A/N: Okay here is the next part only about a week late. Sorry that I never
did get those e-mails out but work has been hectic as anything. A big thank-
you goes to all of you who responded. I really appreciated all of your
letters, it made my life a lot easier. I have the next couple of chapters
already written so they should come up pretty soon. Hopefully by next
Monday, but don't hold me to it. Anyway on with the show.
It was a windy day, the guys were working around the farm when Mr. Jackson rode up in his carriage. Jack was the first to straighten up, "Hello Jackson, what can we do for you today?"
"Well Frances, it seems you've been receiving quite a few letters lately, the wife thought you might want to read them. So she sends me all the way out here with them. So here you go, wait till I leave to read them. Then my wife can't bug me about them." Jackson said as he handed Jack a thick stack of letters.
"Thanks, Jackson, we'll probably be up to town in the next couple of days with letters of our own." Mr. Jackson shrugged as he turned his horse around and went back to town.
Jack tucked the letters into his waistband and went up to the house. He set the letters on the doorstep before going back to work. The guys worked until sundown, working hard on getting the farm ready for harvest. Tools had to be sharpened, stalls needed to be cleaned out, and the storage barn needed to be cleaned out and readied to be used in less than a month.
At sundown the guys gathered in the kitchen to eat. Jack came in last and threw the letters on the table. "We got more responses today, Jackson brought them out. We got another six. So why don't we each read one." Jack picked up the largest of the letters, the other guys also picked one up except for Blink. "So Blink who should go first?"
"Let's leave the biggest one for last. I bet it will take a while to get through, Bumlets go first." Blink closed his eyes and pointed, when he opened his eyes, Bumlets was his choice.
Bumlets opened the letter and began reading.
"Dear Mr. Frances,
I read your add in the paper and it interests me. I can handle hard work and can clean house well. I'm strong willed and can do anything I put my mind too. I'm not what you would call your typical woman, I tend to be independant and I feel as though that's a good quality to have on a farm. I can also cook extremely well if that helps any. I guess a description of myself would be good. I'm rather short at 5'2, I have deep auburn hair and brown eyes.
With Love,
Michelle Beaufont"
"Well that's the second one who can cook, and she can clean. I say she is a keeper." Skittery said with a smile.
"But she's strong willed." Spot pointed out.
"Who cares about that, being a bit independent never hurt anyone." Jack commented.
"Fine keep her." Skittery said rolling his eyes.
"Good then you go next lets hear from your girl." Race said motioning with his letter.
Skittery read through his letter silently, then he began to laugh, "This isn't gonna do us any good unless we is looking for a gun. Listen to this: Mr. Kranzes, RE your request for a rifle. I have a rifle, Enfield, 20 yrs, well kept. Still fires good. Willing to sell for 17 dollars, not willing to travel to do so. Will you please respond and write in large handwriting as my eyes aren't what they used to be. Thank you, Kevin Bailey."
All of the guys began laughing, Spot got a hold of himself first, "You know I don't think we need to be too hard on the old man. If you couldn't read well I bet the ad looks like one asking for a rifle. So should I read mine next?" The guys all nodded and Spot began reading, "Dear Mr. Frances, I came across your ad and it's produced an odd effect in me. Until now I've avoided marriage because I was waiting for something to feel right, and oddly enough, this does. My name is Helen Black. I am of middling height and have black hair, brown eyes, and a collection of freckles that has refused to disappear with age. I can cook and clean fairly well, but my specialty is sewing. I was hemming a dress for a neighbor's daughter last night when I realized that someday I want to be making clothes for my own children. I picked up the paper and read you ad afterwards - it was like a sign. Sincerely awaiting your response, Helen."
"Frank young thing." Race said hiding a smile.
"Freckles can be cute," Bumlets added.
Spot put the letter on top of the one from Michelle Beaufont. "Okay let's keep her. Who's next?"
"I'll go," Race offered, "Dear Mr. Frances, I saw your advertisement in the newspaper, and after prayerful consideration, I have decided to respond. I come from Boston, and although I have never ventured West, I know I can handle the work. I'm the oldest child in a family of eight, so I am quite accustomed to chores and hard labor. I am an expert housekeeper, and I am a first-rate cook. I am a good Christian woman and I will be faithful and hardworking. I hope that you will seriously consider my response. And may God be with you. Regards, Anne E. Gordon Boston, Massachusetts."
The guys were silent. Jack spoke first, "Well she's honest, I wonder how she'll react to not having a parson nearby all the time."
"She's probably Catholic, oldest of eight kids and from Boston." Race commented.
"Wonder how she got the paper in the first place." Mush asked.
"Maybe her pop was in the city for some reason and brought the paper home." Jack suggested.
"Let's give her a chance." Skittery said, everyone looked at him in shock. "Well I can get to choose one too don't I?"
"Well since Jack is going last I'll read mine," Mush said opening his letter. "Dear Mr. Frances, My name is Penelope Donnelly. I am 18 and after my loving brothers showed me your ad I knew I must respond. I am a delicate young woman, with all of the necessary knowledge to run a proper household. My brothers say I am one of the best cooks they know and they never complain about how the house looks. And as much as I love my family I am ready to move on and become the caretaker of my own household. I hope to hear from you soon. Sincerely Penelope Donnelly."
Spot sat straight up, "That last name Donnelly?"
"Yeah Donnelly, why you ask?" Mush asked handing Spot the letter.
"This one is a keeper even if it is just to annoy her brothers." Spot said as he read the return address.
"What do you mean by that?" Blink wanted to know.
"I know the Donnelly boys, lets just say we didn't exactly get along. But that don't sound like Pipsqueak." Spot said a huge smile on his face.
"Maybe it isn't Pipsqueak. There are a lot of families with the last name Donnelly in New York." Mush said honestly.
"Nah I know where Ron Donnelly lives. Couple of my guys followed him home one night. We also found that his little sister was one of the biggest pickpockets in Brooklyn."
"You think this is the same girl?" Jack was a bit skeptical.
"Well even if she ain't I know that letter wasn't written by her. What girl is going to call her brothers wonderful?" Spot explained.
"Okay so we keep her, but Spot you'll be writing her." Jack said as he opened his letter.
"Fine let's hear the novel you got." Spot said leaning back.
"Well guys settle in this is a novel." Jack said as he began to read. "Dear Jack Frances, I'm writing this as I wait for the nearby theatre to open so that I could talk to Medda. But you didn't need to know that, did you? My name's Trish Williams, 16 years old, and living my life to what it could be. I'm in New York right now, hoping to find a better life than what my family had provided me.
I never actually done this before, replying to one of those newspaper ads asking for whatever people needed. But I feel as if this could be something different for me. I've always wanted to be with someone who would love me, not that I never was, but being a girl during these times can be real tough. I guess I'd say that I'm strong and not afraid to do hard work. It's what I've been doing all my life. Working at the factory, along with other jobs, can give you strength both physically and emotionally.
I always look out for my friends whenever they're in need... I love to talk to them, tease them, and practically spend every living minute with them. If anybody hurts my friends, they have me to answer to. I love to have fun, playing card games, throwing parties, and making an interesting time out of everything.
Honestly, I have no idea what to say to you. how would I know what you want for a wife? All I can say is that I would offer you my friendship and honesty. whatever I could give. But I don't want to easily jump to conclusions; I can't love someone for the heck of it. Is this making sense to you? I hope that you would choose me so that I could find love and contentment, but I don't really know.
I. look, I'd write more, but then the theatre's already opening and I might not get another chance. I hope I've given you enough of what you need so that you could get a clear feel of me. All I can say is. hope to see you in Texas! Trish Williams"
"She sounds young." Skittery commented. "I mean sixteen."
"Well it wasn't like we knew what we were doing at sixteen. We were storming Pulitzers office and having a strike." Blink pointed out.
"But sixteen and she is thinking of working for Medda. What if Medda reads the letter, she knows us pretty well." Skittery shot back.
"Maybe it wouldn't be so bad, most of the girls we've been looking at are older, I think a younger one might be a good idea." Mush commented.
"We'll put her in the keep pile, Bumlets you write her, cause you are the one that Medda always forgets to ask about." Jack said as he began to hand back the letters.
"I'll write the Donnelly girl." Skittery offered. "Um no you take Michelle Beaufont." Spot said quickly snatching the letter from Skittery's hand.
"I'll take the girl from Boston, it's Anne right?" Mush asked.
"Yeah Anne, fine I'll take Helen Black." Jack said picking up is letter. "So men by tomorrow have your letters written and ready to take to town."
It was a windy day, the guys were working around the farm when Mr. Jackson rode up in his carriage. Jack was the first to straighten up, "Hello Jackson, what can we do for you today?"
"Well Frances, it seems you've been receiving quite a few letters lately, the wife thought you might want to read them. So she sends me all the way out here with them. So here you go, wait till I leave to read them. Then my wife can't bug me about them." Jackson said as he handed Jack a thick stack of letters.
"Thanks, Jackson, we'll probably be up to town in the next couple of days with letters of our own." Mr. Jackson shrugged as he turned his horse around and went back to town.
Jack tucked the letters into his waistband and went up to the house. He set the letters on the doorstep before going back to work. The guys worked until sundown, working hard on getting the farm ready for harvest. Tools had to be sharpened, stalls needed to be cleaned out, and the storage barn needed to be cleaned out and readied to be used in less than a month.
At sundown the guys gathered in the kitchen to eat. Jack came in last and threw the letters on the table. "We got more responses today, Jackson brought them out. We got another six. So why don't we each read one." Jack picked up the largest of the letters, the other guys also picked one up except for Blink. "So Blink who should go first?"
"Let's leave the biggest one for last. I bet it will take a while to get through, Bumlets go first." Blink closed his eyes and pointed, when he opened his eyes, Bumlets was his choice.
Bumlets opened the letter and began reading.
"Dear Mr. Frances,
I read your add in the paper and it interests me. I can handle hard work and can clean house well. I'm strong willed and can do anything I put my mind too. I'm not what you would call your typical woman, I tend to be independant and I feel as though that's a good quality to have on a farm. I can also cook extremely well if that helps any. I guess a description of myself would be good. I'm rather short at 5'2, I have deep auburn hair and brown eyes.
With Love,
Michelle Beaufont"
"Well that's the second one who can cook, and she can clean. I say she is a keeper." Skittery said with a smile.
"But she's strong willed." Spot pointed out.
"Who cares about that, being a bit independent never hurt anyone." Jack commented.
"Fine keep her." Skittery said rolling his eyes.
"Good then you go next lets hear from your girl." Race said motioning with his letter.
Skittery read through his letter silently, then he began to laugh, "This isn't gonna do us any good unless we is looking for a gun. Listen to this: Mr. Kranzes, RE your request for a rifle. I have a rifle, Enfield, 20 yrs, well kept. Still fires good. Willing to sell for 17 dollars, not willing to travel to do so. Will you please respond and write in large handwriting as my eyes aren't what they used to be. Thank you, Kevin Bailey."
All of the guys began laughing, Spot got a hold of himself first, "You know I don't think we need to be too hard on the old man. If you couldn't read well I bet the ad looks like one asking for a rifle. So should I read mine next?" The guys all nodded and Spot began reading, "Dear Mr. Frances, I came across your ad and it's produced an odd effect in me. Until now I've avoided marriage because I was waiting for something to feel right, and oddly enough, this does. My name is Helen Black. I am of middling height and have black hair, brown eyes, and a collection of freckles that has refused to disappear with age. I can cook and clean fairly well, but my specialty is sewing. I was hemming a dress for a neighbor's daughter last night when I realized that someday I want to be making clothes for my own children. I picked up the paper and read you ad afterwards - it was like a sign. Sincerely awaiting your response, Helen."
"Frank young thing." Race said hiding a smile.
"Freckles can be cute," Bumlets added.
Spot put the letter on top of the one from Michelle Beaufont. "Okay let's keep her. Who's next?"
"I'll go," Race offered, "Dear Mr. Frances, I saw your advertisement in the newspaper, and after prayerful consideration, I have decided to respond. I come from Boston, and although I have never ventured West, I know I can handle the work. I'm the oldest child in a family of eight, so I am quite accustomed to chores and hard labor. I am an expert housekeeper, and I am a first-rate cook. I am a good Christian woman and I will be faithful and hardworking. I hope that you will seriously consider my response. And may God be with you. Regards, Anne E. Gordon Boston, Massachusetts."
The guys were silent. Jack spoke first, "Well she's honest, I wonder how she'll react to not having a parson nearby all the time."
"She's probably Catholic, oldest of eight kids and from Boston." Race commented.
"Wonder how she got the paper in the first place." Mush asked.
"Maybe her pop was in the city for some reason and brought the paper home." Jack suggested.
"Let's give her a chance." Skittery said, everyone looked at him in shock. "Well I can get to choose one too don't I?"
"Well since Jack is going last I'll read mine," Mush said opening his letter. "Dear Mr. Frances, My name is Penelope Donnelly. I am 18 and after my loving brothers showed me your ad I knew I must respond. I am a delicate young woman, with all of the necessary knowledge to run a proper household. My brothers say I am one of the best cooks they know and they never complain about how the house looks. And as much as I love my family I am ready to move on and become the caretaker of my own household. I hope to hear from you soon. Sincerely Penelope Donnelly."
Spot sat straight up, "That last name Donnelly?"
"Yeah Donnelly, why you ask?" Mush asked handing Spot the letter.
"This one is a keeper even if it is just to annoy her brothers." Spot said as he read the return address.
"What do you mean by that?" Blink wanted to know.
"I know the Donnelly boys, lets just say we didn't exactly get along. But that don't sound like Pipsqueak." Spot said a huge smile on his face.
"Maybe it isn't Pipsqueak. There are a lot of families with the last name Donnelly in New York." Mush said honestly.
"Nah I know where Ron Donnelly lives. Couple of my guys followed him home one night. We also found that his little sister was one of the biggest pickpockets in Brooklyn."
"You think this is the same girl?" Jack was a bit skeptical.
"Well even if she ain't I know that letter wasn't written by her. What girl is going to call her brothers wonderful?" Spot explained.
"Okay so we keep her, but Spot you'll be writing her." Jack said as he opened his letter.
"Fine let's hear the novel you got." Spot said leaning back.
"Well guys settle in this is a novel." Jack said as he began to read. "Dear Jack Frances, I'm writing this as I wait for the nearby theatre to open so that I could talk to Medda. But you didn't need to know that, did you? My name's Trish Williams, 16 years old, and living my life to what it could be. I'm in New York right now, hoping to find a better life than what my family had provided me.
I never actually done this before, replying to one of those newspaper ads asking for whatever people needed. But I feel as if this could be something different for me. I've always wanted to be with someone who would love me, not that I never was, but being a girl during these times can be real tough. I guess I'd say that I'm strong and not afraid to do hard work. It's what I've been doing all my life. Working at the factory, along with other jobs, can give you strength both physically and emotionally.
I always look out for my friends whenever they're in need... I love to talk to them, tease them, and practically spend every living minute with them. If anybody hurts my friends, they have me to answer to. I love to have fun, playing card games, throwing parties, and making an interesting time out of everything.
Honestly, I have no idea what to say to you. how would I know what you want for a wife? All I can say is that I would offer you my friendship and honesty. whatever I could give. But I don't want to easily jump to conclusions; I can't love someone for the heck of it. Is this making sense to you? I hope that you would choose me so that I could find love and contentment, but I don't really know.
I. look, I'd write more, but then the theatre's already opening and I might not get another chance. I hope I've given you enough of what you need so that you could get a clear feel of me. All I can say is. hope to see you in Texas! Trish Williams"
"She sounds young." Skittery commented. "I mean sixteen."
"Well it wasn't like we knew what we were doing at sixteen. We were storming Pulitzers office and having a strike." Blink pointed out.
"But sixteen and she is thinking of working for Medda. What if Medda reads the letter, she knows us pretty well." Skittery shot back.
"Maybe it wouldn't be so bad, most of the girls we've been looking at are older, I think a younger one might be a good idea." Mush commented.
"We'll put her in the keep pile, Bumlets you write her, cause you are the one that Medda always forgets to ask about." Jack said as he began to hand back the letters.
"I'll write the Donnelly girl." Skittery offered. "Um no you take Michelle Beaufont." Spot said quickly snatching the letter from Skittery's hand.
"I'll take the girl from Boston, it's Anne right?" Mush asked.
"Yeah Anne, fine I'll take Helen Black." Jack said picking up is letter. "So men by tomorrow have your letters written and ready to take to town."
