Editor’s Note: This is an ongoing series which runs each Thursday morning titled the Richland Chronicles Volume VI, by author Paul Lintern. It is set in the 1860s and tells the story of Richland County through the eyes of young people. This is the sixth in a series. The books are available from Lintern for $25 a set, tax and shipping included. Each book is about 120 pages written for intermediate readers (4th grade) with local illustrations. Volume I is Amelia Changes Her Tune. Volume II is Isaac and Wolf Paw Find Their Home. Volume III is Autumn Keeps Her Secret. Volume IV is Mr. Gamble Starts a School. Volume V is Jacob Blows his Horn.
August 1, 1863
Dear Uncle Samuel and Aunt Anna;
There are many things I wish for.
I wish I were as smart as Grandpappy. I wish I were as grown up as Mama. I wish I knew what the days will bring. I wish I had seen you and Mr. Lincoln compete in splitting rails. I wish this war were over and Levi and Philip were home. I wish Dan and Tad were still alive.
I cannot even imagine how you feel, but I want you to know that I never stop thinking about you and wishing things could be the way they were before.
I promise I will never take for granted the people in my life every day they are with me, and that I will always do my best to make life better for those I love. That is my promise to Tad and to Dan.
Your loving niece, Cassie
It was as though a new month brought a new life to Cassie. For no reason that she could explain, she jumped out of bed this first day of August, as the sun was peeking over the horizon, and decided to put all her energy into making her family happy.
She helped Mama cook a big breakfast, and took it into Grandpappy’s room, with a cup of freshly brewed coffee that he loved so much.
She polished Papa’s shoes, combed Maggie’s mane, and even put red bows in it for no special occasion.
Then, she ironed Nate’s trousers before he got up. She even whistled every happy tune that came to mind. Mama was shocked.
“Well look at you this morning,” she said. “I just woke up and decided I am tired of being tired. If I have to be sad, I might as well be happy while I’m doing it.”
I hope that makes sense to Mama, because I sure get it.
“Well, that is fine,” Mama said, and smiled cautiously at her energetic daughter.
Later in the morning, she strolled down Third Street to Costin’s grocery and burst through the door with a jubilant “Good morning, Tim. Good morning, Mrs. Costin. I’m here to help.”
Tim looked up from his books, surprised, and Mrs. Costin nearly dropped a bag of flour, she was so startled.
“Well, good morning dear. Welcome back.”
Cassie’s whistling continued through the morning, and on a couple of occasions she heard Mrs. Costin join in. Tim, too, once.
If I’m going to miss John, then I am going to honor him with everything I do here, and make it as easy for Tim and his mother to honor him while they miss him, too.
At the end of the morning, it was time for Cassie to head back home. Mrs. Costin gave her a big hug and said, “We will get through this, dear, I know we will, together.”
“Yes, we will,” Cassie said, then she bounced over to Tim and gave him a hug before she left.
Surprised him, she thought as she smiled her way out the door.
Cassie did not know why the sudden change; she only knew that something told her it was time to decide to be different and that now it was her choice.
I choose joy.
“Hey Mordecai, how about some rounders?” she said to Jacob as she came in for lunch.
Jacob looked up in surprise. She hadn’t played rounders since that day with Sheldon, and she hadn’t called him Mordecai — her annoying pet nickname for him — in forever.
“Well, yes, we were going to get a game started here after lunch. If you want to join us…”
“Second base?”
“Sure, I guess.”
“You got it,” and Cassie was by Mama’s side, helping her with the leafy salad and buttering the bread.
The game was a spirited one. It was obvious that the boys were surprised by Cassie’s enthusiasm. She actually was a good player and no one felt hindered by having her on their side. But today, she was unstoppable, catching grounders, throwing runners out, hitting the ball past the infielders and running the bases fearlessly.
This is fun.
Even Sheldon seemed to notice. “Nice hit, Squirt, uh, Cassie,” he said after she drove him in with a two-bagger.
You bet it was, Shelly.
After a long, dusty afternoon of playing, the boys decided to go to Mr. Stoner’s apothecary for some lemon fizz.
“You want to come along, Cassie?” Sheldon asked.
“Sure, sounds fun.”
“You need to get cleaned up or anything?” he asked.
“No, I’m fine.”
She smiled to herself.
I’m just one of the boys.
Mr. Stoner’s store is where everyone went for whatever ailed them — bromides for the stomach, iodine and bandages for cuts, herbs for arthritis and gout, something for everything.
The fountain, though, was where people went for something exotic to taste, and it was a favorite gathering place for children as Mr. Stoner could mix any number of flavors and then make it exciting with soda water.
The lemon fizz really hit the spot, especially with a little strawberry mixed in, and Cassie looked around the group of boys, lounging against the wall outside the store, and thought:
These are really Jacob’s friends; I probably should spend more time with my girlfriends, otherwise they might wonder. Well, let them wonder.
Most of them would love to be where I am now. Maybe a little more cleaned up…
