Amanda: Light of My Life

By James L. Varnadoe

As a new writer, James L. Varnadoe dreamed of writing about things that interested him most, Love and War are two of those interests. After I completed my efforts toward writing my biography and ancestral history, I decided to try something totally Greek to me; a fictional story.

Amanda (Light of MY Life)

This story centers around two families living in New York and Ohio. Their lives come together somewhat by coincidence. Although, they lived similar life styles, they had nothing else in common except two children who fall in love with each other. These two faced the same trials and tribulations associated with young love, but encountered hardships uncommon with the youth and in todays environment.

Distance threatened to destroy their love for each other and the lack of reliable communication and travel venues, posed an even greater threat. There were several people who impacted their lives in their struggled to find their way back together again. However, they found solace in their reunion after a lengthy separation and were content with the outcome of their quest for happiness. They both lived in close proximity of each other and worked to prepare the way for a wedding that would bind them to each other. The onslaught of the civil war impacted both families in the most horrific way imaginable and would place an even greater strain on their lives.

This epic about family ties, faith, humor and mystique, surrounded by love and romance may whet your reading appetite. I hope to have a sequel to this story finished in the near future for your reading pleasure also.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: May 8, 2012
• ISBN: 9781469127484

James L. Varnadoe

James L. Varnadoe was born and raised in Spalding County, Georgia. He is the oldest of six children born to the late Simmie and Jewell Varnadoe. He has completed two other books, his autobiography and his ancestral history. He and Peggy, his wife of 44 years, make their home in Griffin, Georgia. They are the proud parents of two children and four grandchildren. He is retired from Civil Service, the Army Reserves and Southern States in Hampton, Georgia. James is a born again Christian and enjoys travel, writing, and spending time with family and friends. He is an active member of the American Legion (Post 15), the Voice of Veterans and serves on the Board of Directors for the USS Boxer Veterans Association.

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Prologue

Amanda

Being the oldest girl of six children in the Wilson family, I was often relied upon to not only do my chores, but also look after my siblings. Farm life in rural Ohio consisted of many long days and short nights filled with arduous and time-consuming work. We were taught to do what we were told and keep our sniveling to ourselves.

My daddy, Joseph Wilson, was a born laborer, filled with one goal in life—to raise the best crops in the county. Although we never owned a farm, sharecropping was an alternative to starving. Feeding and clothing a brood like ours required extensive effort which Dad was physically up to, but we children abhorred the sharecropper’s lifestyle. We were subjected to constant moves which meant making new short-term friends.

My mamma, Martha Wilson, like Dad, was devoted to hard work. She was a gifted homemaker and was the sweetest woman God ever graced this world with. Her goal in life was to raise her children to be honest, respectable citizens, preparing us to take our place in society. She didn’t relish the role of sharecropper’s wife either, but she knew it was the best Daddy could do, so she embraced it.

Both my parents were strict with us and believed that good behavior was next to godliness. We were told, once, to behave and do our chores or reap dire consequences. My parents weren’t abusive; but they didn’t tolerate slothfulness, misbehavior, or sass either. Discipline was paramount in maintaining family order and unity.

Times were hard for those struggling to survive in the little township of Allentown, Ohio. Families were closely tied to each other in the early days of settling that part of the country. They pitched in to assist each other when and wherever they could, to better their lives. Daddy always wanted to live near his folks, if possible, to draw upon their assistance when needed and provide his help in return.

My grandpa, Isaac, and grandma, Ruth Wilson, poured their lives into raising a brood of six children, with my dad, Joseph, being the eldest. Grandpa had managed to acquire a modest farm of fifty acres over a period of twenty years and was successful in providing for his family’s needs. He wasn’t considered a wealthy landowner; and he owed no one, but God, for all he surveyed. The land provided for his family and animals’ needs when crops were abundant, but that required hard work and blessings from above. The weather was a vital factor in their livelihood as well as others living off the land.

I remember once, we had to make a choice between family and survival. Dad was unable to make crops to support us and the landlord, over a five-year period. The soil had been overworked and would not support adequate crop growth. A decision had to be made; stay and face starvation or move to a more promising location. Dad heard from a reliable source that farming was best east of Ohio. Upstate New York showed bountiful yields of most crops grown in that region.

Dad and Grandpa Isaac talked about the dilemma we were facing. Grandpa and his family were anchored to their home, struggling, but not facing starvation like we were. He gave Dad his blessings and prayed that things would be better for us by moving to New York in search of a better life. He reminded Dad that if things failed, he could come back home and start over.

Dad sold two of his mules, our milk cow, the hogs, all the unnecessary farm equipment and much of our household furnishings in order to prepare for our migration east. We packed the remnants of our belongings on the wagons for the journey. Everyone was excited about the chance to start life anew in a distant land filled with promises of better days ahead.

The trip was going to be long and hard on Mamma and the little ones. Dad and my oldest brother, Mark, would drive the two wagons to our new home place. Mark, like Dad, was devoted to farming. Mark was a stapling young man having just turned twenty years old and wasn’t immune to hard work. He loved the farm life very much, and having not completed school, he wasn’t going to better his life educationally. He would most likely be my father’s best hope for a consistent source of labor as we settled in the new land ahead of us.

Our trip took a month, but we reached our destination, unscathed by the hard travel. First things first, Dad sought out a land baron needing tenants to till the soil and make him a profit; that was us. He found such a man that struck a bargain with Dad. We would soon find life in another town doing the only thing in life we ever knew, sharecropping.

Follow me as I struggle on my journey of misery, family ties, love, and trials brought on by a civil war, in the mid-1800s.

Chapter One

The year 1859 saw the worst drought in more than fifty years in upstate New York. The drought had taken its toll on people, crops, and livestock. Many animals died from the heat, lack of water and sufficient grasses to graze on; and most ponds were nearly dry. Many baby calves and pigs died as a result of the strain brought on them and their mothers by the drought. The extreme conditions had an adverse effect on all who lived in that region, especially those dependent on their livestock and crops for survival.

This story begins in late winter of 1858 and centers around the Sims and Wilson families, who were no different than others living in the little township of Ashville, New York. They lived by the sweat of their brows in an area where life was simple, but complex at the same time. However, they depended on Mother Nature to provide for their needs in the form of adequate rainfall and sunshine. Good weather was essential for seasonal changes. Winters prepared the land which nurtured the crops and livestock during the warmer growth periods. Unless they had lots of rain and snow in the winter months, the ground would not support spring planting. If summers weren’t warm enough and had moderate rainfall, there would be no crops to harvest in the fall. Their lives intertwined with nature and healthy animals.

Thomas Sims and his wife, Louise, lived in that area of the state all their lives. They had five children to survive childbirth that ranged in ages between six and seventeen. They lived on a three-hundred-acre farm which had been in Thomas’ family for over forty years. Thomas’s father, Andrew, purchased the land when he was twenty-three years old. The land came up for auction in the year 1810, when Andrew acquired it. About half of the land had been used for farming, the rest was wilderness.

Andrew labored feverously over many years, preparing a home place for him and his wife, Matilda, and their only child, Thomas. Andrew wanted his family to have all the necessities that he could afford. He tried to make life abundant and as easy as possible for them to survive. He built a home of eight rooms along with a big barn to house plentiful goods for them and the livestock. He also built a smokehouse, a blacksmith shop, two corn cribs, and a privy. There was a creek running through his land and several small lakes scattered about where the livestock could get water. Additionally, he dug two wells in order to have adequate water supplies for the family. God had been gracious to Andrew and Matilda all their lives. They were happy and gave thanks to God.

Andrew labored to clear the land and formed it into what had been a prosperous farm for most of the forty-five years he cared for it before his death. His wife, Matilda, of forty-six years, died in December 1858 shortly after Andrew’s death. They left Thomas all their worldly possessions, including the farm that they built and loved so much.

Thomas, now forty-two, and Louise, age forty, having been raised on farms, were quite naturally up to the task of making the farm work for them to support the family’s needs. The farm was well stocked with implements to work the land with. There was the family home, which was in need of some repairs, but not beyond Thomas’s capability. The barn was well built and in good shape plus it was very well stocked with supplies of grain for the animals and allocations for spring planting. There was a vast array of tools for his use. Most of the crops planted in the fields had been harvested—some stored, others sold. Thomas inherited eight mules, sixty beef cows, two milk cows, two bulls, twenty-two hogs, fifty chickens, eight goats, five cats, and three dogs. Andrew also had eight hired hands, employed to work the farm, who agreed to stay on in the event of Andrew’s and Matilda’s death. Thomas and his family were blessed to have such an endowment left behind by his parents.

Thomas and Louise’s children were also delighted with their new (old) home. They had been tenant farmers in the neighboring township of Bishop, New York, and knew well the hard work associated with farm life. The children were looking forward to doing chores to help the family with their new home. The three boys, John (age seventeen), Steven (age fifteen), and Ronald (age nine), would help their father with the garden and livestock. The two girls, Mary (age thirteen) and Katie (age eleven), helped their mother with the chores associated with housekeeping and providing for the family needs—cooking, mending, and preserving food supplies.

On the first day, in their new home, they paused to give thanks. Thomas prayed and thanked God for watching over them and for keeping his family safe and healthy during the hard times. He praised his mother and father for the bounty they left behind for him and his family. He prayed for God’s continued blessing for good crops and plentiful harvests, which hopefully lay ahead. He prayed for God’s blessings on the animals, that they’d be healthy and fruitful. He also prayed that God’s glory be unveiled before them.

As the family settled in, Thomas and Louise talked about the children continuing their education. John, the oldest, was in his last year of school. He was a big boy at six feet three inches tall and weighing just over two hundred pounds. The hard work on the farm made his muscles bulge, almost ripping his shirts. Thomas and Louise were afraid that he might leave them after graduation, either to attain higher education in Watertown or to get married. John was Thomas’s main helper for the last twelve years of his life, and he would truly be missed at home. Louise told Thomas not to worry, the other two boys would fill the void when and if John decided to leave them. She said, Whichever choice he makes, John will decide his own destiny. He has been raised right, and the Lord will prepare a way for him. He loves God, and he loves his family, just as his family loves him, and God’s blessings will be with him all his life.

The children continued their schooling in Ashville, so things remained pretty much the same, in that respect. The schoolhouse was fairly old, and many of the necessities in the school required the children’s help. Chores were assigned to several of the students, like chopping firewood for the wood-burning stoves in each room and drawing freshwater from the well each day. The water was needed in the classroom for drinking and washing up before the kids ate their dinners, brought from home with them daily.

Several of the teachers were required to teach more than one grade because of a shortage of teachers as well as classrooms in the old schoolhouse. There was usually a shortage of school material, such as books, supplies, and desks—and that meant sharing. Times were hard during that period, but people adapted and were thankful for what they had.

After school, the children had chores to attend at home as well as their homework before the next school day. This meant that the children had to make every daylight hour count. The chores came first, before the evening meal and before their homework. The farm required everyone’s involvement. Each of the children had specific chores to be done before nightfall. John was required to check on the plowing of the fields by the hired hands. Steven took care of feeding the mules, hogs, and goats. Mary fed and milked the two milk cows, Katie helped her mother with the evening meal, and Ronald fed the chickens and gathered the eggs.

When the evening meal was ready, about nightfall, Louise called everyone in to wash up. It was customary for Thomas to say grace at the table before they ate. Once they started eating, each of the children shared their day’s experience at school. Their meals consisted of things grown on the farm, either fresh or preserved by canning or slowly smoked in the smokehouse.

Some of the crops grown on the Simses’ farm consisted of corn, wheat, alfalfa, cotton, millet, and sugarcane. Some things were grown for human consumption and others for the animals and some sold. Those items grown for the animals and/or sold were referred to as field crops. The garden was where most of the vegetables were grown for human consumption. Most of these items were easily preserved by canning, items like tomatoes, beans, peas, squash, cucumbers, and okra. Other items like potatoes, beets, and onions were stored in cool, dry areas. When animals were slaughtered for food, the meat was usually salt or sugar cured and smoked in the smokehouse. There were several varieties of trees that bore fruits and nuts like pears, apples, and pecan trees on the property that supplied the family needs as well.

Life was simple, but complex in some ways, for all who lived during this time. Electricity wasn’t developed yet; so all houses were lit with candles, coal oil lamps, and lanterns. The Sims family owned wagons which were necessary to support family life in the country. Without wagons, it wouldn’t have been possible for farmers to transport crops to the markets and bring goods from the town merchants back to their homes. The Sims family also traveled to their church, some three miles away, in their wagon as well. They were blessed above most in the region and shared what they had with others in their neighborhood, which had less.

The Sims children enjoyed going to the various youth activities conducted at their church—things like picnics by the creek and cake walks to raise money for youth activities. Whenever there was a barn dance at one of their neighbors’ home, they were eager to go. The older Sims children were allowed to date, but dating was not by today’s standards. For one, they didn’t have cars to take their date out, and two, there was no place close by to go. The closest large town was forty miles away. Often, dating was a trip by foot or on horseback to the girl’s home. The boy and girl sparked on the front porch swing or maybe took a stroll by the creek. It wasn’t possible for the couple to get together late in the evening because of distance and because of the chores that had to be done before nightfall.

The best time for young boys and girls to get together was on Sunday, after church. The young boy often rode home with the girl’s family, have dinner with them, and afterward enjoy leisure time together. They were rarely ever alone long enough to show their affections because of the younger siblings’ eagerness to observe them from around corners.

Chapter Two

Most of the people living in the Ashville Township owned their land and were self-sufficient because of it. However, there were a few land barons who owned more land than they could manage. Consequently, they were eager to take on tenant farmers who, in turn, were satisfied to contract with the landowners and farm on shares. This enabled people to, at least, have a roof over their head and food on the table. These people were known as tenant farmers, sometimes referred to as sharecroppers. There weren’t many of these families in or around the Ashville Township.

There was such a family, from Ohio, who recently moved into a house belonging to Mr. Shepherd. Mr. Shepherd was one of the larger landowners in the area, with more than two thousand acres. He could accommodate six families and had five families living on his land already. This family, from Ohio, would complete the number of families needed to farm all the land. They were the Wilson family. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson had six children, three boys and three girls. The children ranged in ages from three to twenty years old. The oldest girl, Amanda, was seventeen and in her last year of school. She would be in the same class as John. Amanda was about five feet five inches tall and very trim, weighing about a hundred and ten pounds. She had long blond hair, blue eyes, and when she smiled her teeth glistened because they were so white and even. She was very shy and soft-spoken, but she possessed a keen awareness of her surroundings. She wasn’t ashamed of her family, but she was ashamed of the tenant farm life they lived.

She was at the age where she wanted more, not only for herself, but for her family also. She never wanted to stray far from her family, but she was looking forward to graduation and an opportunity to get away from sharecropping. She wanted a family of her own someday and a house that she could call her permanent home. She wanted a husband who was a hard worker and a good provider. She also wanted him to love her unconditionally. She wanted someone who would see her for who she was and not look back on her previous life to measure her by those standards. She dreamed of such a man often. It was her hope to find such a man, like the one of her dreams. Maybe she’d find him in Ashville.

After the Wilsons settled into their new environment, the children reported to their new school. They noticed that the school was not very different from the one they left behind in Ohio. The Ashville School was small and somewhat cramped, but so was their last school.

John didn’t notice Amanda until the teacher introduced her to the class. He thought that she was perhaps the prettiest girl he had ever seen. Immediately, his heart sank because he didn’t think that she would ever pay him a scarce bit of attention, with all the other boys vying for her affection.

She took a seat near the front of the class. She didn’t look around to observe any onlookers; she knew she would have plenty of time for that as the days passed. Amanda was a star pupil at her last school, and she wanted to continue the good grades in hopes of going on to higher schooling after graduation. When the school day was finished, she immediately looked for her younger siblings to ensure that they were all together for their trip home.

John noticed that they traveled in the same direction as he. That meant that she might live near their house. He observed them stopping at one of Mr. Shepherd’s old sharecropper houses just down the road from their house. He wondered about the new girl and her family. He never concluded that they were poor, but his concerns were that they might move again soon. She was awfully pretty, but he didn’t want to meet and get serious about someone new, only to say goodbye after a short time.

He couldn’t get her off his mind as he went about his evening chores. Could she ever notice him? Would she be stuck up, noncaring, and ignore him? His mind was in a spin. His intention was to introduce himself to her the next day at school and maybe ultimately sit with her during their dinnertime at school. He wanted to get to know her better and perhaps capture her attention.

John didn’t know what kind of impression he would make, but he was going to work on it so that her first impression of him would be the right impression. He already knew that Amanda fit his every expectation, especially in looks and poise.

John watched as she held her little sister’s hand when she got down from their wagon. He noticed her as she leaned over to talk to her. Immediately, he could see that she was a caring and responsible young woman in the way that she took care of her younger siblings. John liked what he saw and made note; it was another feature that impressed him about her.

Amanda was the only girl that John had ever paid attention to with respect to long-range hopes of becoming serious about. In the mornings, once they reached school, he hurriedly caught up with her to ask if he could carry her books to the classroom. She looked up at him and said she would appreciate it since she had to go with her little sister to ensure she found her classroom. Amanda noticed that John was a fairly big boy. He was lean and full of muscle from hard work on the farm. His hair was black and curly. His eyes were dark brown, and his skin was tanned from the sun while working in the fields. She smiled at him as she handed her books to him, and then turned away. John’s hopes were renewed at that moment as he hurried along to his classroom.

As the day wore on, John also noticed how smart Amanda was, especially, when she was called on to work math problems or correct sentences that the teacher had written incorrectly. He also noticed several of the other boys in the class admiring her from a distance. He felt a little jealous at first, as he soon realized that he wasn’t the only boy in school who was interested in Amanda. He was going to have to win her heart quickly before anyone else moved in on her. However, he had to be careful and not be too impetuous. That, for certain, would give her the impression that he thought she was putty in his hands. He had to be patient for a while and not show too much attraction to her.

John didn’t say anything else to her that day. Even as they left to go home, he kept his distance. The next day he noticed that one of his class mates, Tommy Lewis, approached Amanda and started talking to her. Tommy was all right in John’s book, but John didn’t think she’d be interested in him. He was kind of an egghead, you know, the studious type. Well, she seemed to like what they were discussing as she walked away with him. John didn’t let it bother him until the next day when they sat together to eat their dinner and began talking and laughing about something. John began to question his tactics. Was he taking the wrong approach, or was she trying to play hard to get by ignoring him altogether? What was he to do? John talked with his dad about what was going on between him and the new girl at school. Mr. Sims’s advice to John was, Tell her how you feel, son. If it’s meant to be, she’ll respond, then you won’t have to be coy with her.

John always looked up to his dad as being wise in his ways and decided to take his advice. He thought about what he would say to Amanda the next day, and it troubled him all night. He couldn’t sleep for going over and over in his mind how he would approach Amanda about his feelings for her. Would he be diplomatic about it or just stick his foot in his mouth? What to do and say, he thought.

That morning, he watched as Amanda arrived at school. She continued to care for her little sister. John’s heart pounded as he contemplated his speech to Amanda once she arrived at school.

Again, he hurriedly caught up with Amanda and asked if he could carry her books to class. She thanked him and that’s when John asked her if he could sit with her during their dinnertime. She replied, Yes, I’d like that. John wanted to leap with joy because she had made his task easier by being receptive to his request. Now he could talk to her and at least let her know how he felt about her.

When dinnertime came, John walked alongside Amanda outside to where they would eat their dinner underneath a nearby shade tree. He started the conversation off with questions about her and her family. These were things he felt like were noninvasive to her. She felt at ease telling of their last home in Ohio. She acknowledged her dislike for sharecropping, even though she knew it was the best her family could do under the circumstances. John told her that his family had been more fortunate than others since his grandfather left his estate to them when he died. They talked about each of their family members and also about themselves. Time had passed quickly and before they knew it, it was time to return to class. Before they returned to class, he asked if they could sit together the next day during dinner, and she once again agreed. John was thrilled at the prospect of another dinner engagement with Amanda. He looked forward to it with great anticipation.

John couldn’t wait to tell his dad about their brief encounter during dinnertime. Mr. Sims was happy to see that his son’s confidence with Amanda was lifted. It wasn’t just Amanda; John was shy around all girls, even before her. It wasn’t so much that John was bashful; it was his fear of rejection that had John’s dad worried. Mr. Sims felt better now that John had finally broken the ice with Amanda.

John and Amanda continued having dinners together over the next few weeks. When Amanda arrived at school, each day, John immediately asked if he could sit with her and her reply was always, Yes. John asked her if she had plans after graduation. She told him that she hoped to continue her education, provided her father could afford it. If not, she guessed that she would find a job somewhere so that she could help her parents support the family. Her response burdened John’s heart. He was so taken with her willingness to sacrifice her life for her family that he couldn’t talk; he wanted to cry.

The more John was around Amanda, the more he realized that she was the kindest and sweetest person he knew outside his parents. What she said had such an impact on him that he felt bad about his aspiration of going to higher schooling. He was thinking that if she wasn’t able to attend higher schooling somewhere, then he wasn’t going either. It wouldn’t be fair for him to continue school when he knew that she wanted to go, probably more than he. If Amanda was able to continue her schooling, she could possibly improve her siblings’ quality of life through her education. It might also impress on them to work hard in school so that they too could get higher education someday and ultimately escape the poor lifestyle of sharecropping.

Chapter Three

News got out that a barn dance was going to be held at the McIntosh farm on Saturday, April 5, 1859, at 5:00 p.m.; and the entire township was invited. John wanted to invite Amanda but wasn’t sure that she would go. She had never been to a dance before, and she had told him previously that she didn’t dance very well.

All the Sims family was excited about the upcoming barn dance because they had only been to one prior to this. The boys offered to help Mr. McIntosh in preparation for it, in any way they could. Mr. McIntosh told the boys that he could use their help in cleaning out the barn. All the stalls had to be cleared of the animal manure so that the barn wouldn’t smell so bad. He said that he was going to need fresh straw from the fields which meant that it had to be cut and hauled in. He was also going to need lots of pine tops, hung in the barn to freshen up the smell of the barn’s interior.

Well, John, Steven, and Ronald were eager to help get the barn ready for the shindig; and Mr. Sims said that he would also lend a hand. Ira and Molly McIntosh didn’t have children at home any longer. Their two daughters, Elizabeth and Susan, were married and lived in Maine with their families; so he needed all the extra help he could get. His hired workers were too busy in the fields to help with this project.

The year to date had seen sparse amounts of rain thus far. Normally by this time of the year, the rains were such that the fields were ready for several of the crops to be planted. The winter snowfall had also been the lightest in more than a decade. Unless they received more rain in the weeks ahead, the crops would not yield adequately for farmers in that part of the state. Things weren’t looking very good.

Everything was well under way for what Ira and Molly hoped would be a relaxing time so everyone could enjoy the dance. It was only a week away, and much was yet to be done before they were ready for the crowd. Ira had penned up a hog to be slaughtered for the occasion. He was going to roast it over a pit for the barbeque feast he had planned. Once the barn was cleared of clutter and cleaned out, some of the neighborhood ladies were going to help Molly with the decorations. Ira knew several men and women in the area who played musical instruments, so they were asked to provide the music. All the festivities were planned in preparation for the dance. Ira and Molly were excited about it since this would be the first they had hosted in over thirty years.

Steven and Ronald worked hard on gathering all the fresh cedar and pine foliage to spruce up the interior of the barn which did make it smell much better. The dance was just a few days away, and many of the township residents had responded positively to the invitations Ira and Molly sent out. All was a go at this point.

John hoped that Amanda and her family were going to attend the festivities. Amanda told him that they planned to come provided all were well and weather permitted. John didn’t think the weather was going to be a factor, and there was still no rain in the foreseeable future. Ira had some reservations about lighted candles inside the barn. Molly told him that he should use the coal oil lanterns and hang them high in the barn out of reach to preclude anyone bumping them over. Ira was going to put out some posters also, asking that no one smoke inside the barn. He wanted to take every precaution to avoid a fire. The area was so dry that a fire would devastate the barn, and people could get badly hurt. Nothing was going to spoil this dance. The barbeque pit was located away from the barn, and the area around it was scraped of all foliage, so there was no chance of a grass fire.

The day came for the dance, and people started showing up around four in the afternoon. The McIntoshes were expecting about sixty people. Chairs and benches had been borrowed from the church to accommodate the crowd. Most of the womenfolk brought covered dishes like beans, cold slaw, bread, pies, cakes, etc., and various types of drink. All were dressed in their everyday garb; no formal dress because of the heat. Most of the men wore hats, and the women wore their bonnets and dancing shoes. It was going to be a wonderful occasion.

There were games organized for the children who didn’t want to dance, and many of the adolescent children volunteered to watch after them while their parents enjoyed themselves. The people who volunteered their talents with the musical instruments were cordoned off in an area where the dancers would not get in their way, bumping into or crowding them.

Ira started roasting the hog on the evening of the day before so that it would be completely cooked by the time people arrived. At a barn dance, there is no formal eating time or scheduled events. Everyone is free to engage in whatever suited their fancy. The roasted hog and all the food items were placed on a large table. The drinks, plates, silverware, and glasses were located on another table near the food. This way, everyone was free to help themselves to whatever and whenever they wanted it. The musicians started the music almost as quickly as the first people arrived. All types of music were lined up for dancing, except church hymns (no one danced to that). Most favored the slow music so that couples could hold each other close. Those who enjoyed it most were the young lovers who never had that chance to hold each other close when they were sparking at one another’s homes.

John was thrilled to see that the Wilson family showed up and to see that all were there. He felt weak in his knees when he saw Amanda. She was so beautiful. She was wearing a full-length blue dress embedded with tiny pink polka dots with white lace around the neckline. Her beautiful blond hair cascaded down to her back and over her shoulders. She wore a blue and pink ribbon around her neck with a cameo attached. John’s heart swelled with anticipation of holding her close while they danced to the slow songs.

Everyone mingled and greeted each other. Mr. McIntosh spoke out loud and welcomed them. He said, Molly and I are glad that you all were able to come tonight. Please make yourselves at home. Enjoy the food, music, and each other’s company. Stay as long as you like, and most of all, have a good time. They all applauded him and Mrs. McIntosh for their hospitality, then chose a partner and started dancing.

John made his way over to where Amanda and her family were. He introduced himself to her parents, and Amanda introduced her mother and father to John. They chatted for a short time before a slow tune was started. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson got up to dance, and that’s when John made his move. He asked Amanda if he could have this dance with her. She stood up, at which time John took her hand and walked her out onto the dance area. The floor was well-compacted dirt, covered with a thin layer of wheat straw. John took Amanda in his arms and held her close as they danced to the music. His mind raced back to their first encounter at school at which time he didn’t think he’d ever have a chance with her. Holding her close set his mind in a spin. She smelled of lilac, and her breath was sweet as mint. He didn’t want the dance to end. He could have held her all night and never tired of the slow music and feeling her move in sync with his steps.

The song came to an end, and the two pulled apart. He thanked her for the dance as she returned to the area where her family was seated. Mr. Wilson went to the food table to get his wife and himself some lemonade, so John went along to get a glass for Amanda and him. When he returned, Amanda asked him to stay with them at which time she slid over to make room for him on the bench. Several more tunes were played as they talked. Amanda looked at John and told him that she was having a wonderful time and enjoyed his company. She gently slipped her hand into his and smiled at him, at which time John’s feelings about Amanda soared. He had never felt before what he was feeling at that moment.

The evening wore on as several square dance tunes were played, which John and Amanda joined in. They enjoyed the square dance as did everyone. John and Amanda went over to the food table and prepared them a plate of the barbecued pork and other food items; all that dancing made them hungry. They enjoyed several more dances together as the evening was drawing neigh. Because it was getting late, the Wilsons decided to call it an evening. The smaller children were tired as were Mr. and Mrs. Wilson. Amanda took John’s hand and told him that she had a wonderful time and looked forward to seeing him at school on Monday. John told them all good night, turned, and walked away. The Wilsons paused long enough to thank Mr. and Mrs. McIntosh for their invitation to the dance and the wonderful time they enjoyed. Mr. McIntosh and Mr. Wilson tipped their hats as they bid each other a good night.

It wasn’t long before others made their farewells known to Ira and Molly before departing the area. The Sims family stayed on to help with the cleanup so that the burden wasn’t on Ira and Molly. The musicians stayed on to enjoy the food and drink after the others left. Everyone had stated their enjoyment of the dance, food, and fellowship with one another. Ira and Molly were happy that all enjoyed themselves but stated that it would be the last barn dance they would host. Ira said, We’re getting too old to prepare for this, but we’ll be happy to attend the next one at someone else’s farm.

Chapter Four

Several days after the barn dance, a meeting was called at the Buford First Methodist church in the Buford Township by Mayor Rogers to discuss the weather conditions. They knew that they couldn’t do anything about the weather, but they could caution the locals about fire hazards due to the dry conditions.

Most of the people from neighboring communities showed up to attend the meeting. None of the three townships in the area had firefighting equipment to speak of. The town of Buford had a water wagon that held five hundred gallons of water which could be used in the event of a small fire, but nothing major like a house or barn fire. They were mostly equipped to fight small brush fires. There were only a few volunteer firefighters who could hitch the horses to the wagon and respond to a small fire.

The mayor called the meeting to order and asked the pastor of the church to open the meeting with prayer. Pastor Henry asked for God’s blessings on the meeting and all in attendance. He prayed for mercy on the communities at large and that they might be spared from the danger of fire. He prayed for rain, in abundance, to relieve the earth of its parched condition.

When Pastor Henry ended his prayer, the mayor commenced the meeting with a list of areas where ample water supplies were accessible. Everyone would be needed, not only for the water wagon, but for bucket brigades too, if homes and stores were ignited. He asked that everyone be vigilant in reporting anyone or anything posing a fire hazard, like burning trash or yard debris. He also asked, that above all, watch out for yourself and your neighbors; help others if need be and spread the word for everyone to be careful with fire.

The meeting was adjourned and again, Pastor Henry prayed for God’s blessings on everyone and asked that God keep them safe. Mr. Wilson, Mr. Sims, Mr. McIntosh, Pastor Henry, and others in attendance promised to watch out for each other as they left the church. Mr. Wilson and Mr. Sims made a pack to be there for each other since they were close-by neighbors. They wanted for the families to meet sometime soon to get better acquainted.

The Sims family eagerly awaited Thomas’s return to learn what the meeting was all about. Thomas told them about the meeting and asked that they all get involved and be on alert for fire hazards.

Several days later, after the evening chores were finished and they had eaten their supper, the Sims family said their good nights and went off to bed. Little Ronald later came into his mother and father’s bedroom and said that he was scared. Louise hugged him and told him not to be afraid, that everything was going to be fine. He said, But I smell smoke. Thomas jumped out of bed and ran to the boy’s room. He didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary. He asked John and Steven if either of them lit a match and their reply was, No.

Thomas could smell the faint odor of smoke by now. He went outside to check on the barn, woodshed, and smokehouse; nothing there. He turned to go back into the house; when he looked north, toward town, he saw a bright orange glow on the horizon. Oh dear God, there’s a fire headed toward Mr. McIntosh’s farm, he said loudly. He ran into the house and got everyone out of bed. He loaded them—all the shovels, rakes, and buckets he could get into the wagon—hitched the mules up, and sped off to help where the fire was raging. As they neared the McIntosh farm, Thomas could tell that the fire was going away from their farm and headed toward the town of Buford. They stopped to check on Ira and Molly to ensure they were okay and warned them of the fire in the area.

Because the town was several miles away, it became clear to Thomas that they might be too late to help save the town, if it was on fire. Thomas recalled what Mayor Rogers had asked everyone to do, and that was to be vigilant. He hoped that they were going to arrive in time to help out. As they drew nearer, he could see