Let it
Snow
Oscar was the first to wake up in the cabin that cold
January day. The unusually warm weather was forgotten as he piled
logs on the fire. One by one the men all came down the stairs
wearing their warm woolen sweaters and trousers. They were happy
their womenfolk had prepared for a change in the weather and thought
to pack the heavier clothes. Alma warned Melvin that he might need
some warm clothes and he was happy he listened to her.
Chris made one pot of coffee and was getting ready to
pump more water for a second pot when the women all came down the
cedar stairs bundled to their chins in blankets. The fire was
starting to warm the downstairs much to the relief of Nettie who was
beginning to wonder if it was such a good idea to plan this little
excursion in the middle of January.
“Good morning ladies” called out Oscar “Good
thing you brought as much food as you did. It looks like we may be
here for another day or two.”
“Thank heaven for indoor plumbing” cried Nettie
Ethel was glad she thought of bringing fresh eggs and
ham with her just in case they had to stay the night. She started
cooking those while Priscilla and Alma prepared the biscuits. Nettie
squeezed the oranges for juice and Anna shredded and fried the
potatoes.
After the hardy breakfast everyone pitched in to clear
the table and clean up the kitchen. The men ventured outside to
clear the walk to and from the wood pile. The woman set up folding
tables to put together a couple of jigsaw puzzles the former owners
left behind.
“Ethel, tell the others the story of how you and Jonas
got together.” said Nettie as the fellows were walking in carrying
the logs.
“Don't start without us” Chis said “We want to
hear it too.”
Once everyone was seated around the tables and turning
puzzle pieces upright, Ethel began.
“My mother gave piano lessons to the neighborhood
children. She loved playing and since her daughter was completely
lacking in musical ability, she decided she would teach other
children to play. I can remember the sound of the scales in my
head. Thank goodness she only taught three days a week. I had seen
Jonas at school of course, but he sat in the back of the room during
school and was always playing ball or climbing trees with the other
boys while the girls played hopscotch and jacks on the opposite side
of the building.
On a Wednesday in May, Mama mentioned she was going to
have a new student, his name was Jonas Fulbright and he was in my
class. I groaned thinking how often Mama had the new students
practice the scales. Since it was a nice spring day, I would just go
outside and maybe finish my school work later that evening. Jonas
knocked on the door and I answered it. He had a scowl on his face.
He grumbled hello. Mama knew right away that piano lessons were not
what this boy wanted. She was sure it was his mama's idea and not
his. Further down the street I could hear the other boys taunting
Jonas saying the piano was for girls. I found myself feeling sorry
for this boy who so obviously wanted to be anywhere but in my
family's parlor learning to play the piano. I marched down the
street and in the harshest voice I could muster told the boys to be
quiet. There were more famous men who played the piano than there
were ladies. Beethoven, Chopin, Mozart were all I could think of at
that moment. My disapproval fell on deaf ears and the boys just
continued to make fun of Jonas until they heard the music coming from
our parlor. We all walked toward the house and couldn't believe our
ears. Jonas was playing America the Beautiful. I
could hear mother asking where he had learned to play like that. He
told her there was a piano at his grandmother's house and she showed
him how to play but he couldn't learn the notes. He just liked to
play the piano. He didn't want to learn how. Mama said he was
playing by ear and that was a special talent but he would be able to
play more music if he would learn to read the notes. It was always
hard for anyone to say no to Mama and Jonas was no exception.
The boys didn't tease Jonas so much after that. In fact
they use to hang around our parlor window on Wednesday afternoons
waiting for Jonas to play a song or two. Jonas eventually did learn
to read music but he still depends on his ears for most of his
playing.
Except for those Wednesday afternoons Jonas pretty much
ignored me. I was developing a crush on him and was rather impatient
waiting for him to look in my direction. I remember Mama telling me
that it sometimes took a little longer for boys to be attracted to
young ladies. I also remember the day that Jonas finally took notice
of a female. It was the day the mayor's niece rode into town in the
fanciest carriage I had ever seen. Miss Hattie Mae Worthington
stepped from that carriage with her red hair flowing. She looked
like a princess. I glanced at Jonas and his chums and they were all
staring at this beauty with their mouths hanging open. My daydreams
of walking hand in hand with Jonas were shattered. I looked down at
my scuffed shoes and my hand me down dress that even I had outgrown.
I put my hand to my mousy brown pigtails and knew I looked as frumpy
as I felt.”
Jonas chuckled “Yes, that Hattie Mae was a fine
looking young lady. I don't think my mouth was hanging open though
Ethel and if it was it was because of the fancy carriage she arrived
in.” He winked at his cronies. “You have to realize, this was
Greensboro in the 1840s. I was just a farm boy who spent most of his
summer days milking cows and tending crops. We didn't have many
visitors to Greensboro and none that looked like Miss Hattie Mae
Worthington. Ethel tells you I ignored her that summer. That wasn't
true. I thought she was a pretty little thing but I couldn't get
myself to talk to her. I was much more comfortable playing the piano
and she didn't know it but I hated those lessons every Wednesday and
only agreed to sit through them because I knew Ethel would be sitting
at the parlor window. Hattie Mae's grandpappy asked me to accompany
her on the piano at a fancy dinner he was giving for some of the
other mayors in the county. He arranged for his tailor to make me a
suit as the one I wore to church on Sunday wasn't up to snuff
as he put it. Ethel's mama taught me enough about reading notes that
I was able to learn the songs with the sheet music Hattie Mae brought
with her. I hadn't practiced with Hattie Mae until the afternoon of
the dinner. I was in for quite the surprise. Hattie Mae's voice was
like a wounded cat caught in a prickly pine tree. Even the mayor was
holding his hands over his ears. Hattie Mae was a very beautiful
young lady until her grandfather told her she couldn't sing at the
dinner that evening. I had never seen a female with such strength.
She started picking up glasses that had just been placed on the
tables and throwing them against the wall. She was screaming at the
top of her lungs until two of the mayor's aides carried her out of
the room kicking and bellowing. The dinner went on as planned except
I was the only musical accompaniment. It was my first and last
public appearance. From that moment on I only played for pleasure.”
Alma said “We all know you eventually revealed your
true feelings to each other because otherwise you wouldn't be here
with us now. How did that all happen?”
Ethel spoke up, “Thanks to Nettie we finally were
forced to open our hearts to each other. It was the first week of
school. We were all sitting around the lunch table when Nettie asked
Jonas if he had asked me to go to the harvest dance with him. I was
so embarrassed I was tempted to hide under the table. Jonas looked
dumfounded and finally said he didn't know if I would go with him if
he did ask. Nettie said she was pretty sure I would. Come to think
of it, I'm not sure he ever did ask me but we did go to the dance
together. After that he came to the house after his chores every
morning to walk me to school. I don't know when we got over being
shy with each other but eventually we did.”
Nettie said “I wonder what ever happened to Hattie
Mae? I don't remember ever seeing her again in Greensboro.”
Melvin spoke up. “I believe she married one of the
professors at the university. I do remember going to a soiree given
by this fellow and his wife Hattie Mae. She was the entertainment
and your description of her singing was accurate. I remember
Professor Danforth smiled through the performance. I later learned
the man is hard of hearing and he'd turned his hearing device off.
After that experience, anytime I received an invitation to any
gathering at the Danforth residence, I always regretfully declined.”
“Now it's your turn Priscilla and Chris. Tell us the
story of your meeting and marriage.”
Priscilla answered “There really isn't much to tell.
Christopher was the only child of Nicholas and Belle Pringle and my
folks were Noel and Eve Claus. As you can imagine by the sound of
their names, our families loved Christmas and that love was passed
down to us. I don't remember a time when I didn't love Chris. He
was always so jolly no matter what was happening around him. We
never thought twice about getting married it seemed the natural thing
to do.”
“Priscilla is correct. There was never anyone else
for me either. Our only regret is that we were never blessed with
children of our own.”
Alma said “Oh you two are loved by all of the children
of Camden Corners. I know they love visiting your Christmas shop
even in the heat of the summer. Our boys, Butch and Billy cherish
the ornaments you made for them this year, Priscilla. This was their
first Christmas with a family and those ornaments made it even more
special for them. I know Butch keeps his on the nightstand by his
bed. I have seen Billy admiring his ornament when he thinks no one
is looking.”
Nettie said “I know what you mean about not being
blessed with children of your own. I was lucky enough to teach
school for many years and my students were always very special to me.
I loved it when they had grown and brought their own children into
my classroom. Of course, there is Polly. Even though she had only
been with us for a short time she quickly became a daughter to me.”
“How are Polly's brothers and sisters, have you heard
Nettie? It was so good to see them sitting so proudly at Polly's
wedding. The Prestons did a wonderful thing by making sure Polly's
family was represented on such an important day for her.”
“Yes, they are doing very well living with Arthur and
Gladys. Arthur has already begun building an addition to the house
to allow for extra bedrooms for their expanded family. Oscar was
there just the other day checking on Alice Cooper and the children.
Alice is still insisting Marlin needs her to be near him. She never
even asks about her children. I know she has been told they are not
in the old house any longer but she doesn't seem to care. I'm afraid
she will never be the same. Marlin was taken to the hospital last
week. The doctors aren't sure what is wrong with him but he is a
very sick man. I think the hospital has taken pity on Alice and she
is allowed to sit with Marlin for a few hours a day. It's a rather
tricky situation. Nobody wants to take the children away from Alice
but she is incapable of caring for them now and they are living a
normal life with the Prestons. While I was there, Danny Mackenzie
was calling on Gretchen.”
The men ventured outside and thought the roads looked
clear enough to travel. They thought it might be best to start for
Camden Corners in case the weather took a turn for the worse.
Everything was packed up, the fire in the fire place was
out and everything shut down until the next visit.
The Crowley's and their friends were sorry to see their
visit to the cabin come to an end. Everyone had enjoyed their get
together. There was a knock on the door. Oscar opened it and saw
Greensboro's Sheriff Eb Daniels standing there.
“Eb, what are you doing in these parts?”
“I'm sorry Oscar. I'm doing my duty as sheriff of
Greensboro. At times I really don't like this job and this is one of
those times. Oscar Crowley, you are under arrest for the murder of
Marlin Cooper.”
