Editor’s Note: This is an ongoing series which runs each Thursday morning titled the Richland Chronicles, by author Paul Lintern. It is set in the 1860s and tells the story of Richland County through the eyes of young people. 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. Volume VI is Cassie Fights the War.
“Mama, can you please tell Emilene not to play her fiddle so early in the morning? This was my one day to sleep a little,” Cassie shouted down the stairs.
“You don’t need anymore beauty rest; you are pretty enough already,” Mama called back.
“Told you,” Emilene said, not even pausing in her practice.
“I just want to play a little longer before we start out.”
The family was heading to the Rocky Ford, east of town, with the Pleasants, for a picnic lunch.
The fathers did not get to go, but both of the Day brothers were coming with their mother. Emilene’s violin lessons were going very well, shockingly so. Because it was hard for the Zimmermans to find Mr. Pharris sometimes, lessons were not regularly scheduled.
He had taken a liking to his new pupil, though, which was obvious by the way he shared music, and the brightness in his voice whenever he taught her.
“I really have not heard that tone of voice since his, well, incident,” Autumn told Levi one night. “I think it is beneficial for teacher as well as student.”
The lessons certainly were beneficial for the student, and the student’s family, despite Cassie’s occasional complaints.
Emilene had very quickly passed through the bad-note phase that every beginning student encounters. At the beginning, the family accused her of sneaking Winny into the house, until they found out it was her playing.
By now, while learning new songs was still tedious, Emilene rarely played a sour note, just some that were not the right ones. As a result, Cassie rarely complained about the sound, just the timing.
“Let’s load up, please,” Mama called. “We will make room for the Pleasants and the Days will come separately.”
“May I bring Winny?” Emilene asked.
Jacob rolled his eyes.
“Well, yes,” Autumn said.
“Tie Winny to the back. He will keep up.”
“And my violin?”
Cassie rolled her eyes.
“Of course, the music will do us good,” Mama replied.
So the family headed down Mulberry to Fourth Street, then east. Maggie pulled the carriage as Jacob drove, with Mother sitting next to him. Cassie and Emilene were in the second seat, while Winny ambled along behind, on a very short rope.
The family didn’t even have to get out once they arrived at the Pleasants, as Mrs. Pleasants and Ivy climbed into the front, Lilly and Tabitha squeezed into the second bench, and Josiah took the cargo seat in back, facing Winny.
“Still plenty of room for more if we see anyone along the road,” Jacob mumbled.
“You never know,” Mama replied.
The picnic spot they had chosen was about a mile further east, under a couple of willow trees by an open field, not far from the old Lewis home.
Samuel Lewis had been an early settler that had known Grandpappy Zeiters and was a regular at the Inn, and so Autumn had known him as well. The stone house was a stately landmark in that part of the county.
“Let’s tie Maggie here, with all this clover, and put Winny over there by the wild flowers,” Mama said.
“Come on, boys, let’s throw,” Jacob said, pulling a base ball out of his pocket.
The four boys were racing to a soon to be created ball diamond.
“You will need us, if you want to play a game,” Cassie shouted out to them.
“We’ll call you if we can’t do without you,” Jacob shot back.
“Boys,” Cassie mumbled.
“Boys,” Tabitha repeated.
“Boys,” Lilly and Ivy said, almost together.
“Boys,” Emilene said, smiling, not wanting to be left out.
All the girls began to laugh.
The mothers put cloths on the ground and began to set out food, mostly as a way of being able to catch up on news while they were doing it.
“How are the violin lessons coming?” Mrs. Day asked. “Esther, I would not have believed it. That old man is on fire for Emilene.” Autumn stopped abruptly as she realized her choice of words.
“Oh dear, I didn’t mean it that way,” and the other two started laughing.
“We know what you mean,” Sarah said.
“Truly, is he helpful?”
“Oh my, what a genius. If only he had taken to teaching; how many would have benefited by now.”
“It may not be the idea of teaching, but he may see something in Emilene,” Esther said.
“I think you’re right. He seemed very interested once he realized who her father was.”
“Do you think he knew my father well?” Emilene asked, realizing that the women may not have known that she was eavesdropping.
Mama look startled, then calmed herself.
“I think Mr. Pharris thought highly of your father, and I will guess it was because your father thought highly of him.
“It takes a righteous man to see the good and beautiful in someone who most people see only as offensive,” she said.
Emilene smiled.
That was my father.
Mrs. Day and Mrs. Pleasants were smiling at her as well.
“Child, we are glad for you to be part of the Zimmerman family, of our family, really,” Mrs. Pleasants said.
“Thank you, Ma’am.”
They are going through an adjustment, too.
“How are Lilly and Ivy doing in Mansfield?” she asked.
“Thank you for asking, Dear,” she said. “I suppose they are doing well, but they seem afraid at times, and a bit standoffish. I don’t know how to make them be at ease.”
“That takes time, Mrs. Pleasants, and it isn’t you, I’m sure. It just takes time and you will grow on each other.”
That sounds pretty grown-up!
“My, aren’t you the grown-up young lady,” Mrs. Day said. “Each time a see you I am more impressed with your sense of decency and decorum.”
Decency and de-what?
“Thank you, Mrs. Day.” By that time, the boys were back.
“We can use a few more fielders, even if they aren’t very good,” Jacob said.
“After lunch,” Mama said.
“No argument here,” he replied.
