New Beginnings: Life Changes
ch. 65
Celebrations and Family News
Preparing for the Independence Day celebration, the younger boys busy themselves making and decorating small wooden wagons.
"Joseph?" Ben asks looking across the barn at his older brother.
"Hmm?"
"Will you help me, please? I need help getting the wheels on this wagon. I've tried four times and they keep coming back off."
"I thought the rules were you have to make these wagons all on your own."
"Well, Mr. Anderson said we could get help with the axles and wheels. Didn't he, George?"
"Yes, he said grown-ups could put the wheels on for us but we had to make the wagons and decorate them ourselves."
"George and I built our own wagons. Both of us did this all alone. So now will you please help us with the wheels?"
"Since you are asking so politely, I will be happy to help. What's with all this good mannerly behavior, Ben?" Joseph teases as he puts the wheels on the body of the wagon.
"I'm just being nice."
"Yes, I've seen how nice you've been for over a week now. What's up with that?" Joseph says looking up from the task.
"What? You don't think I can be mannerly?" Ben asks.
"Stop with the pretend irritation. You know I don't mean it that way. I'm asking why you are being OVERLY polite all of a sudden. You haven't even argued with me over kitchen chores in a week. You used to argue over whose turn it was to wipe the table, sweep the floor, all the kitchen chores. Now you just do what I tell you. You haven't been complaining about going to bed either. This is not the Ben I'm used to living with. I'm wondering why, is all."
"I'm trying to be extra good so I don't get another trip to the tack room. That is not something I want to happen any time soon if ever."
"Ahh, I thought that must be it. Yeah, I can sympathize with you. Okay, all four wheels are on and staying. All you had to do was push them on harder and put the wooden bolt on the end. Now you two see if you can do George's wagon and I'll watch."
"You did it! Good job, fellas. Now, I'll leave you to begin decorating. I need to go see if Mama needs my help as I'm done in here."
"Mama? I finished my outside chores until evening. Is there something I can do to help you get ready for Independence Day or anything else?"
"Joseph, you've done everything I asked last week and even more this week. I don't have any more chores for you to do." Delphie replies with a smile.
"Mama?"
"Yes?"
"I am sorry for how I acted. I didn't deliberately decide to lie to you about why I wanted to go to Rob's that day. I was going to tell you but I was worried you wouldn't let us go and then I couldn't get help for Pa. I didn't think I was lying exactly just more not telling the entire reason. Will you please forgive me and trust me again?"
"I have already forgiven you, Joseph. You have accepted the consequences and now you have apologized and I see you meant it this time. I want you to know I will always listen to you and together we can make a decision. You're old enough now to explain your reasoning and when you do, I will listen. I'm not saying I will always agree or let you do what you are asking but I will listen to you. Do you promise to listen to my reasons as well?"
"Yes Ma'am, I do. Do you think Pa will be the same as you and listen to my reasoning without getting upset?"
"Well Joseph, he listened to your reasoning the day the younger children and I went to town and you two had your discussion did he not? He didn't punish you first and then discuss it, now did he?"
"No, he let me talk and he listened to my reasons. He seemed to understand why I did what I did but he punished me with restriction to the ranch and extra chores anyway. I'm not complaining as it could have been a lot worse punishment considering." Joseph answers.
"Your Pa is trying to treat you as a young man more than a boy. He's attempting to not be too quick to judge and to listen to your reasoning. It's a process but he's trying. Ethan wants all of his children to be law-abiding, well-mannered, and educated. He wants his children to have a different experience as youth than he did. You are well aware of those expectations as you've recited the list of 'Do Nots' for me many times."
"Yes, I know but even knowing that doesn't make being housebound for two weeks with extra work something I like."
"My advice then would be to think through your actions before you commit yourself. If it is something that could have negative consequences choose a different plan of action, Joseph. You are older now and have learned to reason out why something should or should not be done. Am I correct in this thinking?"
"Yes, Ma'am. I will do as you say and stop to think before acting on my decisions from now on. Do you think Ben will ever learn to do that?" Joseph asks with a grin.
"I sincerely hope he does or your Pa is going to be gray-haired before he's forty!"
That evening, sitting by the fire, the younger boys busily work on decorations for their wagons. Using old fabric, they braid red, white, and blue strips together forming a long braid.
"When did the two of you learn to braid?" Ethan asks having watched the process.
"Just today, Papa. Mama taught us. It's not hard at all. We're going to use these to decorate our wagons for the parade tomorrow afternoon. We also have costumes to wear." George answers.
"What kind of costumes? Are you George Washington and Benjamin Franklin?" Joseph asks
"No, we don't need to be dressed as someone else. We're wearing our dungarees with colored stars sewn on, blue and red shirts, plus the funny triangle shaped hats. The ones that the founders wore back in the revolution. We made those yesterday."
"Mama showed us how to make pinwheels with folded paper and a stick. Mine is red and white while Ben colored his to be blue and white. We will carry those. I hope there is some breeze to make them spin." George adds to the conversation.
"You're going to have some competition. Chris told me Savannah sewed costumes for all four of their children. She's been working on this for weeks." Ethan tells the group.
"Well, we just want to have our wagons win a prize. They can win a costume prize." Ben answers after a short whispered conversation with George.
"Boys?"
"Ma'am?"
"Just enjoy your parade and the fun you're having with decorating. Let's don't think of whether or not you might win something. It's all for fun, isn't that correct?"
"Yes, Mama." Both boys reply while Ben sends a silent message to George in his thoughts. 'I still want to win, no matter what I just agreed to.'
"Mama?" George asks sometime later after his parents are finished with their conversation of boring things.
"Yes?"
"Caleb said he's going to pull his baby brothers in his wagon. Can I put Emerson in my wagon and pull her in the parade tomorrow?"
"That is nice of you to want to include your baby sister, but she's not yet old enough for a parade."
"I'd be right with her and wouldn't let anything happen. We could dress her up really pretty and have her hold my pinwheel."
"George," Ethan says firmly, getting the boy's attention.
"Sir?"
"Did you hear your mother say Emerson isn't old enough for a parade?"
"Yessir but..."
"NO, no argument. Your mother answered your question, you take no as the answer and do not continue to argue about it. The decision is final. No means no."
"She didn't say the word "No", Pa. We could take care of Emerson and she'd be so cute! Caleb is taking the twins why can't we take Emmy?" Ben unwisely decides to add to the discussion.
"Please Pa, we promise to look after her and Ben's right, she'd be so cute. She's old enough to sit up in the wagon. We could tie her in, even. Please?" George tries.
"I will not argue this with either of you. When your parents make a decision, you abide by it! You will now put your decorations in the basket and go prepare for bed. Say your 'good nights'."
Looking up at the mantel clock his Mama had been given for their anniversary, Ben sees the time is seven thirty, thirty minutes before bedtime.
Turning back, he opens his mouth to inform Ethan of the time but seeing the glare being directed at him has second thoughts about saying anything.
Good decision Ben. Don't argue or you may wind up getting swatted! Ben hears George say in his mind.
"Good night, Mama, Joseph, Emerson, and Pa." Ben says as George also says good night with a kiss for his baby sister who is sitting in his Mama's lap.
The following afternoon, fifteen excited children have come together to practice their parade lineup.
The boys and girls with decorated wagons are to walk between those wearing costumes. A few of the children have brought their dogs along who are also dressed for the event.
"We should have brought Pepper today. He would have looked good with a small blanket on him. We could have decorated the blanket. Mama would've sewed it if we'd thought of it." Ben tells his brother.
"Yes, but we can't hold on to him and pull the wagons. One of us would have to hold on to him and the other pulls a wagon. Maybe next time we have a parade, he can be in it. Maybe Pa'll let us put the cart in with one of the ponies to pull it on the next parade. Do you think we could have a parade for Halloween?" George replies.
"We'll start talking about it to Mama and get the others to talk to their Mamas. The Ladies Aid group might just decide to have another parade then." Aaron contributes to the planning.
"You look good, Aaron. Your Mama made a good Uncle Sam costume. Alyssa, I can see you're Lady Liberty, but what are Charlotte and Nathaniel?" George asks his friends.
"Thank you. The green dress is cut down from one Mama found in a church barrel before they arrived here. I do like the velvet but it's a little warm. We made the torch from paper and paste and my chalkboard slate is her tablet. Charlotte and Nathaniel colored the orange and yellow papers to fold up for the flame. Charlotte, tell George who you are dressed as." Alyssa answers.
"Hi, George, Ben. I'm Betsy Ross, the lady who sewed the first flag! I have my flag right here. I cut out the red stripes and Mama did the stars. It's the flag from way back not the flag we have now so it doesn't have as many stars." The seven-year-old answers proudly.
"You look very good, Charlotte. Who are you, Nathaniel?" George asks.
"I am Carl River. See my stick horse? Mama and I made it. I get to yell "The rubbish is coming."
This answer has the older children giggling. Nearby trying to help organize the chaos, Joseph hears Nathaniel's answer.
"Nathaniel, let's go over your character again. You are PAUL REVERE, you are the very important person who is warning the settlers of the BRITISH soldiers' arrival. You are to say 'THE BRITISH ARE COMING' not 'the rubbish'. Try again to say your part but don't yell, we want to keep this a surprise." He quietly corrects the five-year-old.
"The British are coming, RUN!" Nathaniel complies, once again causing giggles among the other children.
"Good, okay now, just remember that is what you say. Your Mama did a good job making a coat with coattails. Can you walk in the boots? Those look awfully big on you."
"Umm hmm, they fit now that Papa put wadded up cloth down in the toes. Before he did that Aaron's old boots were too big and kept coming off when I walked."
The Independence Day celebration begins with the reading of the preamble to the Constitution where the audience recites it along with the speaker,
"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."
Mr. Anderson, acting as host then leads the audience in reciting the first ten amendments to the constitution known as the Bill of Rights. The group moves into singing several patriotic tunes, finishing with the Star Spangled Banner. He then announces "Now as the final part of our celebration, we'll have a Children's Parade. The children are ages one to twelve today. Children go take your places in a line, please."
Having volunteered to help with this part of the Independence Day celebration, Dr. Amy gathers the children into a line once again. "Alright dear ones, you are all set to show everyone your fabulous wagons and costumes. We'll start here and you'll parade around the gazebo and over to the tree with a ribbon on it. When you get to the judge's table, don't forget to turn in a circle so each judge will see all of your wagon and costume. When you reach the tree, come back to join your families. The prizes will be announced after everyone has reached their families."
As the children march by the adults and older kids, everyone claps. Mr. Anderson, acting as the announcer calls each child's name as they pass by and identifies their costume. As Charlotte and Nathaniel march past, Nathaniel, having decided to add to his part calls "I am Paul Revere and my job is to tell everyone the news. The Rubbish are coming The Rubbish are coming! Run for cover!"
The audience has quite a few people who are choking back laughs or smothering them with handkerchiefs at this pronouncement. After the ribbons and awards are handed out, everyone disperses.
"Well, that was a fine parade. You children did an excellent job." Delphie remarks to the two youngest boys.
"I thought our wagons were the best but we didn't get a prize. Davy Stephens and Holly Isenberg, the little girl with the tall sides on her wagon won. I'm happy Nathaniel, Charlotte, and the twins won as their costumes were the nicest." George answers.
"We did the most with decorating. Ours were the nicest wagons and we built it all ourselves too. That wagon she had, she couldn't have built it. She can't be more than seven or eight and that's too young to know how. The rules were we had to build the wagon and decorate it ourselves. We could ask for help with the axle and wheels." Ben says.
"Are you saying a girl can't build?" Claire asks her young brother.
Recognizing he's about to be in a big mess, Ben says "Well no, but she's .. well... uhh... never mind."
"Never mind, indeed. You watch how you talk about girls. I'm a girl and I used to build just as well as Joseph! I may not let you have any cake today after you insulted girls."
"NOOO, I'm sorry. Please, Claire? Don't take my cake away." Ben begs falling to his knees in front of his sister.
"Oh stop. You're being too dramatic. Get up before Pa asks why you're on the ground. He won't like hearing you were talking badly about a girl." Claire says, causing the boy to leap up at the mention of their Pa. After his scolding the night before, he's not about to irritate his Pa again.
"He's way over there talking to Uncle Chris. You scared me on purpose! I thought he was coming!"
"It got you off the ground, didn't it? Come on menace and George, you two can ride with us back to Rob's house. Joseph will come with Mama and Pa because he's going to hold Emerson." Claire informs her brothers.
Having arrived at Rob's, Delphie excuses herself to feed Emerson and settle her for a nap. Claire and Amelia busy themselves warming the food and getting the table prepared.
"We're ready to eat," Claire calls to the family gathered around the fireplace in the front room.
"We have roast pork and venison on these platters. Thank you Rob and Alex for preparing the meat. Then there's corn on the cob, fresh bread baked by Amelia, carrots, asparagus, green peas and beans from Mama's garden, and baked potatoes as well. Pa? We'd like you to say the blessing today."
"Thank you all for inviting us to spend the afternoon with you. We've been anticipating this celebration together all week. Now, please bow your heads." Ethan says waiting for everyone to do so before saying "Thank you, God, for our freedom. We celebrate our country and our freedom together today. Because of You, we are a free nation of people who rule themselves and have the freedom to choose our path in our own lives. We, as a people, have worked hard to form a free country, and we will continue with your help to strive to keep it. Thank you for your blessings, Amen."
"That was lovely, Ethan." Delphie murmurs to him.
"Thank you, Pa. You are becoming an eloquent speaker." Claire praises.
"So, I wasn't an eloquent speaker before?" Ethan teases with mock sternness, causing laughter at Claire's sputtering "Well, I meant.."
"Let's eat. Since I'm now an eloquent speaker, I'll start the platters of meat moving." Ethan says as he helps himself to slices of venison and pork before passing the platters to Delphie.
Noticing Ben and George have bypassed the green vegetables in favor of extra corn and bread, Delphie tells them "Boys? I want to see some green on those plates. I'm not seeing any at all. Rob and Alex will pass the bowls to you, be sure to help yourselves to those vegetables as there are plenty."
"Aww, Mama! It's a holiday, we shouldn't have to eat that on a holiday. It's not patriotic. We're a free nation, so we get to choose." Ben tries.
"Patriotic or not, do as your mother told you, Ben. You do have a choice, obey or face consequences. I believe we had a similar talk about you accepting what you're told and not arguing just last night. Any more argument today about a decision made by your Mama or myself and there will be trouble." Ethan remarks. His reminder and the look he sends Ben ends the protest.
After enjoying their meal and deciding to wait a little longer before having some of the cake or pies, Ethan excuses the younger boys.
"Ben and George, you two may go outside if you wish, just stay within calling distance."
"Yes sir," Ben answers happily. After an hour of sitting, he's ready to have some fun.
"Mama? Emerson is awake. May I go get her ready and take her outside too? She likes to visit the horses."
"Yes, George, you may. If she starts getting irritable, bring her back inside. Be sure to keep her from eating something she shouldn't as she's putting anything she finds in her mouth."
"I'll take care of her, Mama. She's always good for me."
"That she is because she has a special bond with her big brother."
With the younger children outside, the talk turns to ranching and other news.
"I saw the field you have been working on is now clear. What are you and Alex going to plant there?" Ethan asks Rob.
"Well, we are going to plant it in grass seed. I want a good pasture for my animals." Rob answers deliberately not naming the animal as any mention of raising cattle leads to an argument.
"Alex, with all the work you've done here with Rob, you should ask him for a paycheck. Either that or proceeds from the return of your hard work when he gets some for himself."
"Yes sir, I want to work. I didn't come here for the summer to just sit on a porch drinking lemonade. I came here to help do whatever needed to be done. I've enjoyed being able to be out in the pastures and barns again." Alex answers.
"Alex and I have some special news to share today," Claire announces as she takes Alex's hand in hers.
Feeling Ethan tense beside her, Delphie places a reassuring hand on his leg under the table out of sight. She can guess why he's on edge at their daughter's happy announcement. He's not ready for being a grandfather just yet.
"I received a letter from the school two days ago. Before leaving Boston for the summer, I took an examination. If I scored well then I could skip the next year of training as I would already know those skills. My results came in with a score of 110 out of 120. I'm able to completely bypass one year and that means I'll graduate in the spring of next year, 1903. My early lessons with Pa, Dr. Amy, John Taylor, and Mama have helped me skip an entire year of coursework."
"Well, congratulations Claire! What wonderful news! There must be a high need for nurses in Boston." Delphie remarks as the others also congratulate Claire.
"I'm sure there is but, well you tell them, Alex."
"Before we left Boston, we talked of our future. Both Claire and I agreed we were coming home to work not just to visit this summer. We want to be working members of the community now and when we move home permanently next summer. We want Paradise to be our permanent home just as it was until a year or so ago. THIS is home." Alex replies as he watches the expressions on Ethan and Delphie's faces. As the words register, Delphie's eyes light up and Ethan gives a slight smile.
"Now, I'll tell you what Alex and I have talked about," Rob says. "When Claire is finished with Boston, she and Alex will come back to live with us. Eventually, we're going to build them a home on part of this land. Alex can work with me if he chooses or I can work it all if he chooses to work elsewhere. Claire will be close enough to town to work with Dr. Amy. We'll have all of our family here in Paradise."
"When you get ready to build, I'll be here to help," Joseph tells his older brothers.
"Thank you, Joseph," Alex replies.
'That is wonderful news! Next summer is going to be so exciting. Our family will all be back together. Ethan and I have some news as well." Delphie announces.
"Emerson is going to be a big sister. From my calculations, it will happen in March of next year so we'll have a new little one to welcome you both home."
"A new baby? OH! How lovely!" Amelia exclaims. "I'm so anxious for Rob and I to start our own family."
I agree it is lovely however, I'll miss this one's birth as well though! Mama, you must promise the next baby after this will be born so that I can be here for the birth!" Claire tells her.
"NEXT baby? We'll have five children in the house by then with two babies." Ethan protests.
"Your father thinks Emerson will still be a young baby when the next one arrives. I can't seem to get it through to him, his two youngest will be fifteen months apart not six. Emmy will be a big girl by then." Delphie shares with the group.
"You ought to have twins the next time, Mama. Then he really can have two babies at once. Double the fun for Pa." Rob teases.
This comment earns him a "Hush!" and a swat across the arm from Ethan which causes everyone else to break into laughter.
"Well everyone, it seems this is the day for sharing family news. I have news as well." Ethan begins, "I'm sorry to spoil this happy day with some unpleasant talk but I received word this afternoon that John Taylor has become very ill and the Medicine Man of the tribe determines it is a matter of days. I am taking the first train in the morning to be with him and Delphie and Joseph are coming along as well. I would appreciate it if you all would care for the three youngest for a few days as well as go to the ranch to care for the animals."
"We'll be happy to take them." Claire says as Amelia adds "It will be fun to have a baby to care for and the boys are always a delight."
"A delightful heap of trouble, you meant." Joseph corrects his newest sister.
"Now, don't talk that way. They're not that bad." Claire scolds her brother.
"Joseph brings up a good point, if you have any trouble at all, you have my permission to discipline however you feel is necessary. Rob, Alex, Amelia, and Claire, you must be the adults in charge this time. Don't let the boys misbehave or they'll take advantage as they did on your Denver trip." Ethan stresses to his oldest children.
"Don't worry. We know how to manage two young boys and a baby. I've taken care of my brother and sister enough to know how to stay firm." Alex reassures Ethan.
"We'll get together everything they might need for the stay. We'll drop them off here at seven in the morning. If one of you would drive us to the station, we'd appreciate it." Ethan replies.
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