I awoke with a start to a silent house. As I was used to hearing our farm rooster crow to begin the day, the quiet made me nervous at first, but I could see that it was just barely dawn. I had time enough to put on my Sunday dress and pull on my big apron, before slipping downstairs to start the breakfast routine. I had not checked for cream last night, so was relieved to see a cloth covered jug in the cooler. I put it on the table along with a jar of my mother’s plum preserves and a slab of butter. I hoped that was what the men had on their porridge, but I also put out a jug of molasses as I knew some of my brothers liked that.
The kettle was boiling when I heard Will’s boots on the stairs. He mumbled a good morning when he came into the kitchen followed by Uncle John who nodded good morning, before asking if I had slept well. I thanked him for his courtesy and poured the tea. The men, well used to being on their own, served themselves great bowls of porridge and after saying the Blessing, quickly ate their breakfasts. Will smiled at me when he saw the molasses, and poured it liberally over his oatmeal.
As soon as I had cleared away we all left to walk to Church. It was a lovely fall morning, warm with the late September sun and I knew I looked right smart in my Sunday best. Ma had made a special dress for me to wear to Church so with my hat perched on my black curls and my skirt swishing around my black lace-up boots, I felt just right.
I thought that I would manage quite nicely at Uncle John’s, Will had smiled at me this morning, and I was not so anxious as before. I nodded pleasantly to the people we met on our way to worship together, thinking I am now one of the towns folk and tomorrow I will get my dearest wish to go to school.
As soon as I had cleared away we all left to walk to Church. It was a lovely fall morning, warm with the late September sun and I knew I looked right smart in my Sunday best. Ma had made a special dress for me to wear to Church so with my hat perched on my black curls and my skirt swishing around my black lace-up boots, I felt just right.
I thought that I would manage quite nicely at Uncle John’s, Will had smiled at me this morning, and I was not so anxious as before. I nodded pleasantly to the people we met on our way to worship together, thinking I am now one of the towns folk and tomorrow I will get my dearest wish to go to school.
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