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.
“Emilene, I want you to meet Grace, and this is David.”
Mrs. Pleasants was standing outside the back door of the Zimmerman house, between two little children, one hand resting on the outside shoulder of each.
Emilene looked at the faces of the children, both smaller than she thought, especially the girl who was only a year younger than her. Two dark faces that showed almost no expression. They have to be scared to death.
“Hi, I am Emilene, your new sister.”
It had been a month since the Pleasants had approached the Zimmermans about taking the children, adopting them really, although the paperwork that they filled out was just for temporary custody on the path to adoption. So many children were being shifted around and placed in new families, the process was taking longer than usual. Judges were swamped.
Emilene had gone back to her home — she really knew deep down it was her home — and told Mama and Papa that whatever they decided was fine with her. She thought she saw tears in Mama’s eyes and the hug she got was as genuine as she could imagine.
Still, the decision was not made quickly or easily. Emilene heard Mama and Papa debating for days, asking questions, going back and forth, raising concerns, offering hope and ideas.
She heard the older brothers encouraging their parents, although it seemed odd to her that they should care so much. She also heard Cassie and then Jacob say it was all right with them, as long as they didn’t have to look after them all the time.
I wonder if they said that about me? Emilene thought.
And now, here they were, just in time for a couple of weeks of summer, then starting out in school. Emilene knew much of their story before they arrived. The family had lived in Oberlin, most of a day’s travel by horse, and the children had been with the preacher’s family until permanent arrangements could be made.
Isaac and Sarah had gone to get them and brought them to their house last night, and now they were coming to live with the Zimmermans.
The older brothers had moved out, all three renting a flat on Bloom, near the factory where they all had found work. Nate, with his missing foot and shin, had been given a desk job, much to his dismay, while the other two worked the floor, making wagon wheels and assembling other farm implements, hand tools and devices for wagons.
That opened up the house, and Jacob immediately moved to Nate’s room on the first floor, which had been occupied by Grandpappy only two years earlier. He would share it with David.
Cassie and Emilene rearranged their room to include Grace. Papa had taken the two beds and built a frame so one bed would be mounted above the other — bunking they called it. Emilene volunteered for the top bunk, because she knew Cassie was not fond of heights. A trundle bed, a mattress on a frame that rolled, would be kept under the bottom bunk, and rolled out for sleeping.
It actually makes the room bigger with the three of us in here, than when it was just Cassie and me. Poor Cassie, to think only a couple of years ago, she had this all to herself!
After family introductions, the twins each took a child to show them their bedroom. Emilene offered to help with luggage, until she saw that included a large trunk for each.
I’ll just let Papa get those. Think I’ll check on Grace and Cassie.
Emilene walked into their room just as Cassie was showing her the trundle bed. Grace hadn’t said anything yet, since arriving.
I hope she talks.
We’ll pull this out each night and slide it back each morning, then we will have plenty of room. You can use these drawers for your, well, drawers, Cassie laughed.
Grace was silent.
“Don’t worry, Grace. This will work out just fine. I was your age when I came here, and it took awhile, but this is a good place to live. You’ll see.”
Grace just nodded her head.
Emilene could see Grace bite her lower lip.
That was me. That surely was me.
Papa hauled the trunk into their room and Emilene and Cassie offered to help her unpack. They opened the trunk and began to put clothes in the dresser drawers, trying to make a fuss over each article of clothing, but still Grace was silent. She just watched, until Emilene pulled a rag doll out, obviously worn from use, but looking like it had been used by more than one generation.
“No.”
The girls stopped, and turned to look at Grace. She had her hands outstretched for the doll. Emilene handed it to her.
“Is this your doll?”
“Mama’s,” Grace said quietly.
Cassie and Emilene looked at each other knowingly.
“It’s good to have something of Mama’s,” Emilene said, to Grace and to herself.
I know how you feel, Grace.
Once the girls were unpacked, and with Grace still having said nothing more, Cassie suggested they give a tour of the rest of the house and of the neighborhood.
“Would you like that?” Cassie asked Grace.
Grace nodded.
“Girl, don’t be afraid to talk to us. It really will make all this easier,” Cassie said.
Grace nodded.
The three came down the steps. Cassie poked her head in the boys’ room and said, “How is it going in here?”
Jacob looked a little exasperated.
“This little guy won’t stop talking. Question after question after question.”
“Jes’ wanna know what ev’ything is? Don’t want to break nuthin’ and don’t wanna make you mad at me. Know you’ll like me when you know me. I like to sing, want me to sing? Hope to play the piano someday. Miz Pleasants says you gotta piana. Learn me piana?”
Jacob looked at his sister.
“Trade ya.”
