changed his mind and would be arriving in late August to acquaint himself with the people and the area, and to prepare the schoolroom for the commencement of classes.
Arrangements had been made for him to board at the Watleys, and Mrs. Watley had her two grown-up daughters polishing themselves as well as the family silver.
Missie was counting the days. Her whole life was now filled with thinking of the new school year. What she would wear, what she would learn, who she would play with were all very important in her daily planning.
She had two deep regrets. One was that Miss Puss would need to put in long days alone in her absence, and the second was that Tommie declared himself to be too old to attend school with all the neighborhood youngsters. She'd miss Tommie. She wanted so much to have him there. She would be so proud to stand and recite a well-learned lesson if Tommie
54
were listening. She would work extra hard at her reading and sums if he were there to observe her skills. But Tom was not to be there and Missie, though still excited about the prospect of school, felt disappointment.
Marty too was disappointed--not over Tom but over the Larson girls. The school term was only a few weeks away, and there had been no change in Jedd Larson's attitude. Marty was about to concede that her prayers had been in vain.
At the pre-breakfast prayer time Marty was mulling over these thoughts in her mind as Clark read the morning scripture, "Ask an' it shall be given you; seek--"
"I been askin' , Lord, an' nothin' been happenin'," she admonished her Lord and immediately felt guilt and remorse.
"I'm sorry, Father," she said in her thoughts. "I guess I'm 'bout the most faithless an' impatient child thet ya got. Help me to be content-like an' to keep on havin' faith."
Clark seemed to sense her mood and in his morning prayer included this petition: "An', Lord, ya know thet 'fore long now our school will be a startin' an' ya know how Marty promised Mrs. Larson to try an' see thet the girls got their schoolin'. Only you can work in Jedd's heart to let her keep thet promise, Lord. We leave it to you to work out in yer own good way and time."
Marty silently thanked Clark for his caring. Maybe now God would act. He often did when Clark prayed. She immediately reprimanded herself. True, Clark seemed blessed with answered prayers, but she was God's child, too; and the Bible said that God did not regard one of His children above the other. If Clark's prayers were answered more frequently, it was because Clark had more faith. She determined to exercise her faith more.
Later in the day Ole Bob announced an approaching team. To Marty's surprise it was Jedd Larson. It had been some months since Jedd had been over, and Marty could sense an answer to prayer.
Clark met Jedd outside and they talked neighbor fashion while Jedd tied the horses to the rail fence.
Marty put on the coffeepot and cut pieces of gingerbread.
55
"I wonder jest how he'll say it without backin' down none."
Jedd and Clark were soon in and seated, and Marty fairly held her breath waiting for Jedd to spill the good news. He brought news all right--news that made him grin from ear to ear--but hardly what Marty had been expecting.
"Sold me my farm yesterday."
Clark looked up in surprise.
"Ya did? Someone local?"
"Nope--new guy jest come in. He was with thet wagon train thet's goin' through--had planned to go further west, but his Missus took sick. Decided to stay on here. I showed 'im my farm and he offered me cash--outright. Good price, too."
Jedd stopped to let his good fortune take effect on his hearers. Then went on.
"The train's restin' fer a couple of days 'fore goin' on. I'm thinkin' a takin' his spot with the train. Arays did want to see what was further on; never can tell--might find me gold or sumpin'."
Marty finally drew a breath.
"What 'bout the girls?" she said.
She knew that it was a foolish question. All hope now of keeping her promise seemed to
Arrangements had been made for him to board at the Watleys, and Mrs. Watley had her two grown-up daughters polishing themselves as well as the family silver.
Missie was counting the days. Her whole life was now filled with thinking of the new school year. What she would wear, what she would learn, who she would play with were all very important in her daily planning.
She had two deep regrets. One was that Miss Puss would need to put in long days alone in her absence, and the second was that Tommie declared himself to be too old to attend school with all the neighborhood youngsters. She'd miss Tommie. She wanted so much to have him there. She would be so proud to stand and recite a well-learned lesson if Tommie
54
were listening. She would work extra hard at her reading and sums if he were there to observe her skills. But Tom was not to be there and Missie, though still excited about the prospect of school, felt disappointment.
Marty too was disappointed--not over Tom but over the Larson girls. The school term was only a few weeks away, and there had been no change in Jedd Larson's attitude. Marty was about to concede that her prayers had been in vain.
At the pre-breakfast prayer time Marty was mulling over these thoughts in her mind as Clark read the morning scripture, "Ask an' it shall be given you; seek--"
"I been askin' , Lord, an' nothin' been happenin'," she admonished her Lord and immediately felt guilt and remorse.
"I'm sorry, Father," she said in her thoughts. "I guess I'm 'bout the most faithless an' impatient child thet ya got. Help me to be content-like an' to keep on havin' faith."
Clark seemed to sense her mood and in his morning prayer included this petition: "An', Lord, ya know thet 'fore long now our school will be a startin' an' ya know how Marty promised Mrs. Larson to try an' see thet the girls got their schoolin'. Only you can work in Jedd's heart to let her keep thet promise, Lord. We leave it to you to work out in yer own good way and time."
Marty silently thanked Clark for his caring. Maybe now God would act. He often did when Clark prayed. She immediately reprimanded herself. True, Clark seemed blessed with answered prayers, but she was God's child, too; and the Bible said that God did not regard one of His children above the other. If Clark's prayers were answered more frequently, it was because Clark had more faith. She determined to exercise her faith more.
Later in the day Ole Bob announced an approaching team. To Marty's surprise it was Jedd Larson. It had been some months since Jedd had been over, and Marty could sense an answer to prayer.
Clark met Jedd outside and they talked neighbor fashion while Jedd tied the horses to the rail fence.
Marty put on the coffeepot and cut pieces of gingerbread.
55
"I wonder jest how he'll say it without backin' down none."
Jedd and Clark were soon in and seated, and Marty fairly held her breath waiting for Jedd to spill the good news. He brought news all right--news that made him grin from ear to ear--but hardly what Marty had been expecting.
"Sold me my farm yesterday."
Clark looked up in surprise.
"Ya did? Someone local?"
"Nope--new guy jest come in. He was with thet wagon train thet's goin' through--had planned to go further west, but his Missus took sick. Decided to stay on here. I showed 'im my farm and he offered me cash--outright. Good price, too."
Jedd stopped to let his good fortune take effect on his hearers. Then went on.
"The train's restin' fer a couple of days 'fore goin' on. I'm thinkin' a takin' his spot with the train. Arays did want to see what was further on; never can tell--might find me gold or sumpin'."
Marty finally drew a breath.
"What 'bout the girls?" she said.
She knew that it was a foolish question. All hope now of keeping her promise seemed to
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