HitH - Simply Trusting - Part 5

Good morning!
I know this is late. But I'm on vacation of sorts at my grandparents. And it's a rainy morning. We slept in, and I'm hurrying this quickly because I want to go eat breakfast. :)

Last night I got to do something that I've wanted to do for a very long time. I got to eat supper in a little hole-in-the-wall cafe. My mom and aunt were eating supper together at my aunt's house, and that left my sister and I to eat supper with our grandparents. We tried one place, but they weren't open. So we went to "Ambrosia." We actually went inside just after they had closed but their door was wide open and so they let us stay and eat. There was no music playing, only one other table with people who were planning their wedding, and were there for a tasting since "Ambrosia" was catering for it. And then us. Only three people work in the cafe, and the chef came out after we had started eating to see how things were. It was so much fun! After we were finished it felt like we should go back to the kitchen and tell them "thanks for supper." :) Anyway, now I've eaten in a little hole-in-the-wall.

Today we're going to help at my aunt's house with some organizing. And I'm hungry so I'm going to post this and go eat. Enjoy this last part of Chapter whatever it is. :)

Simply Trusting

Part 5

    Without a word, Belle turned and held out the slate to Ali, “Then you can practice.”
    “Will ya help me write my full name like ya did Kade?”
    “Yes.”
    Leaving Ali to write and erase and write some more, Belle moved over to a window and stood watching the rain. “Simply trusting every day, Trusting thro’ the stormy way.” She hadn’t realized she had sung the line until she began the next one. “Even when my faith is small, Trusting Jesus, that is all.”
    “Belle, I’m finished with my letters.”
    Hurrying back to the table, Belle admired Ali’s work. Then, erasing the letters she wrote her name and Ali set to work copying it. “It ain’t as long as Kade’s name. He’s got a long one, but I reckon I still got ta practice ta make it look like yours.” And Ali frowned at her name. “It don’t look right.”
    “It will with practice. Riss, do you want to practice?”
    “Kin I Ma?” Riss had been mending a shirt and now looked questioningly at her mother.
    Aunt Lillian nodded. “I’ve always had a hankerin’ for my youngun’s ta learn ta read an’ write, but the school’s been too far away. I learned the older two ta read a might ‘fore the young’uns took up too much a my time.”
    “It must be the right time now, Aunt Lillian,” Belle remarked softly. “I didn’t see the work Jesus had for me to do and I didn’t want to leave Mama and Papa, but I was trusting that He knew best.” She smiled brightly though a film of tears blurred her vision. “I’m glad I came.”
    “So are we!” Ali hugged her cousin impulsively before changing the subject. “Ez, ya reckon this rain’ll be gone tomorrow?”
    “Yep.”
    “Then Ma, kain’t me and Belle, I mean, Belle and me, go see Aunt Claire? She ain’t never met Uncle Nate’s family. Ya think we could, Ma?”
    Aunt Lillian was silent for a few minutes, rocking and letting her darning needle fly in and out of a gaping hole in a stocking. At last she spoke. “I suppose if’n Belle wants ta cross all the creeks, I don’t mind. Yer aunt most likely would like a might a help. I might let Riss go ‘long with ya.”
    “Me too, Ma,” Kade begged.
    “Ya’d jest get in the way,” Ali began to protest.
    “Rome an’ me don’t get in the way. An’ I reckon we kin help Aunt Claire’s much as you.”
    “We don’t want ya comin’ this time, Kade. It’s jest gunna be me and–I mean Belle, Riss and me. Ya always get in ta trouble ifn’t ya go ‘long.”
    “Do not!”
    “That’s enough,” Aunt Lillian’s tired voice broke up the argument. “We’ll decide who’s goin’ tomorrow.”

    Lying in her bed that night, Belle tried to keep back the tears. The bickering and arguing of the day had made her wish she was back home. Why didn’t everyone just get along? “It’s because they don’t know Jesus,” she realized. “Does Aunt Lillian?” It wasn’t a question easy to answer. Aunt Lillian had never said so, Belle had never seen her stop and pray about things as her mother had, nor had she reminded Ali and Kade that fighting wasn’t pleasing to the Lord. “Perhaps she has forgotten. Maybe she has been so busy that she doesn’t have time to read her Bible and pray each day. Poor Aunt Lillian. She looks as tired out as Mama used to look when Papa wasn’t feeling well. If she’ll agree, I don’t mind if Kade and Rome come with us. It would leave fewer children to keep an eye on. In fact,” she smiled in the dark, “if it was possible, I’d take everyone.” Then a slight frown puckered her brow. “Perhaps Uncle Nathan wouldn’t like so many extra children. Ali did say that he had almost as many children as they have.” She paused and counted on her fingers. “There are an even dozen here.” She nudged Ali and whispered softly, “Ali, are you awake?”
    There was no reply, and Belle lay still listening to the soft patter of rain on the roof “I suppose I will find out how many children there are tomorrow. If it does stop raining.” With that thought she turned over with a yawn, closed her eyes and fell asleep.

Have you ever eaten in a hole-in-the-wall?

Would you have invited Kade and Rome to go with you?

Do you want more of this story?

HitH - Simply Trusting - Part 4

Happy Spring days, FFFs!

It looks like spring now. The grass is really turning green, daffodils are blooming, the trees and bushes are budding, and a visiting flock of cedar waxwings have descended on our trees and birdbaths. We usually get them twice a year. Once when spring is coming and they are heading up north, and then again in the early fall when they are heading south. They are so pretty!

Okay, this week. I haven't done a whole lot of writing because we had my nieces and nephews over Tuesday evening and then I actually got to work in the nursery on Wednesday evening. But Monday and Thursday I did write 1k words each day. Last night it was on "Hymns in the Hills." On Monday it was on my other story that doesn't have a title. :P I need some sort of working title for it.

Oh, the big news around here is that my brother is running for County Collector. The County Collector we have now is retiring after 29 years, and so my brother is running for the office. He does have an opponent right now, but so many people in politics and everyday life know my brother, that I have a feeling he'll win the primary. He's already been endorsed by two judges, two State Reps., and possibly the current County Collector. And I'm sure he'll probably be endorsed by others as well. It'll be different this year. My dad and I will only get to work the April election because we can't work when a family member is on the ballot. Oh well.

Guess what else I got this week? A cover for my AZ Christmas story! And I love it! :D It's not what you would think of for a Christmas book. But it fits the story so well. I can't wait to show it to you all! But should I wait until closer to Christmas? (That's 9 months away!)

Anyway, that's my life this week. Enjoy the next part of this story. 

Simply Trusting

Part 4

    The following day wasn’t quite so busy, for the washing had been done and there didn’t seem quite so many chores. Again Belle spent hours under the old tree with her pupils, teaching them the letters of the alphabet. Some of the older ones caught on quicker, but even Sade and Si who, though they said not a word, and Tabby, who was taking a liking to her cousin, could form the letters A, B and C without any help.

    The next day it rained. The skies were gray, and if it wasn’t pouring rain, it was drizzling which was almost worst than the steady rain. There was no dirt patch to practice writing their letters, so Belle brought out her slate. It was such a novelty that Kade and Rome almost came to blows over who got to use it first. Before Zeke could step in and separate them, Belle had rushed over and taken her slate.
    “I can’t let either of you use it if you are going to fight,” she said softly. “I think I’m going to let Sade use it first because she hasn’t made any fuss about it.” Turning her back to the boys, she sat down beside Sade and asked, “Would you like to write your letters on here?”
    Sade shyly took the slate pencil and carefully traced her letters.
    “Very good, Sade!” Belle said, hugging her little cousin. “Would you like to show your mama before Si has his turn?”
    Nodding, Sade slipped from the bench and hurried to the rocking chair where her mother sat darning socks.
    Though she pretended not to notice, Belle saw Kade’s face change from angry to puzzled. He sat down on the floor and, leaning his chin in his hands, watched her. She was thankful he hadn’t put up a fuss, for she knew Zeke was also watching and she didn’t want anyone getting into trouble.
    After the younger ones had all had a turn, even Tabby whose crooked letters took up almost the entire slate, Belle turned to Kade, for Rome had gone to his room grumbling when he didn’t get the slate. “Would you like to practice now, Kade?”
    Nodding, the boy rose and came over. “What if I break it?” he asked.
    “If you are careful, I don’t think you will. You will be careful, won’t you?”
    Kade gave a nod and sat down at the table the slate before him and the pencil gripped tightly in his hand. With painstaking care he wrote every letter of the alphabet that he had learned. They weren’t perfect and some were very crooked, but Belle praised him anyway.
    “Now rub that out and I will write your name and you can copy it.”
    “My important name?” he asked. “The one fer when I’m gettin’ introduced?”
    “Yes,” Belle agreed.
    “Ya goin’ ta write that mister thing on there too?”
    A smile crossed Belle’s face. “Yes, I will write it all out for you.” Taking the slate pencil she carefully began writing, reading aloud as she wrote. “Mr. MacKaidric Russum. There it is, Kade, your full, important name. Do you think you can write all that?”
    After looking over it Kade nodded emphatically. “Sure I kin. Ain’t hard ‘cause I know all them letters already. Jest watch.”
    Belle did watch. Ali, Riss and Tabby crowded up to watch too. “Don’t get too close,” Belle warned them softly. “We don’t want to bump his arm and make him ruin a letter. Could you watch him from the other side of the table?”
    By the time he had finished, Kade was tired. His name was long and he wasn’t used to sitting still for that length of time. But when he sat back, his name was copied. True, it took several times and there were spaces where there shouldn’t be, and none where there should be, but it didn’t matter. He had written it. “I’m goin’ ta show Ma, can’t I, Belle?” At her nod, he scrambled from the bench and rushed across the room. “See Ma?” He shoved the slate into her lap. “I kin write my important name. Mr. MacKaidric Russum. I reckon I kin get me a job now.”
    Smiling, Mrs. Russum patted Kade’s shoulder and said softly, “I reckon ya could bring in some more wood for the stove, Mr. MacKaidric Russum.”
    Beaming, Kade strutted back to Belle and handed her the slate. “I got a job ta do, kain’t spend more time at school, teacher.”
    As he marched out of the house onto the porch, Belle smiled and erased his crooked name. “Where’s Rome? It’s his turn to practice if he wants to.”
    “I’ll fetch him.” And Zeke stood up.
    But when Rome came from the bedroom, he was in a contrary mood. He didn’t want to write his letters and he didn’t care about his name. “I ain’t goin’ ta do it,” he declared, crossing his arms and stamping his foot.

Would you feel a sense of importance writing your name for the first time?

How was your week?

Do you have any family members in public office?

HitH - Simply Trusting - Part 3

Hello FFFs,

This has been a bit of a different week. Why? Well, one reason is that it's been sunny several days! Last week was all clouds and rain. And it's warmer. The daffodils are blooming, crocuses are up and blooming, there are buds on trees and bushes, and the birds are singing.

Tuesday I only had 2 of my 5 students to teach, so that was a bit different.

My grandparents came down yesterday afternoon, took us out for supper, and then Grandpa and I went to a concert by REBEL. It was quite lovely.

Oh, yesterday, being the first of March, I joined Camp NaNo. Are any of you wanting to join? I have actually been thinking of starting my own "cabin" if some other writer friends wanted to join me. Right now I'm in the Chatter Box cabin with a lot of the same friends who were there last year. But we can't fit everyone in the same 20 person "cabin" so . . . Anyway, if you are interested in being a part of Camp NaNo and want to be cabin mates with me, just let me know.

I'm hoping to get my "March" story out next week, but I don't know exactly when.

And that, is that. I think I need to sit down and do some planning for my writing, and my life for the next few months. What about you? Do you ever stop and plan things? Or are you someone who just does things as you go along?

Simply Trusting

Part 3

    When Mattie woke up the lessons were over and Ali and Belle took the younger ones inside. Three letters had been well learned and Ali, thrilled to be learning to read, was longing to learn the next ones.
    Jess had lunch ready when they reached the house again, and everyone sat down to eat. Kade and Rome were pretty quiet and subdued, making none of their remarks which had gotten them into trouble earlier. Uncle Benjamin ate with them but Ez and Zeke were missing, and Belle wondered if they were still working.
    When the meal was over, the younger ones were put down for naps, and Aunt Lillian shooed the rest of the children outside. “Jest get out a the house,” she said. “I still got work ta do an’ I kain’t seem ta get nothin’ done with ya’ll underfoot.”
    Ali, Rome, Kade, and the younger twins hurried outside, eager to escape more work. But Belle lingered with Riss and Jess. “Can I help with anything, Aunt Lillian?” she questioned softly. “I often helped Mama with some of her work.” The thought of her mama so far away brought a sudden rush of tears to Belle’s eyes, but she blinked them back valiantly.
    “If’n ya wants ta help Jess and Riss with the dishes, I ain’t goin’ ta stop ya.”
    As she wiped the dishes Jess washed, Belle softly sang the hymn she had read that morning.

“Singing if my way is clear;
Praying if the path is drear;
If in danger for Him call;
Trusting Jesus, that is all.

And then came the chorus, sung sweetly, for Belle knew the trust she had in Jesus; she had felt Him there with her in times when life was hard and also when everything was sweet and lovely.

“Trusting as the moments fly,
Trusting as the days go by;
Trusting Him what’er befall,
Trusting Jesus, that is all.”

    When the dishes were finished, Aunt Lillian smiled a tired smile at Belle and whispered, “Ya sound jest like yer mama did when we were girls. She were always singin’ ‘bout the house. Now jest run out an have a good time with the rest of the young’uns. You too Riss an’ Jess. I ken git more done if’n no one ain’t botherin’ me none.”
    Following her cousins outside, Belle blinked in the bright glare of the sunshine. Still humming her tune, she wondered what they would do.
    “Kin ya teach us more?” Ali begged, running up to Belle and grabbing her hand. “An’ can ya teach the others their A, B and C, like ya did me an’ Tabby?”
    “It’s Tabby and me, Ali,” Belle corrected gently.
    “Huh? What is?”
    “The proper way to speak. You should say the other names before you mention yourself.”
    “Oh, like taken’ turns at somethin’ and lettin’ the others go ‘fore you?”
    Belle nodded. She hadn’t thought of it like that before, but it did make sense. “Do the others want to learn?”
    “I reckon. Don’t ya want ta learn ta read like Belle?” Ali turned to her older sisters eagerly.
    “I reckon.”
    To Belle the afternoon flew by on wings, for her little class of pupils kept her too busy to even think about her sick father, or to wonder if her mother was working too hard taking care of him. Though she was young, Belle had a remarkable talent for teaching and great patience. The patch of dirt had been smoothed over many times as each tried to copy the neat letters Belle made for them.
    When Uncle Benjamin, Zeke, and Ez returned from the fields, they paused and watched the busy intent group for several minutes. Only Mattie and Benny, though nearby, weren’t active in whatever was going on.
    The children’s attention was turned when Zeke asked, “What’s goin’ on ta keep ya so interested?”
    “Oh, Belle is teachin’ us ta read!” Ali exclaimed. “We already know lots a them letter things. Ya want her ta teach ya too?”
    “Ez and me knows how ta read.”
    “How come ya never taught us then?” Ali demanded, folding her arms.
    “Ya ain’t never asked. Sides, I ain’t good at teachin’. Ya’ll goin’ ta stay here till it gets dark or are ya plannin’ on eatin’ supper?”
    “Supper?” Belle gasped, noticing for the first time how far the sun was down in the west. “I didn’t know it was so late. School is closed for the day. We can work on it another time.”
    All through supper Ali, Kade and Rome kept up almost constant talk about learning to read. “She’s goin’ ta learn us our names” Rome announced proudly.
    “Not our regular names,” added Kade, “our important names.”
    “And she’s going ta teach us ta read her books. Won’t that be fine, Ma?”
    Aunt Lillian nodded. “Reckon so.”

Would you want to teach others how to read?

Would you rather be outside or inside for school?

Are you planning on joining Camp NaNo?

HitH - Simply Trusting - Part 2

Howdy, FFFs,

I see you were all too busy to do much reading last week. That's okay. This story isn't going anywhere. Well, it's going somewhere as in I'm writing it, but it's not going somewhere as in leaving the blog. So you can read it later.

How was your week? I had a good week.

Friday we decorated for the Widows' Luncheon. We did a picnic theme this year and had such fun! It really didn't take long to decorate.

Saturday was the Luncheon. Everyone loved the decorations. And everyone wore a hat! We had invited everyone to wear their picnic hat, but since I knew many wouldn't have one, I brought all my hats, plus three from a friend, and set them all out so people could borrow one. I wasn't expecting everyone to wear one, but they did. Each person found a hat and wore it! The group picture was so cute!

Sunday afternoon I got to read. I finished my 24th book for my reading challenge, and then read another book. We watched "Chariots of Fire" while we ate supper.

Monday it rained, but it was warm. I wrote that night.

Tuesday it rained and got cold. It was almost 70º when we ate breakfast, but within half an hour afterwards, it had dropped to the 40s. And by the time I taught writing classes, it was in the 30s. I got 1,200 words written that night.

Wednesday was cold and icy, and cloudy. Church that evening was cancelled because we were supposed to get more freezing rain. So I wrote another 1,200 words instead of working in the nursery.

Yesterday was pretty normal. Except my mom took my oldest nephew out to shop for his birthday, and then out for lunch. In the late afternoon and evening the kids were over here so their parents could have a date. The kids wanted to play dress-up. So I let them. Then they wanted to do a play. So, spur-of-the-moment me, had to come up with characters, get them dressed, and then figure out what the play was about. It actually worked! And "Newsy Jones" saved the day! I'm thinking of writing this story in a play form and posting it here. Would you enjoy it?

That's it. Here's your story this week. I'll be back next Friday with part 3.

Simply Trusting

Part 2

    Monday was a blur of activity to Belle, what with the washing being done and the children rushing about here and there. Everything seemed utter confusion at times. Rome and Kade, as though to make up for their good behavior the day before, got into one scrape after another until Ali was sent up to the fields to fetch Pa or Zeke. Belle tried to help where she could, but not being used to the way things were done, felt as though she were only causing more trouble for her aunt.
    “Auntie, should I take Mattie and Benny outside out of the way?” she finally asked.
    Looking up from the washtub, Aunt Lillian pushed back her hair from her face. “Goodness, Child, if’n ya can keep track of ‘em, yer welcome ta take ‘em. Think ya can manage if’n Tabby goes ‘long too?”
    “I can try.” She picked up Mattie and held out her hand to Benny who had been clinging to his mother’s skirt and crying. “Come on, Benny, let’s go outside and I’ll tell you a story.”
    Tabby inched closer from the corner where she had taken herself. “Me too?” she whispered.
    “Yes,” Belle smiled. “And Si and Sade if they want to. Come on, Benny,” she coaxed.
    With Tabby there, Benny gave in and allowed his cousin to take his chubby little hand. As they started out of the house, Belle broke into song.

“Simply trusting every day,
Trusting thro’ a stormy way;
Even when my faith is small,
Trusting Jesus, that is all”

    Together the four children made their way to a rock on the sunny slope where they sat down.
    “Now I’ll tell you a story,” Belle began, settling Mattie in her lap. In a sweet voice she began to tell of the little children who came to Jesus and the disciples who tried to send them away. “But Jesus loves children. He told his disciples to let the children come to Him.”
    “Did they?” Tabby wanted to know.
    “Yes, and Jesus let them sit in His lap, and He blessed them. Jesus loves all children.”
    “What if they ain’t good?” Tabby demanded, looking over toward the house where Pa had disappeared inside with Ali.
    Belle gave a sad smile. “He still loves them, but it makes Him sad when they aren’t good. If they will let Him, He will help them be good.” She watched as her uncle came out of the house with Kade and Rome and led them around the house and out of sight. A sigh escaped her lips, for she wasn’t used to children as determined to get into trouble as those two young cousins.
    “Ya sing a song now?” Tabby asked.
    “Yes, I can sing now,” Belle replied, and she began singing the song that was in her mind.

“Trusting as the moments fly,
Trusting as the days go by;
Trusting Him whate’re befall,
Trusting Jesus, that is all.

Brightly doth His Spirit shine
Into this poor heart of mine’
While He leads I cannot fall,
Trusting Jesus, that is all.”

    Ali sat down beside her and Belle finished the chorus and then stopped. “Does Auntie need us?”
    Ali shook her head. “She said ya had taken the young’uns out ta tell a story. Did ya tell one?”
    “Yes.”
    “What about?”
    “Jesus blessing the children.”
    “I ain’t never heard that. What happened? They won’t mind if’n ya tell it again.”
    Belle looked at each young face. Four-year-old Tabby looked eager, Benny satisfied to listen to anything, and the weight of Mattie in her lap suggested that she had fallen asleep. “All right. I’ll tell it again.” It was a longer story this time, for Ali asked questions and wanted to know many things. Belle did her best to answer them until at last Ali fell silent.
    “Hmm,” Ali mused, looking at her cousin. “How’d ya learn that story?”
    “I read it in the Bible.”
    “Kain’t ya teach me ta read soon? I ain’t never learned how, an’ I reckon it’d be nice ta know.”
    “All right. We’ll have our first class here, but–” She looked down at Mattie’s dark head, “What do we do with Mattie?”
    Taking off her apron, Ali laid it in the shade and picked up her sleeping sister. “She can take a nap out here’s well as not.”
    “Everyone needs a little stick,” Belle began, spying a patch of dirt.
    At that Benny’s eyes lit up. He loved sticks.
    Soon Ali, Tabby and Benny were gathered around their teacher as she showed them how to write the letter A. Si and Sade, still hesitant and unsure about this stranger, hung back and watched for a long time until Sade ventured to get a stick. Belle, sensing that any word spoken to either her or Si might send them back into their shells, pretended she didn’t see them and went about instructing the others.
    Benny didn’t do well in copying the A in the dirt, but Ali did and Tabby, after some help from Belle, made a remarkably good A which brought praise from her cousin and a smile to the shy girl’s face. And, although she didn’t say anything, Belle smiled at how well Sade traced the letter in the dirt.

Have you ever been in charge of younger kids outside?

Did you ever try to teach someone their alphabet?

Do you want to read about "Newsy Jones"?

HitH - Simply Trusting - Part 1

Good morning Friday Fiction Fans!

I actually have a story for you today! Or at least part of one. :) I finally remembered to get it ready last night.

I've had a good week. It was busy at times, I got some reading in, and some writing. I babysat my nieces and nephews for several hours on Tuesday (9:45-2:30) and then in the evening from 7:30 until 9:15. That last time we got the youngest one. He's almost 7 months old and crawls. But he wanted held that night because it was bed time. He got mad at Papa's beard because it brushed his head and wasn't soft. Oh, did he cry! I finally got him calm, and he grabbed the zipper of my sweater in one hand, my shirt in the other and stuck his thumb in his mouth and sucked it fiercely as he cuddled. He later got over it, but would complain when he tried to play with Papa's beard. It was rather funny. :)

The weather here has been really nice! On Wednesday it was in the 60s and we had the windows open some. Then yesterday it got into the low 70s! It was really windy, but it was so nice! This morning it's cloudy and in the 30s.

Later this morning my sister and I are headed over to decorate for the Widows' Luncheon that is happening tomorrow. Three other friends are joining us to decorate. I can't wait! :D

But here's your story. If you haven't read "Hymns in the Hills" go up and click on the tab at the top. I added chapter 3 to it. This is the start of Chapter 4. Each chapter is about 4k words long. But instead of giving you a thousand words each week, I gave you 700-800 so that it would last 5 weeks. :) Enjoy!

Simply Trusting

Part 1

    Ali leaned closer. “What’d ya tell ‘em, Belle?”

    Staring off at the window panes where the evening light seemed to shimmer, Belle clasped her hands together and began composing out loud. “Dearest Mama and Papa, I have so much to say. First off, I miss you both, but I am safe at Auntie’s. You’ll never guess, Mama, at least I don’t think you will, at least you never told me, but I have a dozen cousins here. And these are just Uncle and Auntie’s children. I heard there are more, for Uncle Nathan is married, but I haven’t met them yet. I will tell you all about them once I have.

    “But I am going to start with the ones I have met. Zeke and Ez are the oldest and they are five years older than I am. Next comes Jess–” Belle broke off abruptly and said, “I know the names that you are called, but what are your given names?”

    “I weren’t given nothin’,” Rome complained. “She give you somethin’ Kade?” And the small boy glared across the table at his brother.

    “Hush,” Jess scolded. “Kade weren’t given nothin’ neither. Belle jest wants ta know yer real name.”

    “Rome is my real name,” insisted that fellow indignantly. “I ain’t got no other.”

    “Yes, ya has,” Ali said. “It’s the name ya get called if’n yer in a heap a trouble.”

    Rome’s eyes widened. “I ain’t tellin’ that when I ain’t done nothin’.”

    Before anyone else could say anything, Belle broke in. “Rome,” she tried to explain, “your real name isn’t just for when you get in trouble, it can be used if you want to be fine and proper. Then you tell someone your real name. Mine is Isabelle, but everyone calls me Belle. When I am introduced to someone of importance, I tell them my real name, not the short name that those who love me call me.” She smiled as she watched a look of understanding begin to creep across her young cousin’s face. “My name is Isabelle Standish, what is yours, sir?”

    “Roman Russum.”

    Belle’s gentle hand was reached across the table as she said, “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Roman Russum.”

    Coloring, Rome shook her hand quickly and then ducked his head.

    Turning to the cousin beside her she again introduced herself and asked his name.

    “I’m McKaidric.”

    “I’m pleased to know you, Mr. McKaidric.” Belle let her bright eyes rove over her other cousins. “Am I going to have to introduce myself to each one of you in order to learn your full name?” she asked.

    “Reckon so,” Ali giggled.

    “We’ll be here all night,” Jess sighed, and then without waiting for an introduction added, “I’m Jessica.”

    Belle smiled, nodded and moved her eyes to the younger twins. Sade and Si, having finished their supper, had been staring at their cousin, but the moment her eyes rested on them, they looked down and Si scooted closer to Ez. “How can I learn names when the younger ones won’t talk?”

    “It’s Sadie and Simon,” Jess replied. “An’ Pa has Tabitha; Benjamin,–he were named after Pa–is sittin’ with Ma.” She looked around, gave an exclamation and sprang from the table, but Zeke beat her to the stove and snatched up the baby before she could touch the hot surface.

    Mattie, finding herself deprived of her exploration, set up a howl and struggled to get down. That seemed to end the introductions and the lesson on polite manners, for Mrs. Russum rose and said, raising her voice to be heard about the screaming baby, “Start cleanin’ up the dishes girls.” She turned to take Mattie, but Zeke was handing her over to Ez and the child’s screams subsided.

    As the girls prepared for bed, Belle asked, “Ali, what is your full name?”

    “Alison.”

    “And yours Riss?”

    Riss’s voice was quiet as she replied, “Clarissa.”

    “Oh, what a lovely name. And are Ez and Zeke, Ezra and Ezekiel?”

    Climbing into bed, Ali nodded. “An’ Mattie is really Matilda. But we aint’ never called them longer names less we’re in a heap a trouble.” She gave a sigh and added, “Then we’re likely ta get a lickin’ an’ the name.”

    Belle didn’t answer but read her verse, knelt in prayer and then silently crawled into bed as Jess blew out the light and the room became dark.

    There was a long moment of silence before Ali whispered, “Belle, are ya mad?”

    “No,” came the whispered reply. “Why should I be mad?”

    “Well, ya ain’t never said nothin’ after I said that ‘bout our names.”

    “I was just thinking.”

    “‘Bout what?”

    “About how lovely your names all are, but no one ever uses them to make you feel proud of them.”

    “Weren’t you ever called yer full name when ya got in trouble? Or did ya never get in trouble? I kain’t seem ta picture ya bein’ bad.”

    Belle gave a long sigh. “Yes, I have been bad many times, Ali, and sometimes Mama or Papa would use my full name, but it was always said in a tone of loving reproof, and I knew I hadn’t pleased the Lord Jesus.”

    When no answer came from her cousin, Belle closed her eyes and thought back over her day. It had been a very different kind of Sunday than she had ever experienced before. “Did I please the Lord Jesus today?” she wondered, unaware that two other persons in the house were silently singing the hymn she had sung that morning in the wagon.

 

Do you get called your given name, or a  pet name?

Have you had to explain the difference in names before?

Have you enjoyed spring weather this week?

HitH - My Song Shall be of Jesus - Part 4

Hello!
Wow! The elections are over and I'm still in shock by what happened. Not just the presidency, but we also got the US House and the Senate! And . . . If that weren't enough, Missouri made history! For the first time in the history of this state, we elected Republicans to every state office from Governor, to Treasurer, to Attorney General, and all the others. This has never happened before. And it was the title wave from conservative SW Missouri that overturned the liberal votes of Kansas City and St. Louis. Wow!
And, for those of you wondering, yes, we got to meet Ted Cruz and get a group picture with him. We also got to meet our new Governor elect and his wife and get a group picture with them. American Government Camp was great! I'm still really tired. On election day I was up at 4:30, at the polls by 5:20 and didn't leave the County Seat until 8:30. Then I went to the Republican HQ for the watch party and didn't leave there until after 1:00 and got to bed about 1:30. If I had stayed up 3 more hours I could have stayed up 24 hours. Ha! Just what I didn't want to do! :P

Now I'm trying to catch up on everything. I have messes to clean up, emails to reply to or send, a desk that is covered with all sorts of things, and I'd really like to just go back to bed. ;)

I hope you enjoy this next part of Hymns in the Hills.

My Song Shall be of Jesus

Part 4

    Ali jumped off the rock and brought Mattie back from her wanderings, offering her a small branch with a few green leaves to play with. “Ain’t any need fer ya ta help all the time. Weren’t nothin’ fer ya to do anyhow with the young’uns all sleepin’. Say, Belle, what’s yer home like, back in the city? I ain’t never been anywhere’s bigger’n the town. Is the city much bigger? Zeke said it is, but I kain’t see how he knows since he ain’t never been there.”
    “Oh, yes, the city is much bigger than the town. Why, there are hundreds of houses and streets. The main streets are busy with trolly cars and buggies. Some of the shops are so big that you could take all the children there and lose them in five minutes if you didn’t keep your eyes on them.” She laughed at the thought.
    “Ya ain’t joshin’ are ya?”
    “Not the least bit.” Then she began to describe the house she had lived in all her life; the green lawns around it, the flower gardens which had been her special care, and the shady trees. “We didn’t have as many trees as you have here though. And there weren’t as many hills either.”
    “Why did Aunt Lynn move away from here, I wonder,” Ali spoke quietly.
    “I don’t know for sure. I think she fell in love with Papa. But I don’t know where they met. I wish now I had asked her all about it. But you see I didn’t know I was going to be coming out here until just last week.”
    “Didn’t ya?”
    Belle shook her head. “No, Papa had been sick now and then, and the doctor said he needed a change. But he couldn’t leave his business right away, and they thought it best if I was somewhere else where they wouldn’t have to worry about me. Mama had written Aunt Lillian to see if I could come here, and I only found out when it was time to pack. It was all so sudden. You see, Papa got worse, and the doctor said he must leave even if his business wasn’t ready. So Uncle Archie said he’d take care of the business, I was packed off here, and Mama and Papa were to leave on the very next train.”
    “Do you miss ‘em?”
    Not trusting herself to speak, Belle only nodded.
    “I ain’t never been away from my family fer more’n a few hours,” confessed Ali. “An’ then it were jest at our cousins.”
    “There are more cousins?” Belle forgot her homesickness and stared.
    “Yep. Didn’t Aunt Lynn tell ya about Uncle Nate an’ Aunt Claire?”
    With a doubtful shake of the head, Belle replied slowly, “She talked about Uncle Nathan, but he wasn’t married.”
    Ali laughed merrily. “Maybe he weren’t married when she left, but he shore is now. Why they got most as many young’uns as we got. Only they ain’t got the older ones ta help. Sometimes Jess, Riss an’ me take turns goin’ over ta help Aunt Claire. I reckon I’ll ask Ma if’n we kain’t go over an’ see ‘em soon.”
    Dumbfounded by this news, Belle could only stare at Ali in silence. More cousins. And an aunt she knew nothing about. She wondered if her mama had known of Aunt Claire and had just forgotten to tell her. But then she hadn’t known about all the cousins either. She would certainly have a lot to write her parents about. Suddenly she frowned. “Ali, how do folks mail letters out here? Is there a postoffice?”
    “I ‘spect there’s one in town.”
    “Does anyone go to town very often?”
    Ali shrugged. “Sometimes Zeke an’ Ez go ‘cause they kin git work there, but it ain’t close enough fer the rest of us ta go much.”
    Belle could understand why.
    A shadow fell across the girls and they looked up. Zeke was standing there. “Ain’t ya comin’ ta supper?”
    “Ain’t no one said it were time,” Ali retorted, lifting Mattie and holding her out to her brother.
    “Humph,” Zeke grunted, swinging the little one to his broad shoulders. “Jess called ya twice.”
    Startled by this piece of news, the two girls scrambled to their feet and hurried down the sunny slope to the house with Zeke behind them.
    The rest of the family was already seated at the table when they entered, and Belle thought she caught a glare from Kade’s expressive eyes. “I’m so sorry we are late, Aunt Lillian, Uncle Benjamin,” she began. “Ali and I were talking and we didn’t hear a thing.”
    “I reckon once ain’t goin’ ta hurt, but pay more attention next time er ya might have ta eat when the food’s cold. If’n there’s any left.” Uncle Benjamin nodded to the empty places. “Ya still wantin’ ta say grace?” he asked Belle.
    “I will if you don’t want to, Uncle.”
    Uncle Benjamin motioned her to proceed and Belle did.
    Part way through the meal, Ali turned to her father. “Pa, Belle learned us a new song on the way ta church this mornin’.”
    “Did she?”
    “Yep. Learned us all. Then we sung it in church an’ the minister said we did fine.”
    “Well, I reckon we can listen to it after we eat an’ the dishes are cleaned up.”
    Ali took a few more bites before looking up again. “An’ Ma, kin Belle an’ me go over ta Aunt Claire’s this week? Belle said she ain’t known Uncle Nate were married.”
    “Aw, he’s always been married,” Kade protested. “I betcha she were jest makin’ it up.”
    “No, I wasn’t, Kade, really,” Belle insisted. “I don’t know if my mama knew Uncle Nathan had gotten married. If she did, she never mentioned it to me. I didn’t even know about all of you until I arrived.”
    Kade turned and eyed his cousin skeptically. “Honest?”
    Belle nodded. Then her eyes began to sparkle and a smile spread across her face. “I’m going to have such a lot to tell her and Papa in my letter.”

Have you ever missed the call to supper?

Did you get out and vote this week?

Next week I'll be posting some of "Dylan's Story." Will you be here?

HitH - My Song Shall be of Jesus - Part 3

And a lovely good morning FFFs!

My week has been busy! I've walked and walked and walked. Shouted and waved political signs on busy streets, stayed up later than normal, gotten up earlier than normal, knocked on strangers' houses, left literature about the Republican candidates, answered questions, and been very political, including meeting a few people I think you would like . . . And I'm not done yet. American Government Camp doesn't end until Wednesday! Yeah, I'll be really tired by then!

And, since this coming Tuesday is ELECTION DAY . . . Don't forget to go vote if you are old enough. If you are not old enough, make sure your parents and any older siblings go out and vote. I will once again be sitting all day long (for 13 hours) at a polling place on Tuesday. I'm hoping for a very busy day. Even if those kinds of days mean you hardly have time to eat, it's still much more fun than sitting around and wishing someone would come and vote. (I mean, only 1 or 2 voters an hour can get a little dull.)

I hope you enjoy this next part of Hymns in the Hills!

My Song Shall be of Jesus

Part 3

    “I do hope you will be able to make it each week. Why, Philip,” Mrs. Williamson added, turning to her husband and seizing his arm, “we could start a Sunday School.” She looked at the others. “We have wanted to start one, but there never seem to be enough children and young people who will come. Could you come and help us each week, do you think?”
    Belle looked eagerly from Zeke to Ez. She wanted to say they would come but wasn’t sure Uncle Benjamin would let them go or if Zeke and Ez would be willing to bring them. “Do you think we could?” she whispered, looking up at Ez.
    He shrugged.
    “We’ll have ta check with Pa,” Zeke finally said. “He ain’t home every Sunday an’ Ma’d get too tired with all the young’uns.”
    Mrs. Williamson opened her eyes wider. “Are there more of you than the seven right here?”
    “Reckon so,” Ali replied. “There’s Sade and Si, Tabby, Benny and Mattie.”
    “Couldn’t they come along too? We’d be glad to have all of you.”
    There was no immediate reply, and the silence began to grow uncomfortable until the minister said, “You don’t have to give any answer now. Chrissy is always ready to start something right away. But tell me, Zeke, just where do you live in the hills?”
    In a few short sentences, Zeke gave Mr. Williamson directions, adding, “It ain’t as easy as it seems. Now we’d best be goin’.” He looked around. “Where’s Kade an’ Rome?”
    Ez jerked his head in the direction of the sunny slope. There were the two younger boys, rolling down the hills, unmindful of their clean clothes.
    “Ain’t Ma goin’ ta give ‘em what fer,” Ali whispered to Belle as the girls, after saying good bye to the minister and his wife, walked over to the wagon.
    “Kade! Rome!” Zeke’s strong voice rang out on the quiet afternoon air. “If’n ya don’t aim ta walk back, ye’d best get ta the wagon.”

    They were halfway home before anyone broke the silence. “Belle,” Ali asked, “are all minister’s like that one?”
    Rubbing a thumb gently over the cover of her Bible, Belle shook her head. “No, they are all different. Like everyone is. Did you like him?”
    “Uh huh. Zeke, ya think he’ll come see us?”
    “Huh uh.”
    “But he asked fer directions.”
    Zeke shrugged.
    “I think he will.” Jess’s quiet voice interrupted anything Ali might have said.
    “Why ‘ud he want ta come ta our house fer?” demanded Kade.
    “Because ministers like to visit people.” Belle wasn’t sure why exactly, but she knew their minister back home visited folks.
    The wagon rumbled and creaked over a few holes before Ali said, “Reckon he’d be comin’ ta see if’n you an’ Rome ken behave at home like ya did in church. If’n ya can’t he–”
    “Ali–” Ez began.
    “Quit tryin’ ta pick a fight,” finished Zeke. “Kade an’ Rome did good taday.”
    Nothing else was said, but Belle could feel the pleasant mood had changed, leaving tension and ill will behind. Was there something she could say? No, but she could sing. Hoping that the others would join her, Belle began her song of the morning.

“My song shall be of Jesus,
His mercy crowns my days,
He fills my cup with blessings,
And tunes my heart to praise.”

    The late afternoon sun was filtering down through the leaves of the trees. Evening was coming, but for now all seemed hushed and still, as though nature had taken a repose in preparation for their evening concert. Up on a rock, in the shade of a great oak, sat Belle, silent. It was the first hour she had spent alone since her arrival two days ago. With a soft sigh, she leaned back against the tree and looked up. “I suppose I will get used to it,” she murmured to herself. “I wonder what Mama would say if she could see this place. It is lovely, the colors of the flowers, the different shapes of the tree leaves, and the hills and the sky. It’s all so quiet here when the children are somewhere else.” Her thoughts drifted to her absent parents. “I hope you can rest today, Mama,” she whispered. “But why couldn’t I have gone with you and Papa? I could have helped. Oh, Papa!” She sniffed and blinked rapidly, trying to keep back the tears. She wouldn’t cry. She had promised she would be brave.
    Softly she began to hum and after a few minutes her tears went back to their place.

“My song shall be of Jesus,
Whatever ill betide;
I’ll sing the grace that saves me,
And keeps me at His side.”

    Into the hush that followed her song, came the sound of shouting children. Turning her head, Belle saw her younger cousins racing about the yard after one another. Kade and Rome were waving sticks and soon Si and Benny had some too. The girls, seemingly oblivious to the sword fighting going on, raced here and there. Pulling her feet up, Belle clasped her hands around her knees and watched. There appeared to be children everywhere, and surely there were more than eight of them!
    For a time no one noticed Belle in her secluded place under the tree. She could watch the others in peace. But it didn’t last long. Ali soon caught a glimpse of her, and with Mattie slung on her hip, she tramped up the hillside.
    “Kin me’n Mattie join ya?”
    “Of course.” Belle scooted over to share the rock with her cousins. “What is everyone else doing?”
    Ali shrugged. “Don’t know. Pa’s gone an’ so are Ez an’ Zeke. I reckon Jess an’ Riss’ll be helpin’ Ma fix supper soon.”
    For a moment Belle was silent, watching the youngsters below them. “Should we help somewhere? I didn’t know what to do and it didn’t look like I was needed, so I just came out here. I’ve never been in a family this large before, but maybe I should have stayed to help . . .” her voice trailed off.

Do you think the minister will visit them?

Do you ever get overwhelmed by a crowd of younger children?

Are you looking forward to the next part of this story?

P.S. I wrote this post on Monday, so I couldn't exactly tell you who I had met because I wasn't sure just who I would actually get to meet, but Ted Cruz was going to be at a rally . . . But, if you want to know if I got to meet him, leave a comment and I'll tell you. :) After I return to "civilian life."

HitH - My Song Shall be of Jesus - Part 2

Good morning Faithful Friday Fiction Fans,

Do you have Indian summer weather, chilly autumn weather, early winter weather, or some of each? Ours has been on the warmer side. Not quite Indian summer, but some days have been pretty close. Today and tomorrow are supposed to be a high of 80º. And it's the end of October!!! Where are the frosts? We still have yet to have a frost. :P Maybe we'll get one before Thanksgiving. :P

I sure hope your week has gone well. I've been busy. (Aren't I always?) I have projects I'm trying to get done before next Wednesday when AGC (American Government Camp) starts. Then I'll have 8 days of late nights, early mornings, and busy days filled with door-to-door lit drops, sign waving (a personal favorite!), phone calls, interacting with campers, lots of politics and a Tuesday sitting at the polls all day long. So, you will get a post next Friday, but I'm going to be getting it ready ahead of time. :)

I'm afraid my writing has suffered this week. I just haven't been able to feel like writing. And, even when I've forced myself to write, I don't get as much done. Oh, well. Maybe I need a break.

I hope you enjoy this next part of Hymns in the Hills. I just love these characters and have quite a few more ideas for them, but I have to have time to write the story/book.

My Song Shall be of Jesus

Part 2

    Ez gave an answering nod, dropped over the side in one easy motion and then reached up to help Riss and Ali. Kade and Rome, disdaining a helping hand, jumped out and then stood still as though suddenly unsure and nervous, their eyes wide in wonder.
    The bell was ringing and a few folks hurried past the Russums, scarcely giving them a nod before quickly moving inside.
    “They must not know Uncle Benjamin’s family,” Belle thought, remembering the friendly greetings she and her parents always received around town. “If they don’t come to town much–”
    “Ya wantin’ ta go in?” Zeke’s question brought Belle’s mind back from its wanderings, and she nodded quickly.
    The bell was still sounding its melodic call when Zeke pulled open the door and Belle stepped through followed by her cousins. The room was bare, no carpeted floors or gas lights, but the windows were clean and the sun shone in brightly. Hesitating, Belle glanced around. Where were they to sit? Always before she had followed her father to their accustomed seat near the front, but he wasn’t here and there was no accustomed pew. Where did her uncle’s family sit when they did come to church? Stealing a glance at Ez, she could read nothing on his face. All the back rows were full and Belle, with a sudden shyness stealing over her, as heads began turning and dozens of strange eyes swept over her and her cousins, felt strangely out of place. She almost wished she hadn’t suggested they come, but she couldn’t bear the thought of not attending church when she was perfectly well and could go.
    Before her courage failed her completely, a line of the song she had been singing all morning came to her aid. “My song shall be of Jesus, When sitting at His feet.” She hadn’t come to church just because, she had come to sit at the feet of Jesus. With a soft smile, she lifted her head and met the gaze of the pastor up front. He was looking right at her with a kind smile and made a quiet motion of his hand to the empty rows near the front. Though her heart beat fast, Belle Standish, her Bible clutched in one hand while Ali clung to the other, marched up the aisle and slid into an empty pew.
    The bell stopped tolling, and a small boy began to pump the air for the organ while a pretty young lady played a few notes. Belle gave a soft gasp of pleasure and her smile grew wider. Stealing a glance at the faces of her cousins, she saw no recognition until the pastor began to sing.
“My song shall be of Jesus . . .”

    After church, Belle lingered with her cousins until most of the congregation had left the church. No one had come up and welcomed them, though a few nods of greeting were exchanged between Zeke and Ez and a few of the men.
    “Belle,” Ali whispered as they finally started down the aisle, “are folks allowed ta talk ta others after church?”
    “Yes. Why?”
    “Jest wonderin’ why no one talked ta us.”
    Belle had been wondering the same thing. “Perhaps they don’t know us and feel shy.”
    “Reckon they know Zeke and Ez,” Jess murmured behind them.
    To this Belle had no answer. It was strange that no one had welcomed them or even seemed glad they had come. They neared the door, and the pastor, who was waiting on the porch, turned to them with a smile. “Hello, I don’t remember seeing you here before. I’m Philip Williamson.” He held out his hand to Zeke.
    “Zeke Russum.”
    “I’m mighty glad you came out, Zeke. Do you live around here?”
    “Back in the hills a fair piece.”
    The pastor, hardly looking much older than the young man he was talking to, smiled again. “It must be beautiful out there this time of year.” His eyes wandered towards the rolling hills before them, for the church, situated on top of a rise, commanded a lovely view of hills, valley and sky. Turning back to Zeke he glanced at the others waiting around him. “These must be related to you. Siblings?”
    “Most.”
    At that Belle stepped forward and offered her hand. “I’m Belle Standish, their cousin.”
    “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Belle.” The minister’s eyes were warm and his smile contagious. “Do you live back in the hills too?”
    Belle realized that her dress, though plain and simple, was made in a more current style than those of Jess, Riss and Ali. “For a time. I only arrived on Friday.”
    “I see,” said the minister. “I’m glad you came. You helped with the singing immensely this morning. You all did.” His smile included the others.
    Ali, blunt and honest, said, “Only ‘cause Belle taught us the song on the way over. We ain’t never heard it ‘fore she sung it in the wagon.”
    “Then you have a fine teacher in your cousin, Miss–”
    “I’m Ali.”
    Mr. Williamson shook hands with her. “It’s a pleasure, Miss Ali.”
    One by one he greeted the others, shaking hands and treating each of them with as much respect and attention as Belle was used to in the city. As he stood talking to Zeke and Ez, the young woman who had played the organ came up on the porch with a winning smile. Turning to her, the minister said, “Chrissy, I’d like you to meet the Russums and their cousin, Belle Standish.” And then he proceeded to name each cousin with only a slight hesitation when he came to Kade and Rome.
    “Why, it took me all day to learn everyone’s name,” exclaimed Belle.
    The young woman laughed brightly. “My husband’s gift of learning names and faces often astonishes people. Do you all live here in town?”
    “No’m, we live back in the hills.” Zeke looked out in the direction they had come.

Do you talk to visitors at church?

Are you good at remembering names and matching faces?

What do you think will happen next?

HitH - My Song Shall be of Jesus - Part 1

A lovely autumn morning to you, FFFs!
It actually feels like fall now! Well, for the most part. We still haven't had a frost of any sort yet. But it was supposed to get down to 40º last night. :)

How was your week? Mine was different. Not is a bad sort of way except that I just couldn't seem to get much done. Yesterday I printed some calendar pages and worked on planning the rest of the year with the things I'm trying to get done. Sometimes it feels a bit overwhelming, but other times I think, "That's all I have to do? No problem. I could probably get some other things done too." ;)

And I really can't think of anything else to say at the moment. I have hardly done any writing this week. At least in the way of stories goes. I won't be writing tonight because my nieces and nephews will be here. Oh, I did get my proof copy of my Christmas book!!! :D I can't wait to get it proofed and then share the wonderful cover! Okay, and the story. ;)

I hope you enjoy this first part of Chapter 3 of Hymns in the Hills.

My Song Shall be of Jesus

Part 1

    The sun was barely up when Zeke came to the door of the cabin and looked in. “If’n we’re goin’ ta make it ta church ‘fore it’s over, we’d best git a move on.”
    Two last bites were shoveled by Kade into his mouth while Rome swallowed his milk so hastily that he choked and started coughing. Jess, Riss and Ali, all suddenly looking unsure, smoothed their best dresses and hurried out to the wagon.
    Excited but somewhat nervous, Belle slipped from the girls’ room where she had gone to fetch her Bible. Her dress was neat and clean, her hair smooth. Though she didn’t know it, the contrast between her and her cousins was observed by both her aunt and uncle.
    Uncle Ben followed the others and stood on the porch beside Aunt Lillian. “Good bye, Auntie,” Belle was saying as she waited to be helped up into the wagon. “I do hope that you and Uncle will be able to come with us next time.”
    “Zeke,” Uncle Ben called before that young man sprang up to take his seat in the front beside his cousin who had been given the seat of honor next to Jess on the broad seat. “Make sure ya tie Coon Dog right, er ya might all be walkin’ home.”
    “Yep.” Zeke nodded and clucked to the dark horse. With a creak, the wagon started forward over the hard packed trail.
    “Zeke, did Uncle say this horse’s name is Coon Dog?” Belle asked with doubt in her voice as the house disappeared behind the trees.
    “Yep.”
    “Why would a horse have that name?”
    When Zeke didn’t offer an explanation, Ali volunteered the answer from the back of the wagon where she sat with the others. “It was a few years ago an’ the boys’d been wantin’ ta get a coon dog ta help ‘em hunt. Pa goes off one day an’ says he’s goin’ ta look fer one, but he comes home with this horse. There jest weren’t no coon dogs ta be had. Least ways not where Pa looked.”
    “So you named the horse for the dog he couldn’t get,” Belle chuckled softly. “I do like the name, now that I know the story. Did you ever get your dog, Zeke?” She hadn’t seen any around, but Belle wondered if it could be somewhere else.
    “Nope.”
    Inwardly relieved, Belle didn’t reply. One thing she had always been afraid of was dogs, but she didn’t want to admit it. At least not then.
    Besides the creaking of the wagon wheels as they jolted over rocks and across holes, and the steady plodding of Coon Dog’s hoofs, the travelers were quiet. The morning songs of the birds in the trees could be heard, and the sky, when they could see it, became streaked with pink and orange as the sun came up higher.

“My song shall be of Jesus,
His mercy crowns my days,
He fills my cup with blessings,
And tunes my heart to praise;
My song shall be of Jesus,
The precious Lamb of God,
Who gave Himself my ransom,
And bought me with His blood.”

    Belle’s voice seemed to blend in with the morning sounds, as though it were part of the woods and the sunrise, the light wind and the birds. It had not been her intention to sing; in fact, she scarcely noticed her voice had taken up the song she had read earlier that morning. Something in the woods, the colors of the flowers, and the early morning light streaming through the trees had awakened the melody in her heart and she had to sing.

“My song shall be of Jesus,
When sitting at His feet,
I call to mind His goodness,
In meditation sweet.”

    The steady plodding of Coon Dog’s hooves quickened a little as though to mark the time of the music.

“And when my soul shall enter
The gate of Eden fair,
A song of praise to Jesus
I’ll sing forever there.”

    Belle felt a light tap on her arm when the song was ended. Turning, she saw Ris looking up at her.
    “Sing it again.” The pleading was in the girl’s eyes, for her words, if they had really been spoken aloud, were lost in the creaking of the wagon as it jostled over a particularly rough part of road.
    At once Belle began the song again. It was one of her favorites and she had sung it often at home. This time, when she reached the last lines, she said, “Now all of you try and sing it with me.”
    A grunt came from Zeke, but Belle thought it might have been a cough.
    Slowly she began the first verse.

“My song shall be of Jesus,
His mercy crowns my days.”

    Timidly, Ali and Jess joined in. Twice through the first verse Belle’s strong, young voice led the others before she ventured into the second verse. By the time the town was reached, the song had been well learned. Belle wasn’t sure if Zeke and Ez had sung at all, for she never heard them. But the others had. Even Kade’s off key warbling hadn’t clashed with the others.
    A hush fell over the wagon as it drew near the outskirts of town. Belle wondered when the younger ones had last been to town, for a remark from Ali last night made her think going to town was a rare occurrence. Hardly a soul was to be seen as the wagon, its occupants quiet, rumbled and creaked up the hill to the church. There Zeke skillfully drove to a place near the clapboard building where other rough wagons and a few buggies already stood, and with a low “whoa” brought Coon Dog to a halt. Springing out, he lifted first his cousin down and then his sister. “I’ll tie up Coon Dog,” was all he said.

Have you ever named an animal for another animal?

Have you ever heard this hymn?

Are you looking forward to next week's part?

Hymns in the Hills - To the Work! - Part 4

Good morning, favorite Friday fiction fans,
I hope you all had a good week. Were you able to get outside and enjoy some lovely weather? I did. Monday evening was almost chilly it was so cool. Tuesday evening was perfect. The kiddos were all over and rode bikes for at least an hour after supper. Wednesday was warmer and yesterday was at least 90º. Yeah, it was quite a change. But this morning is lovely and we have the windows open again. I'm not sure how warm it's supposed to get, but we'll leave the house open as long as we can.

I finally reached the end of the next blog story you are going to get. :) I haven't finalized the title yet, but you should be getting part 1 next week. I hope you enjoy it because it is long. And I don't mean 4 or 5 parts long!
Now I'm trying to figure out just what I should work on next. I know what I'd really like to work on, but I'm having trouble really getting into it. Perhaps that's because I was also trying to keep enough other things written to post. Or perhaps I was just getting distracted by the other two stories I am working on. Either way, I haven't made much progress at all. You can all be praying for creativity and wisdom as I write. Oh, and focus. :) (Please don't tell me I'm the only one who gets distracted!)

Oh yes, Blessing Counter tagged me for the Quote tag. Well, since I don't post more than once a week on here, I thought I'd just give you a quote for the next three weeks. How does that sound? Sorry, I don't have any fancy graphics for these quotes. If anyone wants to volunteer to create something, let me know and I'll send you the quotes. :)

I believe that it is no more necessary to be faithful in preaching the Gospel

than in washing up dishes in the scullery.

~ J. O. Fraser

And now, back to the last part of this chapter of Hymns in the Hills.

To the Work

Part 4

    Blinking in surprise, Uncle Benjamin stared at his niece. “Church? Tomorrow?” He repeated blankly.
    “Yes, sir. Tomorrow is Sunday, though I know it must be hard to remember when you live so far from town and can’t go over to prayer meeting during the week. Sometimes the weeks were so busy back home that even Papa had a hard time realizing what day it really was. But what time, please?”
    Instead of answering, her uncle looked across the room at her aunt. Neither one said a word, though Aunt Lillian gave a slight nod. Only Baby Mattie’s jabber broke the breathless hush of the room as everyone waited to hear the answer. At last Uncle Benjamin cleared his throat. “Well, seein’ as we live so far outside a town,” he began, “we ain’t never went ta church regular like. Sometimes the roads are too muddy, or it’s rainin’ or some such thing.”
    “But it was really sunny today, Uncle, and I heard Zeke say it looked like it would be sunny tomorrow.” Belle had never missed church on Sunday except when she was sick and couldn’t go. The thought of not going when she was perfectly well and the sun was shining made the homesick feeling rise again. She bit her lower lip and blinked back the tears which burned in her eyes.
    “Well, I reckon if’n ya can talk Ez or Zeke ta hitch up the wagon an’ take ya, ye might could go.”
    “Oh, thank you, Uncle!” And Belle, unmindful of those watching, threw her arms around her uncle’s neck and kissed him.
    Looking slightly pleased, Uncle Benjamin raised an eyebrow. “Don’t ya go ta thankin’ me yet,” he said. “Like as not Zeke an’ Ez’ll be wantin’ a day a rest at home.”
    Turning at once to her older cousins, Belle asked if they would take her to church in the morning.
    There was but a moment of hesitation as the two young men exchanged glances before Zeke gave a nod and said, “Yep, we’ll take ya.”
    “Thank you!” Belle’s radiant smile seemed to light up the darkening room.
    “Pa, can I go too?” Ali asked.
    “Ask yer brothers. If’n they don’t mind, I shore ‘nough don’t care who goes ta church tomorrow.”
    Instantly the room was filled with pleas to Zeke and Ez to take them too, for a trip to town for whatever reason, was an adventure not to be overlooked. Finally Aunt Lillian ordered everyone to be quiet. “Give yer brothers a chance ta talk. They kin say who all kin go n’ who can’t.” She looked at Zeke.
    “Any that want’a go an’ are ready when we leave, can come ‘long. Sade, Si, ya want to go ta church with us in the mornin’?” Zeke had left his post by the door and moved beside his father’s chair. Two little blond heads were shaken. “Then I ‘spect we’ll be takin’ Rome, Kade an’ the girls.”
    “Kin ya manage all the young’uns without us, Ma?” asked Jess.
    Aunt Lillian gave a smile. “Since yer pa’ll be here, I kin manage.”
    Belle, who had been thinking since Zeke told her she could go, now turned once more to her uncle. “Uncle, don’t you and Auntie want to come to church too?”
    But Uncle Benjamin shook his head. “No, Child, you go ‘long with yer cousins tomorrow an’ another time maybe we’ll go too.”
    With this Belle had to be content, for she had never learned how to argue and wouldn’t have considered doing it now.
    Putting Benny down from her lap, Aunt Lillian stood up. “Any who are thinkin’ a goin’ ta church in the mornin’ ain’t goin’ dirty. Ez, fetch the tub, an’ Zeke, take yer brothers out ta the barn. Use the old trough an’ make sure the young’uns git clean. I ain’t sendin’ my young’uns ta church with more’n a week’s dirt on ‘em. Pa, will ya start pumpin’ water? Jess fetch clean nightshirts fer the boys, an’ make sure ya get ‘em fer Si and Benny too. I know they ain’t goin’, but that don’t mean they can’t get cleaned up too.”

    By the time Belle was in the room she shared with her cousins, she was more tired than she ever remembered feeling. Mattie and Tabby were both asleep, worn out with crying through their baths. In silence the older girls prepared for bed.
    “Are ya still goin’ ta read yer Bible?” whispered Ali, when Belle reached for the book.
    Belle nodded.
    “But aren’t ya tired?”
    “Yes,” admitted Belle, “but I know I will rest better if I have a sweet promise of Jesus to rest upon.” A smile broke over her face as she saw the next verses. Softly she read them aloud. “For I have satiated the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul. Upon this I awaked, and beheld; and my sleep was sweet unto me.”
    Jess’s voice sounded from across the room. “What does that word ‘satiated’ mean? I ain’t never heard it before.”
    “I asked Papa that once and he said it meant to satisfy so much that the satisfying spilled over in abundance. That’s how Jesus satisfies; He does until it overflows. But sometimes I don’t let Him satisfy.” She heaved a little sigh. “I want something more, something else, when all I need is Him.” There was a long pause before Belle added, “But when we let Him satisfy, our sleep will be sweet.” Gently shutting the Bible, Belle knelt in prayer. She had a promise to rest on. Though she was weary and tired, He would satisfy her and make her sleep sweet. All she had to do was accept.
    Rising from her knees, she blew out the candle and slipped into bed beside Ali with a sigh of contentment.
    “Belle, when will ya teach me ta read?”
    “Soon, Ali, soon.”

Have you ever gone to church with your cousins?

Would you like to ride in a wagon to get to church?

Do you want more of this story?

Hymns in the Hills - To the Work - Part 3

Hello,
This is going to be very short. I'll be heading off in a few minutes to the homeschool conference in Springfield with my brother and sister. It's usually a small conference, but we've been doing it for years, so we kind of hate to miss it. This will be the first time I've had all my books together on a rack. We'll see how they sell.

Enjoy!

Hymns in the Hills

To the Work

Part 3

    “Ain’t sure,” Ali replied with a giggle, starting up the porch steps.
    Aunt Lillian, looking more rested, came from her room shortly after the girls had sat down with the mending. “Ya ain’t got very far on them clothes if’n that’s the only thing ya’ll’s done. Kade an’ Rome come back yet?”
    “No, Ma.”
    Stepping over to the windows, Aunt Lillian looked out, then took a step back and eyed the windows. Belle hid a smile behind her hand.
    “Well, I reckon I’d rather have them windows cleaned than that mendin’ done,” was all the comment she made, but Jess’s nod told Belle her aunt was pleased. She knew it for herself later in the evening when, on pretense of “watchin’ for the boys,” her aunt went out into the yard. She did more looking at the windows than watching the slopes, Belle noticed with a satisfied feeling.

    The supper table that evening was the liveliest Belle had ever been a part of. Ali, Kade, Rome and Tabby all vied over who could talk the most and the loudest. To her astonishment, no one even seemed to try and curb the chatter, but they all went on with their meal, answering a few questions or making their own comments. To Belle, the commotion was bewildering, and she longed for a few moments of peace and quiet. “It will come after supper,” she thought. “Then Uncle will have family prayers.”
    All at once a new thought disturbed this happy idea. “But Uncle Benjamin doesn’t even thank the Lord for the food. Maybe he doesn’t have family prayers either.” Her face grew sober and she lowered her eyes to her almost finished meal. She didn’t feel hungry any more. An ache which had been pushed down and buried in the excitement of a new place and new family, almost choked her. How she longed to hear her beloved father pray or her mother’s gentle voice sing.
    A low voice beside her whispered, “Ain’t ya hungry?”
    Belle glanced over at Kade, who was looking from her unfinished meal to her and then back at the food. “No, you may have it,” she replied in equally low tones, giving her plate a little push toward her younger cousin.
    Kade wasted no time in switching plates, and Belle wondered if anyone noticed, for in moments the food which had choked her, had vanished.
    “Ma,” Ez broke into the lull of talk as plates were scraped clean, “I saw ya got them windows washed.”
    Leaning back in her chair, Aunt Lillian shook her head. “I didn’t do any such thing, Ez. They were washed while I was takin’ a rest.”
    Ez glanced at Jess but said nothing, and the silence lengthened.
    At last Aunt Lillian stood up saying, “Well, girls, let’s get these dishes washed; they ain’t goin’ ta do it themselves.”
    Feeling relieved to do something, Belle rose with the others and began to clear the table. It had never been a favorite chore at home, but she was grateful to wash a stack of dirty dishes now because it helped push down the homesick feeling.
    “Sing that song ya sang this mornin’, Belle,” Ali begged. “I ain’t never heard it ‘fore today.”
    Still fighting the lump in her throat, Belle shook hear head. “I don’t think I can sing right now,” she replied in whispered tones.
    “Try it, please?”
    “Ali,” Jess scolded, “Belle ain’t required ta sing. Leave her be.”
    Belle caught the slight quiver of her cousin’s chin at the rebuke. “I can try, Ali,” she whispered. “I like to sing while I work. It’s just that I was–” Somehow she couldn’t bring herself to admit that she was homesick. Breathing a quick prayer for help, she began.

“To the work! to the work! we are servants of God,
Let us follow the path that our Master has trod;
With the balm of His counsel our strength to renew,
Let us do with our might what our hands find to do.”

As she sang, her courage flowed back and she smiled. She could work and hope because this was where her Master had sent her.

“To the work! to the work! let the hungry be fed;”
Well, there had certainly been plenty of hungry mouths that evening!

“To the fountain of Life let the weary be led;
In the cross and its banner our glory shall be,
While we herald the tidings, ‘Salvation is free!’

Toiling on, Toiling on,
Toiling on, Toiling on,
Let us hope, and trust,
Let us watch, and pray,
And labor till the Master comes.”

    With each verse her voice grew firmer and stronger until the entire room was hushed as everyone listened to the sweet voice of the singer washing the dishes. Three times she sang the hymn through before the last dish was dried and put away in the cupboard. Only then did she notice the quietness of the room and turn to look.
    Aunt Lillian, with Benny in her lap, was rocking in her chair while Sade and Si sat on their father’s knees, leaning back against his shoulders. Standing by the open doorway where the breeze was fresh, Zeke leaned against the doorpost with folded arms staring out into the gathering dusk. Seated in a nearby chair, Ez held Mattie in his arms as she happily played with her rag doll. The other children, silent and subdued, sat as though mesmerized by the tune and the singer.
    The first wave of self-consciousness Belle could ever remember feeling swept over her, and she colored. “I . . . I’m sorry if I was too loud,” she murmured, looking from her aunt to her uncle. “I forget myself when I’m singing.”
    “Ya weren’t too loud at all, Child,” Uncle Benjamin said, giving her a nod. “It ain’t often we get ta hear singin’, an’ it were right nice.”
    Thus assured, Belle regained her usual self-possession and, going up to her uncle, asked, “What time do we need to leave for church in the morning?”

Do your younger siblings eat more than you?

What time do you leave for church?

Do you think Uncle Benjamin and Aunt Lillian go to church?

Hymns in the Hills - To the Work - Part 2

Good morning, Friday Fiction Fans,
It's a quite morning. Much quieter than last week. :) There are no little boys playing lego behind me and even our windows are shut because it was cooler last night.

After the craziness of last week, this week has been dull. And I've gotten a lot done. :) I do like that. It's kind of funny, I used to want something to be going on each week, but now I'm loving it when there is nothing and I can get so much done. I'm writing my thousand words each night (except for Wednesday when a Heart-Sister came down to visit), I'm working on some big projects that I hardly did a thing with last month and that I'm trying to get done by July. Just about everything is crossed off my "to-do" list which is really nice.

Now I know, you are all curious to know just what I have been writing. I'm sure some of you are hoping I've been working on TCR-6, while others are wondering if it might be more of the story about Dylan and Fern. (That story needs a working title by the way, so if you come up with anything, please let me know! It's getting cumbersome having to call it "the story about Dylan and Fern and the Woods.") A few of you could be wishing for more of Hymns in the Hills. So, just what have I been writing?
Well, I was working on another section for Hymns in the Hills, but then I found my paper with ideas for a blog story I had started last year. Now I'm working on that. It's going to be a longer story, but I think you'll like it. And no, I'm not going to tell you about it yet. Right now it's over 4 parts long and I don't think I've reached the 1/2 way mark.

I hope you enjoy the next part of this story.

Hymns in the Hills

To the Work

Part 2

    With that the younger boys had to be content. Aunt Lillian sent them out to feed the chickens and gather the eggs while the girls set about clearing away the dishes and washing things up. Belle, eager to help, coaxed Sade and Tabby into their room and helped them make the beds and hang up their clothes. As she often did at home, Belle soon broke into song.

“To the work! to the work! we are servants of God,
Let us follow the path that our Master has trod;
With the balm of His counsel our strength to renew,
Let us do with our might what our hands find to do.”

    The morning passed quickly for Belle; each thing was novel to her, and she found it all interesting. Two-year-old Benny was the hardest of the young ones to make friends with, for he clung to Jess or his mother’s skirts until Belle was almost in despair.
    “Offer ta take him outside,” Ali whispered.
    To Belle’s great delight, the little boy went right to her at that offer, and she received permission from Aunt Lillian to take the children out.
    “Go ‘long with her, Ali,” Aunt Lillian instructed. “Belle ain’t used ta things ‘round here yet, an’ I don’t reckon she’ll find it as easy as she thinks ta keep an eye on ‘em all.”
    Belle soon found that her aunt had been right, for once outside, the children scattered like dandelion seeds when they are blown. It took all of her ingenuity to gather them about her on the sunny slope and teach them a simple game. The younger twins, Si and Sade, refused to join in.
    “Si ain’t what folks call real friendly,” confided Ali when all Belle’s coaxing and smiles to the little fellow had been in vain. “He’s shy when he don’t know someone an’ likes ta stay away. An’ ‘course Sade, she goes with ‘im. Ye ain’t likely ta see one ‘thout the other ‘cept at night.”
    There was some difficulty with Kade and Rome, for both boys seemed more inclined to stir up trouble than to play the game. Finally Ali grabbed Kade’s arm and said, “Kade Russum, if’n ya don’t quit yer trouble makin’, I’m goin’ ta head up ta the fields and fetch home Pa er Zeke.” She turned to the younger boy. “Same goes fer you too, Rome.”
    Neither boy gave answer in words, but they settled down and played the game with the little ones, though they were both sulky and refused to talk to their sister.

    After lunch, when Kade and Rome had departed to the upper fields with food for their father and brothers, and the youngest ones had been put down for naps, Aunt Lillian sank wearily into her rocking chair and picked up her mending.
    “Auntie,” Belle said, going over and sitting in a nearby chair, “you look so tired. Won’t you go lie down and take a rest? We’ll keep the house quiet. Do Auntie. Mama does often when–” She swallowed hard and then went on with only a slight catch in her voice. “When she’s tired.”
    “Do, Ma,” Jess encouraged. “Ya know Kade and Rome’ll be gone fer hours, an’ the little ones are sleepin’. Ya ain’t had a rest fer so long.”
    Aunt Lillian looked about, and then down at the mending. “I reckon I kin this once. I am a might more tired’n usual today.”
    For several minutes the older girls sat in silence, the sisters glancing at each other and wondering how to entertain their cousin from the city. Suddenly Belle whispered, “Isn’t there something that Auntie would like to have done but hasn’t had time to do? Maybe something she used to do about the house?”
    Jess, Riss and Ali exchanged blank looks. At last Riss replied slowly, “She used to wash the windows every week, but she ain’t done that since Sade an’ Si were born. Now they only get washed once a year, if we get to it then.”
    Clapping her hands softly, Belle exclaimed in whispered tones, “Let’s wash the windows then! At least the ones in here. There are four of us, so two can work inside and two outside. Unless,” her face fell slightly, “there are other things we need to do instead.”
    Jess shook her head. “No, we ain’t got ta do other things, ‘less it’s the mendin’, but I reckon Ma’d like the windows clean more’n she would the mendin’ done. An’,” she added, looking critically down at the basket, “there ain’t much mendin’ neither.”
    Soon Ali and Belle were outside with rags and a pail of water while Jess and Riss took up their places inside. Under their willing hands the windowpanes soon began to glisten in the afternoon sun.
    Unable to keep back the song she had been humming all day, Belle broke into singing.
“To the work! to the work! there is labor for all,
For the kingdom of darkness and error shall fall;
And the name of Jehovah exalted shall be
In the loud swelling chorus, ‘Salvation is free!’”

Scrubbing the windows in time to her song, she launched into the chorus.
“Toiling on, toiling on,
Toiling on, toiling on,
Let us hope, and trust,
Let us watch, and pray,
And labor till the Master comes.”

    The windows shone as all four girls stepped down off the porch to look at them. “They’ll catch the setting sun now,” Belle remarked. “And they’ll shine like gold. Don’t you just love the way the sun sparkles on the glass? It always reminded Mama–” Belle’s voice broke, and it was some time before she could go on. “It reminded Mama about the streets of gold in Heaven, when the sun was making windows shine like gold. Maybe that’s why Auntie liked having them so clean. Perhaps they reminded her of that too.”
    When none of her cousins replied, Belle suggested they go inside and not say a word about what they had done. “How long do you think it will be before she notices?”

Have you ever done anything to surprise your mom?

Is there a certain siblings in your family that all the younger ones obey?

Do you like clean windows or do you care?

Hymns in the Hills - To the Work - Part 1

Hi!
It's a bit of a challenge trying to come up with something to say right now. I mean how many of you can write things that make sense when you have a ranch run by polices and General George Washington right behind you. As well as boat building, rocket launching, gold hunting, and whispered conversations which you are supposed to not only hear and understand all the time, but respond to at the appropriate times. :P Yep, two of my nephews are here playing lego in my room. My youngest nephew is sitting on my sister's lap in the other room. It's been a crazy week! We've had these three nephews since Wednesday morning. For most of Wednesday we also had my two nieces while my other nephew was in the hospital for dehydration. Now my brother, sis-in-law, Sissy, Funny Boy, and Ti-K went down to TX for the homeschool conference. We have these three boys until Sunday afternoon.

Like you may have figured out, it's been a different week. No time for writing now. Lots of time spent outside swinging, riding bikes, playing. Lots of books read, lego played with, and all kinds of things.

I really can't concentrate because Doodle Bug seems to start every-other sentence with my name. :) I guess I'll go then. ("Ooopsy, I lost my pants," says a lego man. "Oh, the door won't open. Now it will. I will go out on the porch.") That's a sample of what I'm listening to. :)

Enjoy! And yes, I still read the comments.

Hymns in the Hills

To the Work

Part 1

    When Belle opened her eyes in the morning, she couldn’t remember where she was at first. There were strange sounds in the next room, and then she felt a small hand pat her face. Quickly glancing over, the memory of yesterday’s experiences returned at the sight of a baby face staring into her own.
    “Oh, Mattie,” Belle whispered, sitting up and reaching out her hands. The little one went right to her, and Belle, with a sigh of delight, pulled her into her lap. “I’m going to love having you around.”
    The soft light of early morning drifted in through the curtains of the two windows, allowing Belle to notice that Jess and Riss were no longer in the room and that Ali and the others still slept. “I wonder if you are used to waking Ali up,” Belle murmured in Mattie’s ear. Then she frowned. “I don’t think you got a bath yesterday, Baby. You’re rather dirty. Perhaps there wasn’t time. Do you want to listen while I read my morning verse?”
    Mattie stuck her thumb in her mouth and leaned back against Belle’s shoulder for answer.
    Opening the little book which sat on her trunk, Belle read the next verse, “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might.”
    “That is a good verse for today, I think, Baby. I don’t know anything about life here, but I’m sure I can find things to do, and I am supposed to do them with my might because that will please Jesus.” Still talking to the little tot, Belle continued her musings. “We must ask Him to help us though, because His might is stronger than ours.” Bowing her head, she prayed for strength to do what she found to do that day.
    It took but a few minutes for Belle to complete her own toilet while Mattie, still silent and with her thumb in her mouth, sat on the bed and watched. When she was finished and her hair braided in its usual braid, Belle turned her attention to the baby again. “I know I could get you dressed,” she whispered, “but perhaps you are supposed to get a bath first. What shall we do, Baby?”
    Right then the door to the room opened and Jess stepped in. “C’mon girls, get–” She paused at the sight of Belle and Mattie. “Did she wake ya?”
    Belle shook her head. “No, and I would have gotten her dressed, but I didn’t know if she was supposed to get a bath first, since she didn’t have one last night.”
    “If we have time today she kin have a bath, like as not, if someone wants ta mess with it,” Jess answered shortly, tossing the baby’s clothes to Belle. “If’n ya want ta get her dressed, go ‘head.” Without waiting for a reply, Jess crossed the room and pushed open the curtains, letting the morning sun stream in. “C’mon,” she urged the little ones, pulling back the blankets and slipping nightgowns over tousled heads as the younger two sat up sleepily. “Ma an’ Riss ‘bout have breakfast ready, and Pa an’ the boys have ta git t’the fields ‘fore it gits hot.”
    Belle listened to this talk with only one ear as she quickly dressed the little one, whispering her verse over and over. Mattie, contrary to Jess’s expectation, gave no trouble but allowed the new hands to fasten her into clean clothes. “There,” Belle said, kissing the little face involuntarily, “now I think you’re ready.”
    The call to breakfast was heard from the other room, and, leaving the beds unmade and clothes lying about, much to Belle’s dismay, the girls hurried to the table.
    The boys were already there, and at the head, where Ez had eaten the night before, sat a tall, lean man. His shoulders were broad and his face unsmiling. There were some grey hairs about his temples, but the rest was brown, and he was clean shaven. Belle went up to him at once and greeted him with a kiss.
    “Good morning, Uncle Benjamin. I’m Belle, and I’m so glad you made it home safely last night. I was a bit worried when you didn’t come before bed time, but I prayed for you.” She smiled brightly up into his face.
    A bit of a smile crossed the man’s face as he looked at the bright faced girl beside him. “You slept well?”
    “Oh, yes, sir! I didn’t wake up once until this morning.”
    “Good. Sit there,” Uncle Benjamin motioned to an empty place on the bench beside Ali, “an’ we’ll eat.”
    Almost as soon as the last bowl of porridge was set on the table, the clatter of spoons began.
    But Belle looked around puzzled.
    “Don’t ya like porridge?” Uncle Benjamin asked her.
    “Yes, sir, but we forgot to thank the Lord for our food.”
    “Supposin’ we ain’t never learned how?”
    Belle lifted a shocked face, “But . . . but . . . then I could thank Him.”
    Silence had fallen about the table at Belle’s first words. Into the hush came the sound of a giggle.
    “Kade, ya want ta go outside?” asked the head of the family sternly.
    Giving a quick shake of his head, Kade looked down at the table.
    Uncle Benjamin turned back to his niece. “If’n yer wantin’ ta say grace, go ‘head.”
    To Belle, who was not timid, the thought of talking to her Savior before others was no trial. Hadn’t she done it often enough in prayer meeting? Her prayer was simple, thanking the Lord for the food and asking that He give them strength for the work of the day. When it was over, the interrupted meal commenced again, in silence.
    Only when it was over did Uncle Benjamin speak. “Zeke, Ez, let’s go. We got work ta do in the fields.”
    “Kin Rome an’ me go too, Pa?” asked Kade.
    “Ye kin come up with our lunch an’ I’ll see then.”

Would you have had the courage to offer to pray?

Do you like getting little ones ready for the day?

Will you be back?