putting the books on the shelves? You can organize them at a later date, but at least it will get them out of the box.”
“Thank you. It’s most kind of you to help.”
“I’m just nosy, that’s all,” she said in a teasing tone. “I love to read. Books are simply irresistible to me. I think I shall miss the libraries back East most of all.”
“I gather your love of literature is rather unusual around here.”
Deborah took up several large books. “Sadly, that is true. Folks leave school at an early age in order to work or marry. Reading is a luxury and books are a novelty. So, too, is having a doctor. You do realize that you might not be well received at first.” She didn’t wait for an answer but trotted the books to the office.
When she returned Christopher couldn’t help but ask, “Why is that?”
“Margaret Foster has taken care of folks around here for as long as I can remember. She’s a widow with three grown sons.”
Again she headed off with more books, then quickly returned. Christopher admired her petite form as she bent to pick up additional medical tomes. “And she’s the reason I won’t be accepted?”
“Partly. People can be very odd. Mrs. Foster is superstitious, and she’s convinced a lot of other folks to see things the way she does.” Deborah straightened and smiled. “But she didn’t have to try that hard. Superstition walks hand in hand with ignorance.”
“I’ve found that to be true,” he replied, nodding. “But somehow I don’t think that’s a concern with you.”
“Hardly.”
Christopher laughed. “So what is a concern of yours?”
She shrugged and stopped to consider his question. “There are a great many things that concern me. My family’s welfare is probably at the top of the list. Helping the people of this community is another.”
“I heard someone say that your father passed away a few years ago.”
“Nearly three. He was killed in a logging accident.” Her expression sobered. “It was very hard on my family. We were all extremely close. We still are.”
“I can well imagine. My own father was injured . . . in an accident.” He hesitated. “It nearly claimed his life, but instead left him crippled and my mother struggling to support my siblings.”
“Oh my, and you’re the oldest of fifteen,” Deborah said, shifting the books. “How in the world does she do it?”
He was touched by her concern. “Only the five youngest are still at home. The rest of us do what we can to help.” The conversation suddenly made him feel self-conscious. “It seems your family is good about helping one another.”
“Oh, they are. Uncle Arjan and my father were brothers, and when Papa died, my uncle felt it was important to see to Mama’s needs. The boys inherited Papa’s land and business – that’s the way the law works down here. Everyone agreed, however, that Mama will never want.”
“How was it that you ended up going to college?”
“The blessings of a wealthy aunt – one of my mother’s sisters. My folks needed me to learn what I could in order to help the business. My brothers weren’t interested in an education. You’ll see that about most folks. However, I hope that will change around here. I believe most people are ignorant of the possibilities.”
“And you intend to show them?”
“I hope to. I want them to see how beneficial an education can be. There are some very hardworking people in this community. Education simply hasn’t been something that was valued.”
“How do you propose to help them change their minds?” he asked, intrigued by this little powerhouse of a woman.
“Mainly by example, I suppose. I’d like to show them how pleasant it can be to simply enjoy a good book – to be able to read the Bible for themselves. To better understand science, medicine. If they understand what you are able to do for them, Dr. Clayton, they will be more open to accepting you.” She headed back to the office once more
“Thank you. It’s most kind of you to help.”
“I’m just nosy, that’s all,” she said in a teasing tone. “I love to read. Books are simply irresistible to me. I think I shall miss the libraries back East most of all.”
“I gather your love of literature is rather unusual around here.”
Deborah took up several large books. “Sadly, that is true. Folks leave school at an early age in order to work or marry. Reading is a luxury and books are a novelty. So, too, is having a doctor. You do realize that you might not be well received at first.” She didn’t wait for an answer but trotted the books to the office.
When she returned Christopher couldn’t help but ask, “Why is that?”
“Margaret Foster has taken care of folks around here for as long as I can remember. She’s a widow with three grown sons.”
Again she headed off with more books, then quickly returned. Christopher admired her petite form as she bent to pick up additional medical tomes. “And she’s the reason I won’t be accepted?”
“Partly. People can be very odd. Mrs. Foster is superstitious, and she’s convinced a lot of other folks to see things the way she does.” Deborah straightened and smiled. “But she didn’t have to try that hard. Superstition walks hand in hand with ignorance.”
“I’ve found that to be true,” he replied, nodding. “But somehow I don’t think that’s a concern with you.”
“Hardly.”
Christopher laughed. “So what is a concern of yours?”
She shrugged and stopped to consider his question. “There are a great many things that concern me. My family’s welfare is probably at the top of the list. Helping the people of this community is another.”
“I heard someone say that your father passed away a few years ago.”
“Nearly three. He was killed in a logging accident.” Her expression sobered. “It was very hard on my family. We were all extremely close. We still are.”
“I can well imagine. My own father was injured . . . in an accident.” He hesitated. “It nearly claimed his life, but instead left him crippled and my mother struggling to support my siblings.”
“Oh my, and you’re the oldest of fifteen,” Deborah said, shifting the books. “How in the world does she do it?”
He was touched by her concern. “Only the five youngest are still at home. The rest of us do what we can to help.” The conversation suddenly made him feel self-conscious. “It seems your family is good about helping one another.”
“Oh, they are. Uncle Arjan and my father were brothers, and when Papa died, my uncle felt it was important to see to Mama’s needs. The boys inherited Papa’s land and business – that’s the way the law works down here. Everyone agreed, however, that Mama will never want.”
“How was it that you ended up going to college?”
“The blessings of a wealthy aunt – one of my mother’s sisters. My folks needed me to learn what I could in order to help the business. My brothers weren’t interested in an education. You’ll see that about most folks. However, I hope that will change around here. I believe most people are ignorant of the possibilities.”
“And you intend to show them?”
“I hope to. I want them to see how beneficial an education can be. There are some very hardworking people in this community. Education simply hasn’t been something that was valued.”
“How do you propose to help them change their minds?” he asked, intrigued by this little powerhouse of a woman.
“Mainly by example, I suppose. I’d like to show them how pleasant it can be to simply enjoy a good book – to be able to read the Bible for themselves. To better understand science, medicine. If they understand what you are able to do for them, Dr. Clayton, they will be more open to accepting you.” She headed back to the office once more
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