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.
Later in the day, a knock was heard on the door. Autumn opened it and she had a pleasant surprise. Six Pleasants surprises actually.
“Well my, my, look who is here. Come in, all of you,” she said.
Sarah looked hesitant.
“Did you not know we were coming? I sent Josiah up this morning to let you know we would be stopping by,” she said.
“And I did. I told Jacob,” Josiah insisted.
Just then Jacob walked in.
“Hey there, Joe. Hello everybody.”
He paused.
“Mama, the Pleasants are going to stop by this afternoon. Josiah wanted me to tell you.”
“I see, and exactly when were you going to let me know?” she asked.
“Well, I guess about now.”
The mothers exchanged knowing glances and Autumn welcomed the whole family in, while quietly instructing Jacob to gather the Zimmerman family immediately.
“What brings you here?” Autumn asked.
“We heard the boys were back and wanted to see them for ourselves,” Sarah said. “It’s always good to know that they have returned in one piece.”
She caught herself as Nate hobbled into the kitchen.
“Oh, I’m sorry Nate, that was thoughtless of me.”
“Not too worry, Mrs. P. I’ve still got enough of me left that I am not complaining. I left a foot on the battlefield, but my heart returned to Mansfield.”
“You are so kind, Nate. Such a good heart you have, son.”
Nate smiled. The families settled in the parlor, a room that most families avoid using except on Sunday visiting days, but the Zimmermans saw that as too great a luxury; the room was used daily by just about everyone and things were just moved around as needed.
The children were off into the yard by the carriage house and only the parents and older sons gathered in the parlor. Emilene stayed behind to play her violin for the adults.
After renditions of “Dixie,” “Old Dan Tucker” and “Turkey in the Straw,” Isaac remarked, “Mr. Emmett would be so proud of you; it’s as though a 10-year-old version of himself is playing.”
“Begging your pardon, Mr. Pleasants but I don’t cotton to that statement very well; I don’t suppose I look anything like Mr. Emmett,” Emilene said, and everyone burst into laughter.
“And we all thank God for that, young lady,” he said. “But when we close our eyes, we expect ol’ Dan himself to be playing for us.”
“Or ol’ Orrin Pharris,” Levi said.
“Now you really don’t look like him,” Isaac said, and everyone laughed again, but with a little hesitation.
“That poor man,” Sarah finally said.
“But how wonderful for what he is doing for Emilene,” Autumn said. “And what she is doing for him.”
Emilene could feel herself blush.
“Listen, Autumn and Levi, we do have a more specific reason for visiting you tonight,” Isaac said.
“We have two more children that need a home,” Sarah said. “Orphans that we just can’t see going without a real family, and we just do not have the resources to raise them ourselves.”
“We want you to consider taking them,” Isaac said.
More? They want more children here?
Autumn caught her breath.
“Oh dear. I don’t know how we would do that,” she said.
That’s for sure.
“I know this is terrible timing, with the boys just getting back, but you know how great is the need, across this land, and these two children are special to us. We would so love to see them in this community and loved by people we know will give them a new home,” Sarah said.
How in the world?
“You know, Mother, and Father, we will be moving out very soon, as soon as necessary really, and not too far so that we can be in your hair as much as you want us to be,” Phillip said. “And we do know the need is great; we saw that constantly, north and south.”
“You are wonderful parents,” Levi added.
Whose side are you on?
“But, Sarah, who are these children? Where do they come from? How old?”
“A girl and a boy, Grace is 9 and David is 6. Their parents, friends of ours, were taken by the fever, both of them, days apart. It was awful.”
“I just don’t know, Sarah, Isaac. I just don’t know,” Autumn said.
I do. Don’t do it.
“Levi?”
“We need to pray about it, to consider it, to wait on the wisdom to know,” he said. “Sarah, are these children, well…”
“Black? Yes, as black as we are,” she said.
Emilene saw both parents sigh. There was silence for several seconds. It seemed like minutes.
“I don’t know how it would work,” Levi said. “Autumn, if Isaac and I were to pass away, would you take Josiah and Tabitha?”
“In a minute.”
“I know you would, and we would have no concerns about how you would treat them.
“What about Lilly and Ivy?” Autumn shook her head. “I don’t know. I mean, we would certainly want to do right by you, and where else would they go, bounced around as they have been, but I don’t know.”
What is this, a zoo, a farm, taking in all the stray animals? I thought I was special, but I guess I’m just another project.
Autumn seemed to sense an unsettledness in Emilene. She looked her way.
“Emilene, what do you think?”
I can’t tell them; they wouldn’t understand. But, I am not going to say everything is all right, because it isn’t. Only one thing I know to do.
So up she stood, and out of the house she walked.
