The Lay's were getting ready for church that Sunday Morning. They were quite nervous because the only people they knew were the Wilder's. They planned to sit near them...Arrah had already put her hair up was in her rust-colored dress with the gold buttons...Cage wore a gold-colored shirt and brown pants with matching brown shoes. He also wore brown supenders to hold his pants up. Drew wore a green shirt and brown pants with matching brown suspenders, and Graham and Leslie were matching in light blue shirts with gray pants and matching gray suspenders.
"Ok...Can I see how you boys look before we go?"
All three boys stood together side by side. Their blond hair was neatly parted on the left side. They looked very nice, neat and clean. Arrah was impressed.
"You look very handsome boys." She smiled.
Cage grabbed the Family Bible and Drew and Graham followed him out to hitch up the team. Arrah smoothed out her auburn hair and put on her dark gray bonnet. She picked Leslie up and balanced him on her hip.
"Are ready to go to church, Mr. Leslie?" She asked the three-year-old.
"Yeeeaaah!" He shouted. Arrah smiled and walked out the door.
Drew and Graham were already in the back of the buckboard. Arrah lifted Leslie up in the back so he could be with his brothers and he climbed in and sat down by Graham. Cage helped his wife into the wagon and got in after her. He snapped the reins and the horses set off down the dirt road towards the church.
"Hey, can we sing a few hymns before we get to church?" Graham asked.
"Graham, we're going to be singing when we get to church!" Drew smiled.
"I know that! I want to sing now! I love music and singing."
"All right. Pick a hymn and we'll sing." Arrah said.
"In the Sweet By and By." Graham said. "I like that one."
And so, in the back of the wagon they sang the first verse and the chorus.
"There's a land that is fairer than day
And by faith we can see it afar
For the Father waits over the way
To prepare us dwelling place there
In the sweet by and by
We shall meet on that beautiful shore
In the sweet by and by
We shall meet on that beautiful shore."
"Beautiful...boys! Just beautiful!" Arrah clapped her hands.
"Well your voice along with ours made it beautiful, Arrah." Drew said.
"Thank you Drew...But if I recall, last night you were singing when you took your bath...and I thought it sounded very, very nice." Drew had very nice tenor voice, and would sing the harmony, along with Cage's baritone. Arrah and the two youngest boys sang the lead.
"Thanks Arrah." Drew sort of blushed. He was embarassed that Arrah had heard him singing. "Can we sing 'Old Rugged Cross'? That's another great one."
"Certainly." She said.
"On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
the emblem of suffering and shame;
and I love that old cross where ther dearest and best
for a world of lost sinners was slain.
So I'll cherish the old rugged cross,
till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
and exchange it someday for a crown."
"Could we sing 'Jesus Loves Me'?" Leslie whispered in Arrah's ear.
"We most certainly can, Leslie." She smiled.
"Jesus loves me! This I know,
For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong;
They are weak, but He is strong.
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
The Bible tells me so.
Jesus loves me! This I know,
As he loved so long ago,
Taking children on his knee,
Saying, "Let them come to me."
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
The Bible tells me so."
When they had finished the song they had pulled up to the church. Cage helped Arrah out of the wagon seat so she could help the boys out of the back of the buckboard. Graham and Drew jumped out and Arrah grabbed Leslie. They saw the Wilders coming up the dirt road. They waved hello to them. The Lay's were about to walk up the way to the church when a middle-aged lady with strawberry-blond hair approached them. She went immediately to Arrah and shook her hand.
"Hello! How are all of you this wonderful Sunday morning?...Welcome to the First Baptist Church of Mansfield...It's so good to have you here visiting with us today!...I'm the reverend's wife, Mrs. Ford."
"Good Morning! Yes were very glad to be here...We just moved here from Iowa and most likely will be attending here regularly...I'm Arrah Lay this is my husband Cage..." She said.
"I don't mean to be rude Mrs. Lay, but you look quite young to have three children already...Especially your oldest, why, he looks like he's about fifteen or sixteen!" Mrs. Ford said, motioning to Drew.
"Well, that's because I'm their sister-in-law." She smiled.
"I'm terribly sorry...I just thought you all looked like the happiest little family!"
"That's perfectly all right, Mrs. Ford. We get that a lot...We've actually adopted the boys. This is Drew...Graham...And this little one here, is Leslie." As Arrah introduced the boys, she layed her hand on the two older boys' shoulder. She was holding Leslie.
"Pleased to meet you boys..." She said to each of them. Mrs. Ford turned to Arrah. "May I ask what happened to their parents?"
"Well, their father Silas passed away of a heart attack a few months before Leslie was born...and Charlotte passed on a month before Cage and I got married."
"Oh my." She said. "My sympathies."
"Thank you, Mrs. Ford. But its always so good to know that we'll see our loved ones again in Heaven someday."
"Very true...Well, come inside now, church is going to start soon."
They follow the Reverend's wife inside.
"Mrs. Ford?" Arrah asks.
"Yes deary?"
"May I ask what your name is?" She smiled. "Out of respect, I will call you Mrs. Ford but it is nice to know what one's name is."
"Oh yes!...My name is Ettie...My husband's name is James, but I call him Jimmy...Again Mrs. Lay, its so good to have you all here." She smiled.
The Reverend Ford had dark brown eyes and a full head of coal-black hair that was graying slightly on the sides. He stood in front of the little pulpit and everyone began to find a seat. Cage and Arrah sat on the second to last row and put Graham and Leslie sat on the seat in front of them. Drew couldn't find a place to sit close enough to them.
"Is it ok if I ask Jenny to sit with me?" He asked Arrah.
"If its all right with Mr. Wilder." She smiled and watched as Drew went over and asked him. It must have been all right with him because he let Jenny and Drew sit in the seat in front of the seat that he, Laura and Rose were sharing. Though, Almanzo did have a very close eye on Drew.
"Thank you all for coming this glorious Sunday morning...Do we have any folks visiting with us this morning?"
Almanzo raised his hand and introduced Cage, Arrah and each of the boys.
"Oh! So that's who the good looking young man standing next to Miss Jenny Wilder is...If I didn't know any better I'd think he was your beau." Reverend Ford and the rest of the congregation laughed. Drew and Jenny sort of smiled at each other. "Speaking of Miss Jenny Wilder...today is her birthday...Stand up please, Jenny...you know what we do to people with birthdays..."
Jenny stood up and was already beginning to blush.
"Now...In our best voices!" The Reverend smiled and everyone lifted up their voices in song...
"Happy Birthday to You,
Happy Birthday to You,
Happy Birthday God Bless You,
Happy Birthday to You!"
As Jenny sat back down, everyone applauded.
The Reverend Ford continued with announcements, and then they sang a hymn.
"Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
with the cross of Jesus going on before.
Christ, the royal Master, leads against the foe;
forward into battle see his banners go!
Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
with the cross of Jesus going on before.
Like a mighty army moves the church of God;
brothers, we are treading where the saints have trod.
We are not divided, all one body we,
one in hope and doctrine, one in charity.
Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
with the cross of Jesus going on before."
While singing, Drew and Jenny held the songbook together. He smiled at her when they sang the words, 'in charity'. Jenny blushed a little. They both knew charity is another word for love.
"Now if you are twelve years old and under, Miss Hannah Anderson will take you outside to Sunday School." The Reverend said. With that, about eleven children walked out the front door and Miss Anderson walked over to where Graham and Leslie were sitting. She kneeled down in front of Graham and layed her hands in his lap. "Would you and your brother like to come to Sunday School with me?" She asked, smiling a perfect white smile up at Graham. Miss Hannah was very pretty. She had light brown hair and brown eyes. She was unmarried and about a year or so younger than Arrah...Graham couldn't say anything, so he just nodded. He didn't really know what love was all about, but he thought he just might be in love with Miss Hannah Leonora Anderson. She took both Graham and Leslie by the hand and guided them outside, talking with them all the way to a clearing with trees all around. There were beautifully carved benches arranged in a circle, each bench had the shape of a cross carved through it, and Graham sat down on one of them. Other children sat down around him, filling up the benches. Leslie sat with his own age group and Graham sat with his. Most of the children were talking, some very loudly, but Miss Hannah got them to quiet down some.
"Children...we have two new ones in Sunday School today, so lets introduce each other one at a time so we can get to know each other...Say your name and your age please..."
A girl who was sitting right next to Miss Hannah started it off.
"Hi, my name is Lucy Abbing and I'm twelve years old." She sat back down.
A boy who was standing next to Lucy stood up. "I'm Clay Abbing and I'm ten. I'm also Lucy's younger brother."
A girl, this time stood up. "I'm Missouri Bauer, but I like being called Missy and I'm also ten years old.
A boy with firey red hair stood up next. "I'm Charlie Roux and I'm nine."
A girl with curly blonde hair and blue eyes stood up. "I'm Sarah Ann Jones and I'm nine years old."
It was Graham's turn next. He stood up and tried to say his name and his age, but all he was doing was stuttering...and staring all lovestruck at Miss Hannah. "Its all right Graham,...I understand you're nervous..." Miss Hannah said, her soft hands on his shoulders. "Everyone, this is Graham Lay and he's nine years old. He and his family moved here from Iowa. Be sure to make him welcome."
"Where from Iowa?" One of the older children asked Graham.
"Dubuque." He replied quietly.
"Do you know that about Julien Dubuque guy?... I think your ancestors would've known him...Did you know he named that city? He's the founder of it. He was the first European to settle in Iowa Territory...He's dead now, though. Since its the year 1894,...he's been dead for about 84 years now. He died March 24, 1810." The boy named Clay told him. Apparently, Clay loved history...Graham just sat there. He didn't know what to think about Clay's rambling on.
A pretty girl with brown hair was sitting next to Graham. She looked a lot like Miss Hannah. It was her turn to introduce herself so she stood up. "I'm Hope Anderson and I'm eight years old.
"She must Miss Hannah's sister." Graham thought.
Rose Wilder was sitting next to Hope Anderson and she stood up and introduced herself to the class, even though Graham and Leslie knew her already.
A boy with brown hair stood up. "My name is Hiram Anderson and I'm seven years old."
'That must be her brother...Boy!...Hannah, Hope, and Hiram! The Anderson's must really like H names." Graham thought to himself.
A girl stood up. "My name is Stella Christiansen and I'm seven."
A boy this time stood. He had red hair like the boy named Charlie. "My name is Jack Roux and I'm six."
A girl with blond hair stood up. "My name is Lilly Christiansen and I'm four."
Miss Hannah stood up by Leslie and put her hands on his shoulders, just like she did Graham. "Are you scared Leslie?" She asked him. Leslie nodded. "Its all right." She smiled and rubbed his back.
"Children, this is Graham's younger brother Leslie. He's the youngest one in our class. He just turned three."
"Well, now that we all know each other some...Let's begin our lesson."
Miss Hannah sat on her knees in the middle of the circle and began the Sunday School lesson. It turns out Miss Hannah liked to draw and she drew Bible Characters on pieces of stiff paper, colored them and would cut them out. She pasted a long stick on the back of each of them. She held them by the little sticks and would act out the lesson. It was a way she could keep the children's attention and keep them interested in the story. Today's lesson was about Jonah and the Whale. Graham listened very intently and he loved the story that was being told. Miss Hannah had even made it look like the paper Jonah was swallowed by the paper Whale, just as the real Jonah had been swallowed by a giant whale. After the lesson was finished, some parents began to pick up their children. As soon as Leslie saw Arrah, he immediately got up and ran to her. Arrah picked him up.
"How were the boys, Miss Anderson? Did they behave well?" Arrah asked.
"Yes they were wonderful. Leslie was a little scared at the beginning, but the boys fit right in! They were the best in the class if you want my opinion. Graham listened very well to the Sunday School lesson."
"Oh really. I'm glad to hear that!" Arrah smiled. "What did Miss Anderson teach on?" She asked the boys.
"God and Jesus!" Leslie said.
"You always say that the Sunday School teacher teaches on God and Jesus, Les!" Graham said. "...Miss Anderson taught about Jonah and the Whale. She even made the paper Jonah get swallowed by the paper Whale!" He exclaimed.
"Paper Jonah's, paper Whales?" Arrah laughed. "I think I'm missing something here."
Miss Hannah held up the paper Jonah and the Whale. "It's how I teach my lesson...It really works too. Keeps their attention on the story pretty well." She smiled at Graham who was gazing up at her. "Hey Graham, who's amazing?"
"You are." He says and smiles at her.
"No, you are." She says. "Can I have a high five?" She extends out her hand and he gives her a high five. "Do you know why you're amazing?" She said, her hands on he knees.
"Why?" Graham smiles.
"Because God is amazing so he makes YOU amazing!" She playfully pokes his shoulder.
"I still think you're amazing." Graham says, gazing up at her.
Hannah Anderson had to laugh a little. "You're so cute Graham!" She says, ruffling his blond hair.
"Well, come on boys, we are going to head over to the Wilder's place...I hear you and your family are invited to Jenny's party this afternoon, Hannah."
"Yes we're planning on going...We'll see you there, Mrs. Lay." Hannah smiles. She sees that Graham is still looking at her. "Bye Graham." She smiled and waved at him before walking over and joining her family. Arrah walked Graham and Leslie to the buckboard where Cage was already waiting.
"Where's Drew?" Leslie asked.
"He is going to have Jenny and Rose show him around town." Arrah said, helping the boys into the buckboard.
"To distract Jenny so she won't know about the surprise party." Graham whispered.
"Yes and we need to get over to the Wilder's as soon as we can. We're going to help them set everything up...Jenny just thinks we are coming over for lunch this afternoon." Cage said as they set off.
Rose and Jenny showed Drew around town that afternoon. One of their stops was to the mercantile to see the Oleson's. (Calm down I know what you're thinking...Aww man! It's Mrs. Oleson, lets get outta here!...Nope, its not Nels and Harriet Oleson. Don't worry its Willie and Rachel.) Willie and Rachel tried to live in New York City where Nellie and her kids were living, but they just couldn't, they just weren't used to the big city. They loved living in a small country town. So when Mary and Adam were planning to visit Laura, Almanzo and Rose, Willie and Rachel decided to move to Mansfield. They had been there for a few months already and had set up their own mercantile business. In the future, Willie plans on managing his own restaurant business, just as he had in Walnut Grove.
"Hello Mr. Oleson! How have you been lately?" Rose asked.
"Doing very well. How 'bout you?" Willie smiled.
"Wonderful." Rose replied. She eyed Jenny and Drew walking off to look at something in the store. Rose leaned over the counter and whispered. "You know that you and Mrs. Oleson are invited to Jenny's surprise party, right?"
Willie leaned over the counter and whispered just like his father would. "Rachel and I will be sure to make it." He smiled.
"Have you heard from your Pa, Mr. Oleson?" Rose asked.
"Yes. He's doing well. He and Mother are living in Sleepy Eye, Minnesota."
"I hate to ask it...but how's your sister Nancy doing?"
"Haven't heard from her...And I'm glad." Willie laughed. "All I know is that she's nineteen and living in California somewhere."
Jenny and Drew came up to the counter. "Well it was nice to meet you, Mr. Oleson. I think we need to be going. Jenny and Rose just wanted to show me around town a bit."
"Well aren't you blessed to have such kind escorts?"
"Pretty ones, too." Drew smiled. Jenny blushed and Rose couldn't stop staring at Drew. She knew she had a crush on him when she first saw him, but she kept her feelings hidden.
Jenny looked over at the counter at a very strange looking contraption. "What is that Mr. Oleson?"
"Its a soda fountain, Jenny...Rachel and I thought it would bring in some business..."
"What do you do with it?" asked Rose.
"You drink it...It's a sweet treat." Rachel said, who was stacking some shelves.
"How much are they?" Drew asked.
"We're selling 'em for a penny each...but since you are the first customers who are interested...I'll let each of you have one for free."
"Thank you Mr. Oleson!" They said.
"You're welcome, kids." He smiled and got out three large glasses. "The flavors we have right now are sarsparilla, cherry, grape, orange, birch bark, and peppermint."
"I'll have a peppermint please, Mr. Oleson." Drew said.
"Grape, please." Jenny said, smiling.
"And I'd like to try the Sarsparilla, please." Rose said.
Willie fixed up their drinks and set them on the counter before them. "Here you all are!"
"Thank you!" Each of them said.
"And you can keep those glasses, kids!" Willie called after them as they walked back to the Wilder's place.
"You know Jenny, I meant what I said about having a pretty escort." Drew said, standing in the Wilder's front yard. He was finishing the last of his soda water. Jenny smiled, looking into his green eyes.
"Do you think that I'm pretty, Drew?" Rose asked. She hoped he would. Maybe he would like her too, just as she likes him.
"Yeah, you're a cute kid, Rose." He said, patting her head.