A House Full of Children

By Doreen Milstead

A House Full of Children -- A man out west, a widower with two children, decides that it's time to find a wife as a helpmate. He accepts one who has a child of her own and together they learn to love each other and also add to the household. The child of a robber and an old woman saved from the freezing snow, joins the group. And with the help of God they learn how to survive both the pitfalls of life, the civil war and its aftermath, and the love that gathers round them like a garden full of wildflowers.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Susan Hart
• Release date: Mar 1, 2020
• ISBN: 9780463847664

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A House Full of Children

by

Doreen Milstead

Copyright 2020 Susan Hart

Synopsis: A House Full of Children -- A man out west, a widower with two children, decides that it's time to find a wife as a helpmate. He accepts one who has a child of her own and together they learn to love each other and also add to the household. The child of a robber and an old woman saved from the freezing snow, joins the group. And with the help of God they learn how to survive both the pitfalls of life, the civil war and its aftermath, and the love that gathers round them like a garden full of wildflowers.

Justin Crowder needed a helpmate. Even though the Civil War was raging on, he took the risk of finding him a wife, and a mother to his two children, Lucy and Donnie Bill. His wife had died along with their third child, during birth. He was left to carry on, raising his four-year-old son, and fourteen-year-old daughter. He had tried to find a wife in Kansas City for the last two years, but had failed to find a woman that could love his children as her own. Now, he was relying on his Aunt Maggie to find the perfect one.

He sent a letter off to New York City, and sealed it with hope. Then, he sat back and waited. Five months later, he received a telegram from his helpful Aunt, sharing her good news. She had put the word out that she had a young and dashing nephew what needed a wife, at one of her local social clubs. It wasn’t long until she had a long list of women, willing to take the plunge. After she personally interviewed thirty young, available ladies, she was down to choosing between three.

One was Emily Perkins. Her father owned part of the railroad, and Maggie wondered why the young daughter of a very prominent man would want to end up with a handsome, but poor widow. It didn’t take much checking into her background to figure that one out. Miss Emily had been disowned by her father, due to her promiscuous lifestyle. Her name was scratched from the list, immediately.

Then there was Rhoda Dirks. She was young, but after meeting with her in person, she also was scratched. There was just something about Rhoda that made Maggie’s skin crawl.

Last, but not least, there was Jasmine Terrell. She was Maggie’s pick because her name started with a J. She couldn’t think of any other reason, because Jasmine seemed very plain to her. But the list had gotten to be very short, after a few days’ time. Jasmine was only twenty-three, just barely out of diapers, according to Maggie. She figured if nothing else, she was trainable, being so young.

Jasmine came across as plain to Maggie, because she didn’t insist on wearing the collection of jewelry that other ladies wore around New York City. She also didn’t attend many functions, picking and choosing which she’d take the time to join up with.

She came across as a goody two shoes, and as far as Maggie was concerned, Jasmine had no reason to feel that way. Her daddy was no one important. He was a Post Master in New York City.

The only reason Jasmine’s name was on the list, was because her daddy had snuck it there. He didn’t want his daughter to stay in New York City, being afraid that she’d end up just like all the other women.

When Maggie returned to the Post Office, to collect a list of eligible ladies, Jasmine’s father had added her the last minute.

Maggie met with Jasmine and questioned her, lacking mercy. For two hours, the young girl was tested for her