LITMIR.BIZ

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to carry a lunch bucket and a backpack like the big kids did. His teacher would be Marilyn Kime, his Uncle Noah’s frau.

      School was such a wonderful, exciting experience. He had never been to a movie, never watched television, did not have the games that the English children had and now he would be able to carry his lunch and study with other children. He planned what he would like to carry in his lunch.

      Charity continued to prepare for her trip. She had never been on such a long trip, and alone. She made sure all of her helpers knew what to do in the store, and made Matthew crazy reminding him how to care for Jeremiah.

      The time came closer and Jeremiah began begging to go with her. “Oh, precious. I need you to be the man of the house and keep an eye on our property. I will be back before you have time to miss me.”

      “But I already miss you, mamm.”

      She quoted Philippians 4:6-7 to him. “What does that mean, mamm?”

      “It means we must have faith and trust God to take care of us.”

      “I do, mamm, and I will pray for you every night. You will come back to me won’t you? I will not lose you like I did my daed.”

      “No, my darling. I’ll be back to you soon and God will take care of both of us.

      “Mamm, what will you put in my lunch that first day?”

      “Oh, I don’t know. Probably a big ham and egg sandwich with a cup of potato salad and one of jello. I’ll also put in a bottle of milk and a big piece of cake. You must take care and bring the bottle back home to use again.”

      “What kind of cake, mamm?” he asked crawling in her lap and giving her a hug.

      “I don’t know yet. It is another week until the big day. I will fix something extra good for my little man. I know Deborah will fix a lot of good things for you, too.”

      “Will the other children like me? Will tante Marilyn like me as a student?”

      “The other children will like you and treat you just as you treat them. Your tante Marilyn absolutely must be called Mrs. Kime in school. She must have respect and cooperation from all of you. Oom Matthew will still be Oom Matthew. He is your uncle and deserves respect. You must be polite and kind to everyone, especially adults.”

      “I will, mamm. I promise I will.”

      She hugged him to her with the thought that he would soon consider himself too big to sit in her lap and be hugged. She held him close and enjoyed the feeling.

      Charity gathered the last of the vegetables out of the garden to cook and eat or to can. There were still some potatoes to dig. She was trying to remember to do a lot of things before time for her to leave. She made two pair of pants and two shirts for Jeremiah. These would be enough with his other clothes for school. He was growing so fast she knew she would soon be donating his clothes to another family with growing children.

      She decided to bake cookies and cakes to take over to Deborah because she knew Jeremiah’s sweet tooth -- Matthew’s, also.

      She mentally checked down a list to be sure someone would milk the cow and take care of the other animals. When she was satisfied that she had covered everything, she got her clothes, and food, ready for her trip.

      She packed a green dress, a light blue one and a black one. Two aprons, two nightgowns, two pair of shoes and two prayer kapps followed. She had just finished making herself some new bloomers, so three pair went in the suitcase with three pairs of stockings she had made. Her Bible would be the last thing she packed. The suitcase had been a gift from an English friend.

      Charity got a canvas bag from her hope chest to carry her food in. She would place the food in fresh tomorrow morning when she prepared to leave.

      As usual, she was up by five thirty. She milked the cow and fed her, then fed the horses and turned them out in the pasture near the house. The chickens were fed and the eggs gathered. She slopped the hogs and then went in to get breakfast for Jeremiah and herself.

      Jeremiah was excited. This was his second day of school and he loved it. He felt a little sad that his mamm was leaving, but he knew she would be back soon. He loved his oom Matthew and tante Deborah and knew he would enjoy living with them. Besides the Grossdawdis would be close and ready to help at any time.

      Jeremiah was excited and wanted to help his mamm pack her food while she packed his lunch. He asked for a homemade peanut butter and jelly sandwich, an apple and a piece of coconut pie. Charity laughed and told him the pie would get mashed. She put in a piece of coconut cake instead with the bottle of milk. She then packed her food of a ham sandwich and a chicken sandwich, two apples, two boiled eggs, a bottle of cider and a piece of cake.

      “Mamm, you promise you’ll come back to me. You won’t go off to be with daed and leave me, will you?” (daed - daddy)

      “Jeremiah, I promise God will take care of me and of you. Don’t forget to pray and learn your Bible verses. I will be back before you have time to miss me.”

      He jumped to hug her. “Mamm, I already miss you. I lieb you so much and don’t want to lose you.”

      “My precious little man, you won’t lose me. We will be together until we are both of a ripe old age. I promise you.”

      Jeremiah laughed. He grabbed his books tied with a strip of cloth and his lunch to run out and meet tante Marilyn. He would ride to school with her.

      Charity ran out the back door. “Danki. Matthew or Deborah will pick him up each day.”

      “I know. He will be fine. Have a safe, successful trip. Rest as much as you can and take a chance to look around at different parts of the country.” She chirped at the horse to start as Charity waved them goodbye. Charity went in the house wiping her eyes.

      At eight fifteen Jacob pulled in to take Charity to the bus. She had said she would get her neighbor to take her in the car, but Jacob wanted to see his daughter before she left. He insisted that she take some money in case she had an emergency. He also insisted that she take her English neighbor’s phone number just in case she needed to call. She laughed and hugged him, but took everything he offered.

      By eight fifty they were at the bus station. There were other horse and buggies in line. Jacob got down and took her suitcase into the station for her and waited until she had purchased her ticket. He then did something that surprised her. He hugged her and kissed her cheek.

      “I am so proud of you my precious dochder. You have a good business head and I know you will do well, but I must be honest and say I don’t have a good feeling about this.”

      “Oh, daed,” she laughed, “you are just worried because your chick is going where she has never been. I have never been parted from my precious zoon (son) more than a few hours, but I am going because I am trying to improve the future for him.”

      “Think of it as a vader (father) who loves you and wants to keep you safe and happy. Call me if you need anything.”

      “Daed, I lieb you, and I will be safe. I promise. Take care of Mamm and yourself and the family.”

      They said a final good bye and she boarded the bus. Jacob saw that her suitcase was placed in the space underneath the bus. She waved from the window as the bus pulled out. She didn’t want her dad to see her anxiety, but she was naerfich (nervous). This was a big step to go to another state and travel alone.

      The trip was uneventful. They stopped once at a little country convenience store to pick up passengers. They stopped next in Cleveland, Ohio.

      “Folks,” the big, burly bus driver announced, “we’ll be stopped for about twenty minutes. There’s restrooms inside and food if any of you are interested.”

      Charity timidly followed two older women out to use the restroom. She marveled at the mirrors and clean fixtures, but quickly took care of her business, washed her hands and grabbed her lunch bag to hurry back to the bus. She decided to eat half of a sandwich and drank

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