A Song Called Home: The Hope of a Child's Heart

By Sara Brooks

A Song Called Home is the life story of a baby of mysterious birth, whose parents lived on the Osage Indian reservation. Her father and both grandfathers were architects, and built homes and buildings from Oklahoma to Martha´s Vineyard in the early 1900´s. Before she became four years old, Mary Jeanette´s father abandoned her and his marriage, leaving the child to question her birth and family history. Thus began a lifetime search for her heritage and a home of her own.
The book captures the hearts and struggles of Mary Jeanette and her mother as they moved from place to place across Oklahoma and Kansas to live with relatives. After her high-school graduation, she met a young man who brought deep love and a devotion that led to marriage. The lives of these two characters as children mirrored each other, and they found that they had much in common, including the kind of home they wanted. The stories of their life as a couple bring them some exciting experiences during the Great Depression, the Dust-Bowl Days, through WWII, and to the promise of a bright future.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Apr 1, 2003
• ISBN: 9781465325723

Sara Brooks

Sara Brooks is a schoolteacher with a love for historical fiction. She lives with her family near the picturesque town of Waxahachie, Texas. A Song Called Home is her first published novel. A graduate of West Texas State University, Sara has taught in the Amarillo and Waxahachie Public Schools. She has been involved in church and community work and is an impressive speaker for women's functions. She has a sincere personality that appeals to both children and adults. Sara feels that God has called her to com- municate His love. Her latest endeavors are through her writing and music composition.

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Copyright © 2002 by Sara Brooks.

All rights reserved. No part of this book ma_y be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

This book was printed in the United States of America.

To order additional copies of this book, contact:

Xlibris Corporation

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

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Contents

Acknowledgement

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

MAGGIE’S HEART

THE BLESSED EVENT

MEMORY DAY

SEDALIA

FEELING AT HOME

THINK ON THESE THINGS

SCHOOL BELLS

CONFUSION

SEVENTH HEAVEN

THE FAMILY

SECOND GRADE

NO NEWS

A GLORIOUS FOURTH

THE SOIREE

THE BABY

AN UNFORGETTABLE CHRISTMAS

SNOWFALL

GUILTY

GRANDMOTHER AND

GRANDFATHER

KANSAS CITY

THE LESSON

A LESSON IN WEALTH

SCARLET

ORPHAN TRAINS

CLOSETS AND

DRAWERS

THE WORLD’S FAIR IN ST. LOUIS

THE PREACHER

MUSIC IN THE AIR

THE CRUSADE

THE SEARCH

INVITATIONS

THE YOUNG LADY

FAREWELL TO GRAN

STORMS

THE RUNNER

ALONE

SEVENTEENTH SUMMER

PAYCHECK MALL

THE COURTSHIP

THE LADY BELLE

DOWN ON THE FARM

THE PROMISE LAND

HOME AT LAST

THE ENCHANTED LAND

ANGELS IN CHARGE

TAOS TERRITORY

CITY OF FAITH

A SANTA FE DAY

FEATHERS AND BEADS

THE SHORT TRAIL HOME

BIRTHDAY SURPRISE

ANCHORS AWAY!

PEACE AND WAR

THE CRESCENT CITY

THE GRAND TOUR

CELEBRATION CONCERT

HOME AGAIN, |

CLICKETY CLACK

DO SIT UNDER THE

CHERRY TREE

HOME SWEET HOME

THE ADOPTION

THE

ANNOUNCEMENT

EPILOGUE

In memory of

Moma and Daddy,

and for

my much loved

children,

grandchildren,

and family

"For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth heyet hope for?

But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it."

Romans 8:24, 25

Acknowledgement 

I WISH TO thank my loving family for their help and encouragement, especially my brother Jim for all of his editing, and my sister Janice and her husband Bob for their support. Thanks to my daughters for cheering me on, when it seemed all was lost in computer land. Thanks to my husband who was so understanding when I was busy writing.

Special thanks to friends at the Hallmark Card Company in Kansas City, the Ponchartrain Hotel in New Orleans, and the LaFonda Hotel in Santa Fe.

The songs mentioned (with the exception of the title song which I wrote) are taken from the Historic American Sheet Music Collection at Duke University’s Rare Book, Manuscript and Special Collections Library.

The scripture quotations are from the King James Bible.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY 

ON THE DAY Mary Jeanette was four, her daddy came to see her, bringing an armload of presents. Jeanette had been sitting at the window ever since she got up. When she saw him, she cried Daddy!, and jumped down. She was so happy to see him, and she thought that this time, there might be some hope that he was coming back home to stay. Her mother went to the door to let him in.

Jack took the presents to the table, hugged Maggie; then turned to Jeanette.

Daddy! She called and ran to him. "It’s you! It’s my happy birthday! And you did come! You’re here!" She jumped into his arms and hugged him tightly.

Of course, Babe. Babe was his pet name for Jeanette. Daddy wouldn’t want to miss your birthday. Let’s go over to the table and open your presents. Here, he said, passing a dress box to her, open this one first.

She took the silky pink ribbons off, and slid the red paper and lid off the box. Three layers of tissue later, she found the most beautiful dress she had ever seen.

"Oh! Daddy! It’s soooo pretty! Moma, look!

"Jack, it is so beautiful! You do have such good taste."

Jack gave Maggie a wink. Well, yes, I believe I always have had.

Jeanette begged to try on the dress, and was given permission. She hurried to the bedroom, pulled the ivory lace and taffeta over her head; and fluffed up the petticoats underneath the skirt. For a moment, she admired herself in the cheval mirror; then fixing her hair ribbon as best she could, she skipped back to her father’s side.

Babe, you look beautiful! I knew it would be just right for you! He proudly handed her a tiny blue velvet box. The lid came off easily.

Mother, look! she exclaimed with delight. It held a little heart locket of gold with a chip diamond on it. Upon opening the locket, she found a picture of herself on one side, and her daddy on the other. It was engraved Babe. She held it out to her mother, and once it was fastened, Jeanette skipped to the center of the room, and danced around and twirled, singing her little heart out, hoping to please her father. Deep in her heart, she thought it might be her fault that her parents were no longer together. Maybe, if she could sing pretty enough, he would love her enough, and come back. She continued to sing; and while twirling, became fascinated with the full circle of her skirt, and the petticoats whirling up to her fingertips.

His soft voice broke into her reverie. Jeanette! There’s one more present. Come over here, Babe. She dizzily obeyed, and her father handed her a long box.

"Oh! Daddy! What is it? It’s so big" She quickly slipped the gold satin ribbon and marbled paper from the box, and opened it.

Oh, oooh, Moma, look! She carefully lifted a delicate doll from the tissues. The color of the sapphire silk dress was the perfect contrast to the raven Pompadour curls. Ivory lace decorated the frock and a matching bonnet. As she passed the doll to her mother, its’ long lashes closed delicately over sparkling brown eyes.

"Look! Her eyes closed! Daddy, she’s so pretty! Oh, Daddy, thank you!" With that, she gave him a warm hug.

Maggie was astonished. Everyone knew how expensive French porcelain dolls were. Jack! How beautiful! How could you … . Afford it, she was going to say, but stopped herself just in time, and added, know a doll was just what she wanted?

Jeanette began dancing around the room with her doll. Oh, Mother, what shall I name her?

Her father answered. Babe, if it’s all right, Daddy has already thought of a name for your doll. I thought … well, what if we call her MaryBelle? Mary for your name, and Belle means pretty in French. Pretty Mary. What do you think?

Oh, Daddy, yes! MaryBelle! Pretty Mary! I love her Daddy! Deep in her heart she longed to be happy again; so much that her heart was twisted with pain. He didn’t see the tears in her eyes. Daddy, stay with us, oh,, please, please stay. Jeanette thought it so hard, she was sure that he had heard her crying out to him. But he didn’t answer.

They had cake and tea, and enjoyed their time together, nevertheless he left again that day, and her little heart broke again, for she had opened a place for him once more, only to be forsaken. Her mother tried to cheer her later, when they had a bit of supper, but Jeanette longed for her daddy to be there with them. They left the kitchen table and went into the bedroom. Jeanette began to dress for bed.

Moma, Jeanette’s quivering voice was pleading, couldn’t he have stayed this time, couldn’t he?

Darling, Daddy would be here if he could; he just can’t be right now. We’ll be fine, though, you’ll see. With that, she hugged her precious daughter tightly, and kissed her ‘sweet little button nose’ as she called it, and wished her sweet dreams. Be my Baby forever, Maggie spoke softly, as she often did when she tucked her in at night.

Jeanette pulled the covers down, and crawled up into her bed. Another night, and more dreams. The child laid there in the dark, with vexing thoughts flying through her head, accusations against herself, against him, and even her darling mother, who loved her better than anyone, except God, of course.

Why would he leave us? she questioned. We didn’t do anything to him. We just loved him. Dear God, can’t you get my Daddy to come back home to us? The pitiful child finally drifted off to sleep, and dreamed of a sweeter time in her life, when she had both of her parents with her. Her dreams were her salvation at that time of her life.

There had been no open quarreling, no loud words, no blows, just his quiet retreat, and her mother’s crying in the night for a long time. The word was spoken only once. It’s called a divorce, her mother softly said, but God will take care of us.

The lace dress was hung in the back of the closet and she never wore it again until the Christmas play at church. The locket stayed in the velvet box.

But MaryBelle would not be left alone. Her sparkling brown eyes and beautiful long curls charmed her place into Jeanette’s heart. There were many hours spent dressing her, piling her long hair up on top of her head, and making up stories of castles and parties and handsome princes. MaryBelle became her daily joy and constant companion.

The break-up of their family left the child feeling so alone, she lay awake many nights worrying that it had somehow been her fault; thinking maybe if she had done something different, they would still love her and each other enough to be together. She spent many afternoon naptimes plotting ways for them to be a family again.

Daily she prayed; she knew that God was with her daddy, wherever he was. It kept him more in her life to mention him to God, and later she let her daddy know that she remembered to speak his name. He assured her that he always prayed for her as well.

MAGGIE’S HEART 

JACK AND MAGGIE Davis had been married only for a year when her parents, the Hammonds, decided to move up to Sedalia, Missouri, where Hiram Hammond had been building churches and houses off and on for ten years. Her parents’ absence was keenly felt, but Maggie busied herself decorating her home, and became involved with Jack’s family and church. She was adjusted to not having her family nearby until babyJeanette arrived. Then she missed her mother’s help. There were two years of family life with their baby at home, and then Jack became busier and gradually left. After he was gone, little remained in Pawhuska for her. She endured the solitude for a time, but then it began to grieve her to see her child growing up so lonely.

There was another sadness that wouldn’t become known for some time to come. Just before Jeanette’s fourth birthday, Maggie received word that Jack’s parents had been aboard the Cunard luxury liner, the Lusitania, when it was struck by a German torpedo, and sank off the Irish coast. The Davis grandparents were among the one thousand who were drowned. The Hammonds decided to keep the news from the child until she was older. It mattered little since the contact with the

Davis family had been dwindling for over a year. They had been devastated at the news of Jack’s and Maggie’s divorce, and could offer little consolation other than finances to their former daughter-in-law and her family. They just didn’t know what to say or do.

Months would go by with little or no word from Jack. Then, there would be a call, a note in the mail … . word that he still cared. Cared? Maggie thought. "How could he still care, or if he did, it certainly wasn’t much, not as much as he cared for his freedom."

Maggie often recalled when she met Jack the second time. They had known one another briefly one summer when they were children. He hadn’t remembered her, though he pretended to, and immediately struck up a conversation with her about his move to Pawhuska. He began showing up at her parents’ home on Sunday afternoons, sometimes taking her to church, or out on buggy rides. Jack was a suave, handsome man, worldly wise, and unbeknownst to her at that time, had been married once before. He had been to college, and met a girl, thought he was in love, and rushed into an unwise marriage. It had ended, and she was out of his life, and he had moved far away to Oklahoma to begin over. So he said. Said he was a new man, and wanted to start a new life. One that would enable him to make a decent living, and enjoy a real home with a wife and family. Now, here in Oklahoma, he said he had found true love with Maggie.

The Hammonds had known his family for years and trusted that he was an upstanding gentleman, a man of his word. They allowed their daughter to continue to see Jack Davis, and were not surprised when, after nearly a year of courting her, he came to her father to ask for her hand in marriage. He was given permission to ask Maggie, and when she agreed to marry him, her father gave his blessing. It was a decision Hiram Hammond came to regret in time. However, he kept his misgivings to himself, not wanting to hurt his precious daughter.

The wedding took place, Jack opened his office, and he became a busy architect at once. One thing that concerned the Hammonds, was that much of Jack’s work took him out of town. However, they tried to overlook this and other distressing circumstances, and encouraged their daughter to become a good wife.

It wasn’t long before Maggie thought she had figured out what Jack needed. She thought that if he were to become a father, he would become more responsible and stay home with her more often. She began to beg him to think about their having a child. Sometimes she borrowed their niece for a few hours to show him that she could care for an infant, and how sweet a baby could be, but her efforts were in vain. He would not be persuaded.

Maggie, Darling, we don’t want to be tied down with a child to look after, why, think what it would do to my travels- my work, I mean. He took her into his arms and kissed her, promising to think about it, and then waltzed her into another state of mind. This happened time after time. Her pleas fell on deaf ears. She was losing patience and her life was so lonely in their big house. If it hadn’t been for her church family, she could not have endured the loneliness. She prayed and cried out to God to give her a child. If it had worked for Hannah in the Bible, why couldn’t it work for her? Eight years after the wedding, her prayers were answered. She had all but given up when the answer came, straight from the hand of God. The baby was coming, and there was nothing Jack or anyone else could do about it. The baby was her reward for all her years of longing alone, crying out to God for a child to love, and one who would love her. Her long desired baby would be born right there on the Osage Reservation.

THE BLESSED EVENT 

MARY JEANETTE ARRIVED on a moonlit May night. The sky was full of bright stars. With the promise of a God- blessed life before her, the baby lay in her lace-lined bassinet, unaware of her destiny, sleeping like an angel.

She was tiny, with a lot of dark hair, and dark blue, almost black eyes. She was so pretty, and rarely cried since her mother watched over her every need with great anticipation. Jack, when he was home, which was more often now, was totally captivated with the idea of being a father. She was his little princess, and he adored her. By the time she was three months old, she had charmed everyone who ever saw her, and was the apple of her Grandpa Hammond’s eye.

For her first birthday, her daddy built a rocking horse for her, with a box-like saddle, so she could be propped up to ride. They had a time getting her off of the horse for meals and at bedtime. Christmas that year, he produced a little table and chairs, and her grandmother promptly made a dainty crocheted cloth, and gave her a china tea set. Her daddy was not home for her third birthday, but sent her a pink chiffon dress, and white leather shoes.

His business had carried him to the East Coast. He was building houses where wealthy New Englanders were spending their summer vacations. Maggie noted that her package was postmarked Martha’s Vineyard. She remembered that her sister-in-law Ella spoke of having been there when she was on vacation one year. Ella said it was quite a charming place, with beautiful homes and friendly people. How Maggie wished that she could travel with Jack, and see all of the places that she had only heard of. He had told her that it would be a hardship, especially now that they had a child. He said that the weather was so unpredictable, and the excuses went on and on.

Jack did not return home until October that year, and then only to gather up a few things he’d forgotten before. He said he had an appointment in Chicago with a new company, didn’t know when he could get back, maybe not before Christmas, but he’d try.

Jeanette didn’t know until she was a grown woman, that her daddy had gone into a hospital during some of that time, and was only allowed to leave with passes on occasion. He was taking treatments for extreme depression. The guilt he felt, over leaving his wife and baby, for living another life for a time, divorcing, and later remarrying, claimed much of his mind and led him to the periodic treatments at the hospital. It would be many years before he achieved a real victory over it, and he was free of the torment of his transgressions.

During the next three years there were letters, intermittent visits, and presents sent or brought for birthdays and the holidays. Through