She was dressed and ready , Nate was asleep with the pup on his pallet . Wade tapped on the doorframe and stepped in taking off his hat . He said ...Ma'am we are nearly ready to go to the river , I just wanted to let you know . She pulled the pot of beans off the coals and gathered several clean sacks . She had made two lard buckets of sweet tea to take with them .
She said ...Are you ready for this Wade ? Wade sat down laying his hat on the table and said ...Yes I am . I'm really looking forward to it ma'am . I have known Sam since we were children and I'm really happy I can be there for him in his recommitment . I am so glad to baptize Zeke ...he has been wanting to be baptized for years will finally have it done , I know he will have a closer relationship with GOD . But I am lacking in self confidence in counseling them . I graduated seminary and went to war . I officiated at many funerals ...this is new to me to council others to lead them . I want to serve GOD ma'am .
She sat down and looked at him across the table and said ...Don't rely on yourself . Rely on GOD and let him lead you . She reached across the table and offered her hand . He took it and she said ...I know you want to do the best you can ...let him work through you . Allow the Spirit to work through you . Wade I have seen him working through you , why do you think Sam and Zeke sought you out to help them ? You provided comfort for me and gave service to me in the funeral and caring during this time in Hosea's passing that I know you arranged with the others . I have confidence in you .
Tumbleweeds
Moderators: carlson1, Charles L. Cotton
Re: Tumbleweeds
Wade looked at her and said ...Ma'am ………...You will never know how much I thank you for your words and your confidence ! Lets get to the river !
She picked up Nate and Wade got the two buckets of tea and the towels . When they stepped out on the porch the rest of the men were coming from the shed . They met and Captain Jack took a bucket from Wade as Sam took the towels and Zeke took Nate from her telling him ...Your grandpa is finally going to get baptized ! They walked toward the river . The pup followed them .
She picked up Nate and Wade got the two buckets of tea and the towels . When they stepped out on the porch the rest of the men were coming from the shed . They met and Captain Jack took a bucket from Wade as Sam took the towels and Zeke took Nate from her telling him ...Your grandpa is finally going to get baptized ! They walked toward the river . The pup followed them .
Re: Tumbleweeds
They got to the river , halfway there they had stopped talking and were thinking of what was going to happen . They laid the tea and towels on the rock she sat on to do laundry . Wade sat down and pulled his boots off , Sam and Zeke did the same . Wade walked out in the river a little better than waist deep . He turned to them standing on the bank and held out his hand and said ...Zeke !
Zeke started walking out in the water to Wade .
Zeke started walking out in the water to Wade .
Re: Tumbleweeds
Upon reaching him Wade turned Zeke toward her and Sam as they stood in the river side by side . As he talked Wade put his right arm under Zeke's left arm and behind Zeke's back as he said ...Our brother Zeke comes today seeking baptism . Then he asked Zeke ...Who is your Lord and Savior ? Zeke replied ...My Lord and Savior is Jesus Christ ! Wade said ...Zeke ! Based upon your profession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, I now baptize you in the name of the Father and Son and Holy Spirit. Wade lowered him back in the water as he said ...Buried with Him in the likeness of His death, raised with Him in the likeness of His resurrection to walk in the newness of life. As Wade stood him back up ! Wade said to Zeke ...You are new !
Zeke walked through the water to Her , Captain Jack and Sam on the bank smiling . They were clapping and excited . She grabbed and clung to him while Sam and Captain Jack shook his hands complimenting him on his decision .
Wade stood in the river watching and smiling .
Zeke walked through the water to Her , Captain Jack and Sam on the bank smiling . They were clapping and excited . She grabbed and clung to him while Sam and Captain Jack shook his hands complimenting him on his decision .
Wade stood in the river watching and smiling .
Re: Tumbleweeds
Wade gave them time . He loved seeing them share in Zeke's Baptism ! This was an awakening for him in understanding . So many years of his life wasted ….He too was being made new . She was right ...listen to the Spirit .
Wade said … Sam !
Sam walked into the water to Wade as Zeke , Captain Jack and her were silently watching . Wade put his arm around Sam's back and said ...Our brother Sam requests to recommit himself to our Lord . Having counseled with him I find no reason he should be denied renewing his commitment .
Sam who is your Lord and Savior ? Sam replied ...My Lord and Savior is Jesus Christ ! Wade said ...Sam ! Based upon your profession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, I now baptize you in the name of the Father and Son and Holy Spirit. Wade lowered him back in the water as he said ...Buried with Him in the likeness of His death, raised with Him in the likeness of His resurrection to walk in the newness of life. As Wade stood him back up ! Wade said to Sam ...Live in the light of GOD .
They both walked back to their friends that were excited and clapping . She hugged Sam as Zeke and Captain Jack laid their hands on him . Wade stood back sharing in their joy . After a few moments she turned to Wade and hugged him smiling and said ...Thank you !
They sat on the laundry rock drinking sweet tea till Wade , Zeke and Sam dripped off enough wiping themselves with dry sacks to get their boots on . They went to the cabin where there was beans and cornbread with much rejoicing and a time they would all remember .
Wade said … Sam !
Sam walked into the water to Wade as Zeke , Captain Jack and her were silently watching . Wade put his arm around Sam's back and said ...Our brother Sam requests to recommit himself to our Lord . Having counseled with him I find no reason he should be denied renewing his commitment .
Sam who is your Lord and Savior ? Sam replied ...My Lord and Savior is Jesus Christ ! Wade said ...Sam ! Based upon your profession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, I now baptize you in the name of the Father and Son and Holy Spirit. Wade lowered him back in the water as he said ...Buried with Him in the likeness of His death, raised with Him in the likeness of His resurrection to walk in the newness of life. As Wade stood him back up ! Wade said to Sam ...Live in the light of GOD .
They both walked back to their friends that were excited and clapping . She hugged Sam as Zeke and Captain Jack laid their hands on him . Wade stood back sharing in their joy . After a few moments she turned to Wade and hugged him smiling and said ...Thank you !
They sat on the laundry rock drinking sweet tea till Wade , Zeke and Sam dripped off enough wiping themselves with dry sacks to get their boots on . They went to the cabin where there was beans and cornbread with much rejoicing and a time they would all remember .
Re: Tumbleweeds
The next morning She awoke and laid in bed a bit rethinking all that had happened the day before . It made her smile laying there in the darkness listening to the pup snore on the pallet beside her bed . Yesterday had been a huge blessing to them all .
Today they would start harvesting the cornfield and it would be a lot of work . She remembered it was only her and Hosea last year but he hadn't planted half as much corn . In the winter he had plowed and made the field larger , in looking back it seemed like he had worked so hard to get things in order . She sat on the edge of the bed and got dressed , she wiped her face and arms with a damp sack and brushed her hair . She knew that how she looked and acted at breakfast helped everyone start their day .
They would be working hard today and she wanted them to have a good breakfast . She lit the oil lamp and started a fire from the coals . The pup got up and watched her , she gave him some dried meat . She stirred up biscuit dough and heated her Dutch oven . She sliced ham and thinned down canned milk for Nate and making gravy . She could hear the stock being moved to the prairie , trace chains rattling from them harnessing the team , loud talking of them getting organized for first light .
Today they would start harvesting the cornfield and it would be a lot of work . She remembered it was only her and Hosea last year but he hadn't planted half as much corn . In the winter he had plowed and made the field larger , in looking back it seemed like he had worked so hard to get things in order . She sat on the edge of the bed and got dressed , she wiped her face and arms with a damp sack and brushed her hair . She knew that how she looked and acted at breakfast helped everyone start their day .
They would be working hard today and she wanted them to have a good breakfast . She lit the oil lamp and started a fire from the coals . The pup got up and watched her , she gave him some dried meat . She stirred up biscuit dough and heated her Dutch oven . She sliced ham and thinned down canned milk for Nate and making gravy . She could hear the stock being moved to the prairie , trace chains rattling from them harnessing the team , loud talking of them getting organized for first light .
Re: Tumbleweeds
The men came in talking and joking with each other hanging their hats on the wall as she put food on the table . They were all in a good mood and ready to get started . She was bragging on them about her new shelves and counter telling them how much easier it was to do things . She had a place for everything and a place to work !
They all got three fried eggs , ham with gravy and biscuits . They were joking her that she expected a lot of work to get done today ! They left as the sun came up headed for the field . She cleaned the mess and talked to Nate , he was saying mama a lot and it made her happy ! She knew the men wouldn't let her work a full day in the sun but she planned on helping in the field none the less . She might just put them to shame husking corn ...she was from Iowa ! She laughed at herself and kept busy till they got started .
They all got three fried eggs , ham with gravy and biscuits . They were joking her that she expected a lot of work to get done today ! They left as the sun came up headed for the field . She cleaned the mess and talked to Nate , he was saying mama a lot and it made her happy ! She knew the men wouldn't let her work a full day in the sun but she planned on helping in the field none the less . She might just put them to shame husking corn ...she was from Iowa ! She laughed at herself and kept busy till they got started .
Re: Tumbleweeds
She fried bacon and made quick bread for bacon sandwiches at lunch . She knew it would be hot and they were going to be doing heavy work . She took Nate and walked to the field , they were circling the field with the wagon . Sam was driving the black mule and Zeke's black horse slowly as Zeke and Captain Jack husked , picked and pitched corn . Wade was cutting stalks and loading them on the sledge behind them . Wade was loosing ground so she put Nate in the driver's box of the wagon and got the other corn knife and helped him cut and load .
Wade was grabbing a bunch of stalks and cutting them then loading them . She said ...Watch me , you can do three armloads if you carry them to the next and just stand them with the ones to cut . She showed him and he said ...HECK ! This is a lot faster ! Your good at this ! She said ...I grew up doing this ! She was laughing .
Her and Wade were still loosing ground because they had to haul the stalks out on the prairie to unload them . She said ...I'll Haul them fast as I can and you can cut and just lay the stalks in bundles in the clear . That way we are both busy ...so they did and when Sam , Zeke went to unload the corn in the crib her and Wade caught up cutting and hauling . They were all making fast progress .
Wade was grabbing a bunch of stalks and cutting them then loading them . She said ...Watch me , you can do three armloads if you carry them to the next and just stand them with the ones to cut . She showed him and he said ...HECK ! This is a lot faster ! Your good at this ! She said ...I grew up doing this ! She was laughing .
Her and Wade were still loosing ground because they had to haul the stalks out on the prairie to unload them . She said ...I'll Haul them fast as I can and you can cut and just lay the stalks in bundles in the clear . That way we are both busy ...so they did and when Sam , Zeke went to unload the corn in the crib her and Wade caught up cutting and hauling . They were all making fast progress .
Re: Tumbleweeds
They stopped for lunch and everyone was tired and not very hungry . They had bacon sandwiches and a lot of tea while they talked . Sam and Captain Jack were telling Wade about the water windmills being put up in the panhandle on the prairie to water cattle and that they worked . But you had to have water underground on the land of coarse . They also told him many were experimenting with the new fangled barbwire fences to hold cattle on your land . Wade was interested but told them ...I'm broke , I don't have money for windmills and fence but maybe later .
Zeke said ...Me and Nate want to try out our new shotgun on some bobwhite quail ! Been a while since I had fried quail and there are plenty here .
Zeke said ...Me and Nate want to try out our new shotgun on some bobwhite quail ! Been a while since I had fried quail and there are plenty here .
Re: Tumbleweeds
They were all tired , covered with corn dust and dirt from working the corn but sill raring to go back to work . She said ...NO! We will rest a few hours ..the corn isn't going anywhere . She said ...if you have to work you can do something in the shade , when it cools a bit we will go back to the cornfield .
They jokily complained and went to the shed , soon she heard sawing and hammering . She just shook her head !
They jokily complained and went to the shed , soon she heard sawing and hammering . She just shook her head !
Re: Tumbleweeds
She worked at making dumplings and dried beef , she had to fine cut the meat and boil it a good while to make the stock for the dumplings . She pitted dried plums and made a crust for a plum pie , she knew they would like that . She wished she had butter to use making the pie crust but lard in a small amount worked alright and it was all she had .
They were working hard and deserved a good supper . Zeke and her owed Wade , Sam and Captain Jack a lot for all the help they had given . She thought about Hosea and how well he would have fit in with this group of men .
They were working hard and deserved a good supper . Zeke and her owed Wade , Sam and Captain Jack a lot for all the help they had given . She thought about Hosea and how well he would have fit in with this group of men .
Re: Tumbleweeds
Captain Jack came in the cabin and sat at the table . He had left a flat leather pouch and his writing tablet with ink and pen on the floor under where they hung their hats . He said ...Ma'am I waited till Hosea's funeral was over , as I told you when we came here were many people in Eliasville that sent you letters and notes of condolence concerning Hosea's death . I have all of them here plus all the messages sent that I am to give by mouth . Do you have time and inclination to sit down and we will go over it ? I know it's hard ma'am but it's part of healing after a loss such as yours .
She sat down and he handed her a handful of letters and notes . He said as he slid her the tablet , ink and pen . You can write these names down as I tell you with their message . She started writing as he told her names and messages .
She had to get this done so Sam and him could drop them off in Eliasville on they way back south when they left .
She sat down and he handed her a handful of letters and notes . He said as he slid her the tablet , ink and pen . You can write these names down as I tell you with their message . She started writing as he told her names and messages .
She had to get this done so Sam and him could drop them off in Eliasville on they way back south when they left .
Re: Tumbleweeds
She was deeply into writing thank you letters and notes when the men were ready to go back to work . Zeke came in the cabin and sat down looking at the amount of letters . He said ...Why don't you stay here and work on your letters . We can handle the corn , we are making good time of it and you did your share .
She looked up with the pen in her hand and said ...I'd feel guilty if I don't help . Zeke got up and walked around the table , put his hands on her shoulders and leaned over then whispered ...Finish your work here ...there will always be more work later ! He put on his hat and walked down to the cornfield . The rest were getting started picking and stalk cutting .
She looked up with the pen in her hand and said ...I'd feel guilty if I don't help . Zeke got up and walked around the table , put his hands on her shoulders and leaned over then whispered ...Finish your work here ...there will always be more work later ! He put on his hat and walked down to the cornfield . The rest were getting started picking and stalk cutting .
Re: Tumbleweeds
She had the dumplings and pie ready when they came in . They had watered the stock , put up the wagon and unharnessed the team feeding them . They were covered with dirt and corn dust , their clothes were wet with sweat . It had gotten cooler and she said ...Why don't all of you bathe and put on clean clothes to eat , there is time and you would feel better and enjoy supper more ? They agreed and drew up water at the well going to the shed . They came back looking much better and thanked her for 'making' them bathe .
They talked about windmills and how nice it would be to have stock fences to cut down the work of staking the stock out to graze and having to watch them . They talked of what it would be like when more people settled here , Captain Jack said once again ...Buy more land upriver ! This part of the Brazos is a paradise ! The price will be high for land on the river soon , I have seen it before down south ma'am .
They talked about farming and stock . The possibility of trailing cattle to Kansas from here . Speculating on best markets for grain . They just shared ideas . She listened to all of them .
They talked about windmills and how nice it would be to have stock fences to cut down the work of staking the stock out to graze and having to watch them . They talked of what it would be like when more people settled here , Captain Jack said once again ...Buy more land upriver ! This part of the Brazos is a paradise ! The price will be high for land on the river soon , I have seen it before down south ma'am .
They talked about farming and stock . The possibility of trailing cattle to Kansas from here . Speculating on best markets for grain . They just shared ideas . She listened to all of them .
Re: Tumbleweeds
They enjoyed supper , Nate and the pup were already asleep on the pallet when they started picking up . She washed the dishes as they sat on the porch in the cool with a south breeze . Much had got done , the corn was a third finished and was going to be much more than they needed . Everything was put up and done up , the sun was sitting on the rim of the earth as her and the men said goodnight .
She bathed and brushed the dirt and corn dust out of her hair promising herself a trip to the river with Nate to bathe good when the corn was in !
She bathed and brushed the dirt and corn dust out of her hair promising herself a trip to the river with Nate to bathe good when the corn was in !