Chapter 20
It was amazing what had been accomplished in less than ten days.
It had been decided that simple three-room houses would be created.
The family houses were rectangular in shape, with one main living space and two bedrooms. A larger, dormitory type building was being built for the bachelors, positioned closer to the farm’s outbuildings.
It had an area for sitting and reading or playing checkers and a walled-off area for sleeping.
So far, the men were sleeping on the floor, but Evie’s father had promised cots were on their way.
Max was nervous as the children filed into the common building and the classroom he and Evie had set up.
Evie was helping him group the children together according to grade.
Out of the thirty students, most were in the lower grades.
Only five were older than thirteen, and of those, two were sixteen.
Max liked that he could group those two together and even get their help from time to time with the younger children.
Both were young ladies and had told him how much they loved school.
They were perhaps also a little infatuated with their handsome teacher, Evie had told him with a laugh.
Max walked to the head of the room. “Everyone needs to take their place at the tables. Sit in your assigned groups, please.”
He waited until they were seated. “I’m Mr. Garrison, and the woman who helped you at the door is Miss Turner.
If you have trouble remembering my name, you may call me Teacher.
” Max moved a little closer to the first table, where the youngest of the group were sitting.
“I want all of you to be good about helping each other. It’s important when living in a place like this to understand the importance of working together. ”
One of the little boys raised his hand. Max nodded. “Yes, what is it?”
“What happened to your arm?”
Max motioned to his sling. “I have a broken collarbone. That’s the bone that is right here.” He drew his hand across the top of his shoulder.
“How’d you break it?” the same boy asked.
“I was in the bad fire. The same one that destroyed your houses. Part of the roof caved in and hit me. It broke my collarbone and left me with some burns, but I’m healing fast and doing just fine.”
“Our house burned down,” one of the other children declared.
Max sobered. “Yes, I know that. All of you lost your homes, isn’t that right?” The children nodded in unison, and Max continued. “I know it was probably very frightening too.”
“We couldn’t go inside to get my dolly,” one girl blurted out.
Max didn’t want to admonish her for speaking without permission but knew it was important to keep order. “If you want to say something, raise your hand and wait for me to call on you.” He smiled at her. “What’s your name?”
“Georgia,” she replied. “We couldn’t even get Mama’s old quilt.”
Max nodded. “I’m sure everyone here lost things that were important to them.”
One of the boys stretched his arm up and waved it at Max.
“What’s your name, young man?”
“Ralph Murphy. We were coming back from seeing my Grandma Murphy. Our house was burned down before we got home, so we didn’t get anything out. We think it burned up Poppet.”
Max frowned. “Who was Poppet?”
“He was our dog. Mama said he was really old and was probably asleep and didn’t even know what happened, but I miss him.” A couple of the other children nodded, leaving Max to wonder if they had lost pets in the blaze as well.
Even though the fire was weeks ago, these children were still focused on what had happened. He wondered if anyone had given these children a chance to talk about what that day had meant to them until now. Maybe that was the best place to start.
“Today, I want to hear your stories about the fire,” Max said, glancing to Evie. She smiled at him as if completely understanding his decision to change their previous plans.
“We’ll start with the youngest children here at the first-grade table and then go to the second grade and so forth. And since it’s getting warm, Miss Turner, would you be so kind as to pull back the canvas on the windows that are still closed?”
“Of course,” Evie replied and immediately went to work.
There had been no money for glass windows, so oiled canvas was tacked up to each of the places left for windows. Once rolled up, immediately a gentle breeze came into the room.
“Now, let’s start back with you, Georgia. Why don’t you tell us where you were when the fire started and how you got to safety?”
At noon, Evie worked quickly to clear the room.
Together, she and Max set the tables and chairs for the noon meal and joined the others in the line for lunch.
That day they were served a bowl of vegetable beef soup, bread and butter, and a fresh berry mixture that had been sugared.
Some of the men had multiple bowls of the hearty soup, but one was more than enough for Evie.
At least the temperatures were starting to fall, and even though there still was no sign of rain to come, there was a definite feel of autumn in the air.
After lunch, she and Max took a walk out to the lake. She loved the feeling of just walking at his side. She felt comfortable with him in a way that she had only ever known with family. It was funny how she’d felt that way since the beginning.
“I heard there’s going to be another fund raiser before too long. Your mother was talking about it at lunch,” Max said.
“Yes, Mother likes to host fund raisers at least four times a year. This year, however, there will be only three because of the economy.”
“Things are looking up on that count. More gold is flowing back into the country from Europe, and the banks are steadier,” he replied, leading her to an area where someone had erected several benches. “Would you care to sit a moment?”
“Of course. I’m sure we’ll soon be overrun with children. I heard someone mention bringing them out here for a swim.”
“They won’t be able to do that for much longer.”
Evie shook her head. “I would imagine even today the water will be much cooler than last week, given the break in the temperatures.”
“Speaking of children, you did well this morning.” Max assisted her as she sat, then joined her on the bench.
“You did too. It was smart to let them tell you their stories about the fire. It has had a huge impact on their lives, and the adults around them have been so busy they probably haven’t had time to really listen to anything they have to say.”
“I was particularly touched by girls who admitted to still having terrible nightmares. Poor things.”
Evie gazed off across the lake. “I imagine some of the boys are having trouble too, but of course when you’re a boy, you’re taught to be strong and say nothing.
I think it was good you told them that having bad dreams about something like that is perfectly normal and that even you had dreams about that day. ”
“It was a very bad day, to be sure. I can’t imagine being a child and enduring such a monumental event.”
“You were kind and compassionate and very smart to let them tell their stories.”
“Well, I appreciate your approval. I very much enjoyed working with them. Who knows what the future will hold? I mentioned having an interest in teaching to my father. He’s twice since sent me notes telling me it would be a mistake.” Max sighed, and Evie could feel the weight of it on his soul.
“Every man must find his own calling. God will show you what it is and what it isn’t.
I know that from experience.” She thought of all the time she’d wasted trying to come to terms with her own dilemmas.
“I know we’ve really never talked much about the future, but we both have money of our own.
I believe with our joined inheritances, we can live a perfectly comfortable life.
I don’t need a palatial estate to be happy. ”
He chuckled. “I suppose I should be glad to hear that. But you should know, the depth of my feelings for you makes me want to lavish you with everything known to mankind. Diamonds and other jewels, luxurious carriages and clothes, and yes, even palatial estates.”
Evie laughed. “Max, I don’t need any of those things.
I just need you. All my life I’ve been taught that while the luxuries of life are quite wonderful, people are the ones who matter.
We were taught to tithe at church, but also to share a tenth of our monies with charities for those in need.
And it wasn’t just about the money. It was important to tithe our time as well.
When I was little, I was given tasks to help roll bandages, butter bread for soup lines, sweep up and help tidy places.
When Father and Mother bought the first farm years ago, we would go out with them and work.
They both felt it was important that we be able to do physical labor as well as sit and be pretty. ”
“And you do the latter so well,” he said, taking her hand. “Although, I must contend that you are a hard worker too.” He paused for a long moment. “So, you really wouldn’t feel disgraced if you were married to a schoolteacher?”
“Not at all. I have the highest admiration for such people. I hold fond memories of most all my teachers. There were a couple of older men who I found rather stuffy and ill-suited for the job, but the majority were fascinating to listen to and made me want to know more. I know you’ll be that kind of teacher as well.
I saw the way you spoke to those children to draw them out and share the details of their fire experiences.
You have a way of reaching people, Max. It’s a gift. ”
“And what will you do while I teach school?”
Evie laughed. Max had still not formally proposed; it was just assumed they would marry one day. “I would like to continue fund-raising. I find it rewarding, and Mother would like to give over some of her responsibilities to me. We were talking about it just last night. Would you mind?”
“Not at all. I cannot imagine anyone better at it than you.”