Santa’s
message had given Ina the inspiration she needed to move ahead with plans for
Christmas. The day was cold, perfect timing for some cookie baking. At the
prospect of fresh cookies, Jack happily stoked the fire in the old wood stove,
and Ina tried a new recipe for oatmeal molasses cookies.
Meanwhile,
Miss Dorothy Johnson, teacher at the one-room schoolhouse, trudged along the snowy
road on her way to visit “Aunt” Ina Dobson, bracing herself against the cold
wind. As she passed “Aunt” Bertha’s house, Miss Johnson lamented that she
didn’t have time to stop and visit. Aunt Bertha was lively and fun. Not so her
sister Ina, whose stern demeanor belied a generous heart. She had her
standards, and you wouldn’t find her gossiping – well, mostly not. It was
quietly said with knowing glances that the two sisters – Bertha and Ina – might
conger up a little magic if the situation were right. Secretly, Miss Johnson
hoped so.
Sitting
now at Ina’s dining room table nibbling delicious fresh oatmeal molasses cookies, Miss
Johnson stated the matter at hand.
“Aunt
Ina, you know of the Smith family, I’m sure. Well, they lost the crop and are
on the verge of losing the farm. Mr. Smith is obliged to leave in order to seek
work elsewhere, and the missus wants to go with him, but little Shirley Anne
must stay behind.”
It
wasn’t a new story, Ina reflected. People had been coming and going almost
since she and Jack had settled here in 1896. The community had dwindled after
the first influx of homesteaders, and the post office had closed years ago.
“Perhaps
they just need a little time to work through things,” the teacher continued, “and
I happened to think . . . Well, I know that your Shirley isn’t here just now,
and I wondered if their little Shirley Anne could stay with you until the home
situation is resolved.”
 |
| Ina and Bertha Dobson, 1922 |
Ina
was forming a negative answer in her mind when she remembered Santa’s plea. Wasn’t
she dreading the prospect of a lonely Christmas? Hadn’t she longed to make a
magic Christmas for a child? “Why, yes!” Ina heard herself saying. “We’d be
glad to care for the child.”
“What
did the teacher want,” asked Jack, as he and Ina ate their supper of chicken
soup and fresh bread.
Ina
explained that she had agreed to care for little Shirley Anne Smith while her
parents left the area to look for work. Jack might bluster a bit, she thought,
but in the end he loved children and wouldn’t complain.
“Well,
that’s another mouth to feed, Ina,” observed Jack.
“A
mighty small mouth,” said Ina, defensively. “We might not have much, but we do
have plenty to eat. And I know you don’t mind, so don’t pretend you do.”
“You’re
right, Ina,” said Jack. “When will the girl be here?”
“Tomorrow
at noon.” KW
1 comment:
Those are some yummy looking cookies! Mmmm
Post a Comment