way too before I was married.”