Anna's Story
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pages 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 30...
As luck would have it, Tom had to be gone for a few days. Since he would not be there to help the teacher, Anna took over against her mother-in-laws threats that Tom would hear about it. Anna moved the teacher into her home and made him comfortable on a cot near the stove. She sponged his feverish brow, put poultices on his chest and fed him quarts of chicken soup. Soon, he was responding to her nursing care and love, she had been up with him day and night and never ceased praying. His mother didn't follow through with her threat when Tom returned from his journey, and Mr. Alswager was well on the way to good health again. Tom praised Anna for what she had done and the teacher was forever grateful.
One year a nice young girl, named Margie Jones came to accept the teaching position. The contract was for only one year, but she stayed on for several years. She was a great deal of fun and popular with the families. When she came, she brought a phonograph and many records with her. She organized parties and dances. On Sunday afternoons, she'd push the desks against the walls in the schoolhouse, turn on the music, parents and children would come and dance all afternoon and into the evening. The parties were so popular that people would come from quite a distance. Young men on horseback would come to dance with the young girls. Often, the parents danced with their children. Anna would usually prepare a meal for everyone, and they all had such a wonderful time.
A young cowboy took a liking to Margie. Liking turned to loving and they were married. For a short while, she lived near by, but didn't teach. Everyone missed her so very much when she and her new husband moved away to live in town.
Riding on horseback was a great pastime for the older children, now entering their mid-teens. Bronie, especially, enjoyed the sport and loved working with a horse. She helped round-up the cattle, brought in the milk cows at night, or just went joy-riding. Tom bought a nice, gentle, mare for Michael and he shared her with his sisters. He named his favorite friend and pet, Babe.
Tom, also had a horse that only he would ride. He had a black, satin smooth shiny coat and he was a spooky animal who did not care to have the children around. Bronie was persistent, and hung around him as long as her father was close at hand. She tried making friends with the black, touchy horse; petting him , talking soothingly to him, until he started nudging her, showing her that he liked her. Bronie persuaded her father to lift her into the saddle and to lead her new friend around the yard while she rode him. Tom did. The horse reacted a bit strangely at first, but after a few more times he seemed relaxed. Tom handed her the reins and she rode him around the yard all by herself. She though he was such a pretty horse, so black and so shiny - and she liked his spirit. The two of them got better and better acquainted and soon became really good friends. One Sunday, she asked if she could ride him all alone, away from the house. To her surprise, her father consented, but warned her to be careful. He saddled and bridled him, put her in the saddle, and away she rode - off down the road to adventure. The horse was walking at a leisurely pace, not being in a hurry to go any place special. Neither was Bronie. the view approaching the creek was always so beautiful at the spring time of the year. Along the bank, trees were sprouting new leaves, some of the early flowers were blooming, the air was fragrant and heavenly, and she was riding this wonderful, big, black animal.