Katie's Paper Roses

KATIE’S PAPER

ROSES

By

Elizabeth W. Zeigler

© 2005 Elizabeth W. Zeigler All Rights Reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

First published by AuthorHouse 03/18/05

ISBN: 1-4208-2172-5 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4634-7953-4

ISBN: 978-1-4634-7959-6 (eBook)

Bloomington, Indiana

Cover designed by Kimberly Wilcox and Elizabeth Thomas.

Contents

Introduction

Acknowledgements

Chapter One A Husband for Katie

Chapter Two Sad Memories

Chapter Three The New Step-mother

Chapter Four Soap Making

Chapter Five Arnold’s Baby

Chapter Six A Buggy for Katie

Chapter Seven No More Babies

Chapter Eight School Days

Chapter Nine Fireworks at the Army Camp

Chapter Ten Snakes in a Bottle

Chapter Eleven Fishing for Spoonbills

Chapter Twelve The Road People

Chapter Thirteen Katie’s Flowers

Chapter Fourteen The Old Victrola

Chapter Fifteen The Air Show

Chapter Sixteen On The Road Again

Chapter Seventeen The Vulture in the Church

Chapter Eighteen Making Pop Guns

Chapter Nineten Back in Alabama

Chapter Twenty Pirates Island

Chapter Twenty-One Red Bugs and A Brown Recluse

Chapter Twenty-Two A Gift from Arnold

About The Author

Introduction

This story began during the Great Depression of the 1927 through 1930s, when food was hard to find or too expensive to buy, if it could be found at all. Hardly any store owners questioned where the products came from which were brought to them for resale.

Some of this material may offend sensitive natured people or animal lovers. I am an animal lover myself but that does not alter the fact that things such as described herein really did exist, not once but many times during this period of history throughout the United States.

This is a story of one family's adventures through heart break, turmoil, mental distress and desperate situations and brought their family safely through hard times by inventive self employment hard work and determination. Some of the characters in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. The adventures in this book are real, however not all situations or problems are true. There is however enough of the real to recognize if you are a part of this story.

Dedicated to a remarkable but troubled woman who gave me a burning desire to tell this version of her story. Her husband who stood by her and her sons who learned and thrived on the nomadic life they lived and the experiences they shared and whose clear inexhaustible memories of times past made this book possible.

Also dedicated to my beloved late husband who was an inexhaustible well of support and whose unflagging memory helped me over many a rough spot and who was my tireless typist and guide.

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank my family and friends for all the support they have given me during the writing of this book. In particular my children Cherie, Barbara, and Richard, who believed in me and helped me through many decisions. I would especially like to thank my daughter Cherie for all the long months spent on the computer helping prepare this for print. I would also like to thank my granddaughter Kimberly Wilcox and her friend Elizabeth Thomas for the time and effort they put forth on the designing of the front cover of this book.

Katie’s Paper Roses

by

Elizabeth W. Zeigler

Chapter One

A Husband for Katie

The light was rapidly diminishing from the sky as the snow laden train slowed to a bumping, clanging, grinding halt at the tiny wayside station somewhere in Pennsylvania.

Dirty gray clouds of smoke billowed from the smokestack only to be caught by the gusty wind and hurled to the ground, completely blocking from view anyone emerging from the train. The wind gathered it up again and lifted it above the train, where it was scattered afar, revealing the beautiful young lady who looked with amazement at the wondrous winter spectacle which resembled the ice palace stories which had been told to her as a child. Every twig of every branch on every tree was coated with ice. There was a beautiful ethereal quality about it as she watched the last rays of the sun pinpoint tiny sparks of light which danced and twinkled in the brisk breeze. It was exactly like looking into an open chest of diamonds, ruby’s and emerald's.

This was a picture she would surely remember to tell her grand children. She was so fascinated that she didn't realize how cold she was. Then the glow dimmed in the jewels as the sun slipped behind the white blanketed trees to the west of the station.

She was completely alone. The train had huffed and puffed it's way down the track while she stood mesmerized by the beauty around her.

She hadn't dressed for Pennsylvania winters. She hadn't realized how cold they would be. Her new high fashion pointed toe leather shoes with the narrow strap over the instep were completely covered with snow.

She wore a rather narrow skirt with a tunic overskirt trimmed with a row of tiny buttons from the v style neck to the hem just above the knees. The blue woolen skirt, which fell modestly to her ankles, was already wet and clinging to her. Her coat was very fashionable but completely inadequate for this harsh climate. She had a tiny high crowned hat clasped in her hand in fear of it's being blown away by the winds, which whipped around the corner of the station.

Her feet were beginning to feel numb just in those few minutes. She grabbed the handle of her trunk and dragged it to the station, opened the door and pulled it inside then firmly closed the icy weather out.

Four chairs haphazardly surrounded a pot belly stove, which sat squarely in the center of the room. Against the wall, filled to over flowing, was a large wood bin assuring continued warmth. A long service counter piled high with papers ledgers and coffee cups were along one side of the room. Several brass cuspidors were placed conveniently on the floor, while a small coat rack in the corner completed the furnishings.

From behind the counter the decrepit figure of an old man peered over the rims of small round glasses perched on the end of his thin nose. His hair was as white as the snow that had driven her inside.

Hello young lady, he said, best get them little shoes off and get your feet up to old Betsy (the stove,) she'll get them warmed up in a hurry. Tell me, where are you headed? I haven't seen you around here before, and I guess I know just about everybody in these parts. He took a cup from the counter and filled it from the large coffee pot he always kept on the stove. Here missy, take a sip of this; it'll warm your insides a mite while your feet get warm. He sat down beside her and shifted into a comfortable position as he patiently waited for her to confide in him.

Well, she began, I really don't know where I am going.

Don't know where you're going? What are you doing? Running away from home? This was more excitement than the shriveled little station attendant had had since last winter when lady Dorchester fell right off the platform into a big bank of snow. The thought of it made him want to laugh, but he cleared the thought from his mind so he could pay attention to this pretty little lady.

No, I'm not running away from home. I came here to be married. My fiance was supposed to meet me, I do hope he will be here soon.

Well bless my soul missy; well now, first off everybody calls me Zeb. Short for Zebediah; you know straight from the good book so my Maw said. And like I said, I might know your young man. What's his name? After she told him, he added, I sure do know Eugene. I even knew his poor dead wife and all their kids, but they are about half grown now. If you came to marry Eugene, you could have done a whole lot worse because he's a real good man. If he said he would be here, you can bet he will. The roads are pretty bad when it snows heavy so he may be finding the going pretty rough. There's no need to fret. If he doesn't get here and you need a place to stay the night, Miz Taylor’s place is about a quarter of a mile down the road and she takes in boarders. You just sit there and get warmed up while I finish my work. Then, if he doesn't show up I will help you get to Miz Taylor’s.

Katie thanked him, took a sip of coffee, and leaned back in the comfortable chair. She was so tired. She had not been able to rest well on her long journey from Alabama and now all those terrible memories crowded in upon her. She had only been thirteen years old when she married the one man she knew she would always love. Too young, people said, to know their own minds. But it was her mind and she did know it.

Those had been happy years; years of hard work and wonderful explosive love with four tiny babies born from that love. They lost one baby before she was a year old. They were all daughters, beautiful and loved so very much and now all gone.

She and Jake had almost seven love filled years together before he was gunned down on a bridge while on his way home after taking a load of cotton to the gin. He was only twenty-seven years old. So very young. Never again would he hold her in his loving arms. She would never again tremble in anticipation as he kissed her passionately. She had been devastated when they came to tell her he was dead.

Nothing in her life had prepared her for this deepest of tragedies; not even the inconsolable death of her baby, nor the death of her mother as traumatic as that had been. Nothing could compare with this. The world had closed in around her as she surrendered to the welcomed darkness of unconsciousness from which her life would never again be the same.

She regained consciousness in her own bed and was dimly aware that people were in the room with her. She could hear the low sound of voices. She tried to ask about the children but they didn't hear her. She tried to open her eyes but found she could not. She had a raging temperature. Her eyes were swollen shut, and she slowly put her hand up to her face.

She's awake, she heard someone say, get those papers; I had better get this taken care of now.

What papers? That voice sounded like Jake’s father.

Where are my children? she whispered.

They’re at our house Katie. They’re fine. We’re taking care of them. You don’t have to worry about them; but Katie, I have to ask you to sign these papers.

What for? I don’t want to sign anything. I can’t see to read it so I better not sign. I’m so sleepy. She whispered, before drifting back to sleep.

When she next awakened the people were still there. She heard her father-in-law say. She must sign this. She'll sign it if I have to stay here all day.

My goodness, she thought, that must be something important. She asked for water and her father-in-law rushed over to the bed.

Katie listen to me! Don't go back to sleep. I have some papers you must sign.

What kind of papers? she asked.

You must sign these papers so I can take care of Jake's affairs. I can do nothing without them. So, please, Katie even if you can't see, you can sign. I will hold the paper just right so you don't have to worry about seeing. Here's the pen and here's the paper. Just let me guide your hand; then I can get on with the business at hand.

Katie thought, he must need this signed in order to bury Jake. I suppose I must sign but I do wish I could read it. Will you please read it to me? I don't want to sign anything unless I know what it is.

No time for that Katie. I must have it signed now; then I’ll do the rest.

All right, she said, if it is that important I’ll sign.

Katie signed. Then they let her sleep again.

A full week passed before she was able to be up and around. But it would be a long time before her strength returned to normal. What did she care? Her love was gone. The light had gone from her life leaving only darkness and desolation. There was nothing left to live for. However, she was soon forced to face life.

She was preparing to visit her in-laws to bring her babies home, when she heard the knock at the front door. Her father-in-law and the sheriff were there.

Katie, the sheriff said, I really hate to do this but it's my job. I have to give you these eviction papers. You'll have one week to get your clothes packed and find a place to live. You can't take anything from the house unless you brought it with you when you married Jake.

What are you talking about? Tears began streaming down Katie's face as she turned questioningly to her father-in-law.

The papers you signed, Katie, were for the sale of this farm to me. Jake owed me a lot of money and the value of the farm won't cover his debt, but I'm willing to settle for this.

That's not true. Jake never owed you a penny. He never owed anyone a cent. If he didn't have money to buy something, he did without. You know Jake didn't owe you. Why are you doing this? What have I ever done to you?

You married my boy Katie, against my will. Now he is dead. I will not see you profit by his death. I'm also going to take care of his children. You can go find a job and a place to live then we'll talk about the children. You can't take them with you. You have no way to support them. But they will be cared for. You can be sure of that. Now I have to get back home. That's all I came to say.

As they turned to leave she heard the sheriff say, I aint never heard nothing so cold hearted and rotten in all my life as what you just said to that girl. Aint you got no feelings a' tall?

Not toward her I don't, answered her father-in-law as they walked out of her hearing.

As a young girl she had worked in the cotton mill, using a box to stand on to reach her work. She had to go back to the long, hot grueling hours once again. She found living quarters in a nearby boarding house taking with her the few articles of clothing she had been allowed from the so called sale of her home.

The mill was unbearably hot; she could barely breathe. The cotton fibers floating in the air were so thick she couldn't see to the end of the building. It was like a snow storm in an inferno. Cotton clung to her as she worked. She was soon completely covered by a white gauzy layer, which made her look as if she was wearing a veil of snow. She inhaled cotton fibers with every breath. She constantly rubbed her nose to rid herself of the obnoxious tickling sensation which she knew she would soon be able to ignore.

The heat was the worst problem she had to cope with. Her clothes clung to her. Perspiration ran into her eyes, between her breasts and down her back. But it was the same with all the workers. They knew they had to tolerate it in order to keep their jobs. There was no way to get relief from the unmerciful heat. When the twelve-hour shift ended, the workers took turns at the air hose to blow the cotton from their clothing, arms and legs. Katie, like many of the other workers, wore a kerchief tied tightly over her hair, to keep it clean.

She could hardly wait to open her first pay envelope. Soon now, she thought, she would be with her children again. But this was not to be. She could hardly believe she would only have fifty cents left after paying for her room, board, and ride to work. Clearly, it would be a long time before she could afford to rent a house and no children were allowed at the boarding house.

She worked uncomplaining week after week and always put that precious fifty cents in a safe place. Even after two years, she still had no home and very little money in her closely guarded cache.

She had no way to visit her children except by catching a ride with anyone going that way. She was treated coldly and completely unwelcomed by her in-law’s. The children were trained to believe she didn’t want them and that she didn’t love them or she would have found a way to come for them long ago. They eventually believed it. They were uncertain as how to act around her and soon wouldn’t respond to her at all, which broke her heart. But she wouldn’t give up. She kept working and watching her little pile of coins grow. She felt she had to do something soon or they would be turned completely against her. The situation became desperate and when they told her on her last visit that they didn’t love her and didn’t want her to visit them anymore. Heartbroken she returned to the boarding house where she fell across the bed and let her anguished heart shatter as torrents of tears fell unchecked onto her pillow. Oh how miserable she felt; how she longed for the mother she couldn't remember. Everyone had a mother to tell their troubles to. That is everyone except her. She had had a mother long ago, but she had no memories except a feeling of deep love whenever she thought of her. Then another memory came rushing in and tears came to her eyes as she remembered how her mother died trying to give birth to triplets. She had birthed two tiny little premature babies but died before giving birth to the last one.

She remembered hiding under the strange box that her mama was sleeping in. She remembered seeing two little baby's sleeping in a crib near the box, but she was not allowed to touch them. How frightened she had been when someone had roughly pulled her away from her mama's strange bed and sent her out to play. How could she play? Something was happening and no one would tell her anything. She remembered one of her older sisters had dressed her in a beautiful new dress and button down shoes. They even let her wear her new hat to church.

Everyone went to church that day, even some of the black families that worked on the plantation. It had seemed so funny to her. Mama going to church, still asleep in the box. There were flowers everywhere. Mama's bed was almost covered with them. She had thought it looked so pretty. She wanted mama to wake up so she could see the pretty flowers, but her sister wouldn't let her go wake mama up. All her sister could do was hold her and cry. It seemed to her that everyone was crying. It wasn't funny anymore. It was really scary. She reached up and touched a tear on her sister's cheek and asked why she was crying. Didn't she like the flowers? She wished mama would wake up and see how pretty they were, but that just made her sister cry harder. Then she had gotten scared and started crying because everyone else was, and once the tears started they wouldn't stop. Her brother, all her sisters and her father were there. They were all crying, even while the songs were being sung.

Her father went to look at mama. Then her sister took her by the hand and she got to look at her beloved mama. She remembered calling to mama to wake up, but she didn't. Her sister cried even harder as she pulled her away from her mama's bed. They went outside where a lot of tall flat rocks were standing at the ends of mounds of dirt. And she saw a large hole in the ground. She watched them lower the strange box with her mama into the open hole and then start to cover her up with dirt. She screamed. No! Don't put dirt on my mama. Wake up mama! She was dragged away and given a spanking for making a racket. Her sister told her that a two-year old should know better. She screamed and screamed. Then she could remember no more until she woke up in her bed with many faces looking down at her. Only then was she told that mama was dead and would never come back, but that she would be taken care of and that she shouldn't worry about anything. The tiny little premature baby's died and were buried next to their mother only fourteen days later. For many years she remembered dreaming about mama and the baby's being lowered into holes and the dirt being thrown on top of them and the spanking she received. She was terrified of sleep because she knew she would repeat the same nightmare again. Out of desperation she wove a fantasy world in which her mother was alive. She began talking to her for the solace, love, and comfort she wasn't getting from members of her family.

Soon she began talking to mama aloud, but was overheard by her sisters who were quick to tell her that mama was dead and would never come back so she had best make her mind up to that. It didn't matter. She wouldn't tell them that mama really did talk to her. It would be her secret.

Then she remembered a few years later on when papa married that woman. She was a mean woman who hated her and her brother and sisters. She thought the woman also hated her papa because they were forever arguing and shouting. She wished he had never married the woman. Nothing was the same anymore. Her papa stopped smiling. He stopped playing with her. He would just sit in his plantation store for hours thinking. One day, two men came and took her papa away. They saw him being forced to walk down the road between the men on horseback. He never came back and they never heard from him again.

The woman separated everything which had any value from the things she considered worthless, and had two men bring a wagon around to the house where they loaded the valuables and hastily departed.

Thinking about the past was painful, but she couldn't stop once she started. It was as if a secret place in her memory opened and event after painful event came tumbling out. Her brother, only 19 years old at the time, had been pampered and spoiled as an only son can be. He was completely lacking in experience or knowledge of how to run a plantation. He didn't know taxes had to be paid yearly. After a few years he was informed, by the tax collector, that the plantation and all the buildings were no longer theirs. The taxes had been paid for those years by the tax collector himself, and the plantation was now his property. They were only given a few days to leave. Everything was lost except personal belongings.

Her eldest sister was in a school for the deaf in Decatur, Alabama. Two sisters had married within a week of each other a few years after their mother died. A third sister married and moved out of the state when the plantation was lost.

Katie had moved into the home of her next to eldest sister who made it clear she would have to earn her keep. She had to work in the fields, help take care of the house and her sisters children. After a while, however, she was taken to the nearby cotton mill and was put to work even though she had to stand on a box to reach the spinning frames. There were many young children working in the cotton mills, which resulted in cheap labor for the companies, but left no time for play or fun. Katie was extremely tired after a day of intensive heat and hard work and had no desire to play. The money she earned was always taken by her sister's husband as payment for food and board and the few articles of clothing absolutely necessary to keep her modestly clothed.

When she became a teenager, she was considered by many, to be the prettiest girl in the county. Young men began to call on her both at work and at home. Her sister's husband also began noticing her. This came to an abrupt halt when he cornered her and his wife caught him. She remembered what an awful time that had been. She had always been afraid of her brother-in-law and being only thirteen years old she didn't really know how to handle the situation. Her sister sent her to live with another sister and once more things were peaceful.

Then, oh then, she met him. She remembered she had been included in an invitation with her sister and brother-in-law to a barn raising and quilting bee at a nearby neighbor's farm. Everyone for miles around was there. She had been given the job of serving the guests and replenishing depleted food and drink items. Several young girls her age helped since the ladies were quilting and the men were felling trees for the barn.

She was putting biscuits on the table when a tall young man with brown curly hair and a devilish twinkle in his eyes came over said his name was Jake and he wanted to come calling on her. She was lost; head-over-heels, in love at first sight.

She dated only Jake. She never thought about anyone else after that. She was only thirteen years old, but they knew theirs was a love for life. They married, even though his parents had tried to stop them. Tears came to her eyes as she remembered, she wiped her eyes and straightened her shoulders. But, she was not finished with memories which came tumbling forth once again. She remembered the terrible nights after Jake died and how she had cried in her sleep saturating her pillow in grief for her lost love, the children who were being turned against her and the fact that she didn't have any means to support them. She had no one to turn to for help.

She remembered how hard she had worked; how slowly those coins added up; and how she had heard her daughters say they didn't love her and didn't want her to visit them again. She knew she had to do something or they would be lost to her forever.

She remembered the day as if it were yesterday. She came home from work exhausted, wanting nothing more than to rest a bit when she saw a new magazine lying on an end table. She was permitted to read any books or magazines in the house. But as she took this one to her room, she had a strange feeling of anticipation as if this magazine was in some way special. She read it from cover to cover. In the back was a listing of advertisements: things for sale, job listings, farm animals for sale, and personals.

The personals caught her eye. There were notices from people like her. People with broken hearts, people who were desperate for relief from loneliness, people who just wanted to talk and to pour their troubles out to someone who would hopefully understand their need for a friend. A tingle went over her as she read and an idea was beginning to form in her dark, desolate mind. She wrote carefully worded letters to some of the people in the personals column and felt a strange stirring of hope, a faint possibility of a new beginning. Then she went to bed and slept.

She remembered coming home from work one day and finding several letters waiting in response to hers. With a feeling of excitement she hurried to her room to read them. She discarded immediately the unsuitable or ridiculous.

Dear Katie,

I shore was glad to get your letter. I am a widower forty eight years old and in sound health. I got me a farm and I need somebody to be here and help me with it. I aint got no money but if you have some you want to invest I think you would do good to think of investing it in my farm. I aint no drunkard but I do take a nip now and then fer my rheumatism. I would not be a running after no other women as long as you want to be here with me. I hope to hear from you soon to let me know if you want to invest your money in my farm.

Love Willem P.

Dear Katie,

I shore am glad you writ to me I hope you are a good cook. I like to eat a whole lot. When do you thank you kin git heer?

Love and kisses

Caleb

Another read.

Dear Katie,

I wasn't sure I would get an answer to the notice I put in the magazine but I'm glad you decided to write. I am a widower with six children who lost their mother to pneumonia two years ago and who have had the job of taking care of themselves since then and I must say they have done an excellent job. My two older boys joined the navy shortly after my wife's death, and the other children are in school.

I have light brown wavy hair light blue eyes and a hook nose. I have been called nice looking but I can't honestly say I'm handsome. That is something you would have to judge for yourself however I do have a good sense or humor and am fun loving. I'm honest and I want everyone to be honest with me. I'm a carpenter by trade and a good one. I would like to continue writing to you if you should care to answer this.

Sincerely

Eugene.

After a few letters she slowly and methodically eliminated her choices or correspondences until only one, the most interesting person, was left. After a few months of regular correspondence she poured out her troubled life's story. The reply was prompt and to the point.

Dear Katie,

I'm glad you have chosen to confide in me. I understand how devastated you must have been at the time but I do hope you have begun to find peace of mind as hard as that would be under the circumstances. We have been writing for some time now and I feel as if I have always known you.

I have been thinking of a way that might be beneficial to both of us. I mean we both need someone. Katie, I know I'm making a mess of this, but I'm trying in my own crude way to ask if you would consider being my wife? I would like to help you try to regain custody or your children. I have talked to my children about us but they fail to believe that I'm serious and show little interest in discussing it but given time I'm sure they will adjust to the idea and by the time you arrive they would sincerely welcome you.

If you decide to accept my proposal I'll send train fare and if you will let me know when to expect you I'll meet you at the station.

I anxiously await your answer

Eugene.

This had been her dream; someone to whom she could turn; someone who offered to help when no one had before. This seemed to be her only fragment of hope to ever see her children again so, her answer had been short.

Dear Eugene,

If you are sure you want to do this I would be proud and honored to be your wife and I will try my best to make a loving home for you and your children.

Katie.

She quit her job at the cotton mill and used her horde of coins to buy a small trunk which she filled with carefully chosen new clothes; the first she had bought since the death of her husband. She simply couldn't go to her bridegroom with the worn out clothing she owned; especially since he had sent money for her train fare. But where was he?

She slid her shoes back onto her thoroughly warmed feet, and then went to the tiny window to check the long road once more. The full moon was shining brightly on the snow covered world outside. The road was plainly visible but no one could she see. She went back to the stove then turned to Zeb. Mr. Zeb, I think perhaps I'd better see if Miz Taylor has a spare room before it gets much later. She'll be ready to retire before long.

Well, if you say so. Zeb came hobbling from behind the counter picked up his heavy coat then said I think I hear someone now. Wait a minute and see if it's Eugene.

The door opened a man entered, brushing snow from his long black coat. He was rather short, standing only an inch or two taller than she. His unruly brown wavy hair was filled with flakes of snow and his blue eyes twinkled delightfully. His face was red from the cold, and he hurried to the stove and extended his hands to the warmth.

Hi Zeb, he said. Then he looked at Katie, smiled and said softly, Hello, I am Eugene. My buggy lost a wheel and I had to replace it. Are you Katie?

She smiled and said. Yes.

Then if it is alright with you we'll be on our way. I've notified the Justice of the Peace who lives near the boarding house and he is waiting for us. That is if you are sure this is what you want.

I'm sure Eugene, and I'm ready.

Zeb was delighted. It had really been an experience for him, and he could hardly wait to spread the news. He wished they would talk loud enough for him to hear their conversation because it was seldom that he had first-hand gossip, and he intended to circulate the news fully. Early the following morning, they went to visit Eugene's mother who lived in Lebanon County in a very large home filled with unbelievably beautiful furnishings and with cats running in and out of every room. He had told Katie his mother was fond of cats, but she had never seen so many, especially indoors.

They had a short tense visit, but Katie could tell, that, she wasn't going to be acceptable in her mother-in-law's eyes, but she was determined to do all she could to be friends. When they left, Katie invited Eugene's mother to visit them but she had the feeling that the visits would be few and far apart.

Chapter Two

Sad Memories

She had come from a southern farm life where field work had to come before housework; then to the cotton mill boarding house where she was responsible only for the neatness of her own room. She was neither prepared for nor capable of handling the rebellious situation that greeted her. The harder she tried the greater was Eugene's children's hostility. They ignored all her attempts to become a friend, a counselor, or a confidant. The grandmother sided with the children which made it even harder to cope with.

One day Eugene came home from work saying his contracted construction job was complete and since there was nothing scheduled to start again for some time, he felt the time had come for them to go after her girls. Katie was elated and immediately began packing. She had talked to the children about her own girls, but they refused to show any interest. Now, they expressed great joy that she was leaving. They felt their hostility had paid off and they would be rid of her forever. They felt their father could not possibly refuse their demand to leave her there when he returned home. They very cheerfully helped with the packing, making sure all her personal belongings had been included. Eugene made arrangements to board the children with his former in-Laws, the Lightner’s, and they soon departed.

The trip didn't seem so remote this time. She anticipated the reunion and could almost feel her babies in her arms again. The train wheels made a cheerful sound as they rolled south. She was so excited she talked about everything; the houses they passed, the different type trees, how she missed the mocking bird singing, now that was something she'd never heard in Pennsylvania. She tried to imitate the different tunes of the southern songster but found it beyond her abilities and had to laugh at her feeble attempt; but, she was not abashed, he would certainly hear them in Alabama.

She told him about her childhood and of the school house where she found a complete new world inside books. She had only completed the third grade but had extended her knowledge far above that because she had an inquisitive mind and tried to learn everything that was being taught her older siblings. She told him of the store her father had and how her brother used to drop candy thru a crack in the floor to his waiting sisters hiding under the building. Then she told of one incident in particular, just before her father had walked out an all of them. She shuddered as she related the time she had been sent to a neighbor's house to borrow a curling iron. It had been while on her way back home when she saw this enormous thing in the sky. Since she was alone there was no one to tell her it was only a hot air balloon and completely harmless. In all her five years she had never seen anything like this, and she believed beyond a shadow of doubt that this was the one thing she feared most in life. The thing her sisters used to discipline or boss her with. This was the center of her nightmares, the one and only, raw head and bloody bones. She fell down in the road and pulled her skirts over her head to blot out the horrible sight and waited to be killed and devoured. Much later her sister found her still huddled there too terrified to move. Many, many months had passed before those horrible dreams stopped tormenting her sleep.

She told him about the time she wanted some strawberries but it was winter time. There were no fresh strawberries, but her temper tantrum was enough to send her papa out into the cold from neighbor to neighbor trying to find someone who had some preserved so they could be relieved of her tantrums. Of course he could not, but by the time he struggled home through the icy, cold, muddy paths which served as streets, she not only was over the tantrum but she didn't even want the strawberries any more.

She found herself revealing her entire past even about the brother-in-law who had tried to rape her. She talked far into the night as the train swiftly carried them to their destination. She told him of Jake. She had not been able to talk about Jake before, but now she felt she could tell anything to Eugene.

Eugene could see the desperate need she had to unburden her self of the past, so he sat quietly listening and comforting as needed. It was almost morning when she leaned against his shoulder and fell asleep. He sat watching her sleep while thinking of all she had shared with him. He knew he would try to protect this courageous little woman from any more heartache if it was within his power. He also knew he had fallen in love with her. He hoped someday she would love him with the same completeness she had shown Jake. Strangely, he was not jealous of her love of Jake; surely there was love in abundance in her. Give her time, he thought, I know she will love me. Then, he too slept.

The bumping and grinding of the slowing train pulling into the station woke them. They realized they had slept far into the new day. But soon they were mingling with the few disembarking passengers. They went to the only hotel in town and deposited their luggage, stepped into a bath and stepped out much refreshed, ready to go for her children.

They walked two miles to her sister Sue's home to ask for transportation to her former in-law's home, which was fifteen miles away. But, Sue's husband Dan would not help. He said they were close friends of the grandparents and visited often. They had taken good care of the girls and loved them dearly and were loved in return. He did not feel they should be upset again, and he would have nothing to do with helping her stir up more trouble. She should have stayed with her job at the cotton mill, but she hadn't and now she should leave those girls alone. But no, she had to come back to stir up a hornets nest and with a yankee husband, when everyone knew that all yankees were foreigners. She'd be better off to get back on that train and go back where she came from.

Katie had no intention of going back without her children so she and Eugene hired a neighbor to take them. She was nervous and filled with anticipation; But, determination filled her as they walked up and knocked on the door. After what seemed like an unusually long time the door was opened and she stood face to face with her father-in-law. One look at his scowling face told her this was going to be nasty. So she merely told him that she and her husband had come to get her children. They were prepared to pay the room and board for the time they had been in their care. The father-in-law stepped onto the front porch and firmly closed the door behind him and said, Katie, under no circumstances will I turn those girls over to you. Don't you think you have done enough damage by running off and abandoning them so you could go your merry way with no children to hamper you?

What are you talking about? You know what happened was not of my doing. I have come for them now. I am well prepared to care for them, and if you will call them we will be on our way.

You don't understand Katie. They are my children now. When you abandoned them I applied for legal guardianship papers which will soon be finalized. You have no claim on them any longer so I suggest you take your foreign husband, if he is your husband, and leave. A mother who would desert her children does not deserve them.

Eugene had so far let Katie do the talking but he was tired or being called a foreigner.

Wait just one minute mister. One thing I don't think you are clear on. I am not a foreigner. I was born and raised in this country just as were my parents before me. My grandparents, however, did come from the old country just as yours probably did. I am an American, and proud of it, and I resent you or anyone else implying that I am not. Now we came here peacefully, trying to right a wrong done to Katie and her children. But, we have had nothing but harassment and name calling and I for one am fed up with it. I would just as soon you bring those children out and be done with it, or we will have to take it to court and see if justice will prevail.

Now we are getting down to it. I really don't give a damn who you are or your parents either. You are not going to get those girls and that is that. Take it to court. It can't be soon enough for me. In the meantime I want you to get off my property and stay off.

Where are my children? I want to see them?

No. He turned on his heels, went into the house, very firmly closed the door and they heard the lock click. Katie was almost hysterical. She knocked and knocked on the door, ran to the back or the house calling the girls, pounding on the doors, trying the windows, all to no avail. Eventually Eugene was able to persuade her to go with him to hire a lawyer. There were very few lawyers in the small town. They visited them all, only to discover they were very reluctant to help because they had indeed been called on as witnesses when the guardianship papers had been applied for by the father-in-law.

Only one lawyer in the area had not been used as a witness, whether by accident or oversight would never be known. Perhaps he had become a lawyer after the event took place, but whatever the reason he reluctantly accepted the case. Reluctantly, because he knew all the other lawyers in the area and also because he didn't think he could help.

He fought for those children with every ounce of energy he had. He appealed to the judge pointing out again and again