Frontier Family and Other Tales

It was June 1900 and Midge’s ninety-sixth birthday. All her family, friends, and neighbors were helping in celebrating the big occasion that afternoon. Nothing in the way of food or drinks was spared, as old Joanna had prepared for this event. Of course, she now had the help of four other servants.

Old Joanna had been with Midge, oh, for God only knows how long now. She was once a lovely young girl of twenty-five, tall, dark, and elegant and quite wiry when she came to Midge to apply for work.

Midge hired her to help with the children and housework. Joanna married very young but her dear husband Markus Jones, died of the fever and she was left all alone in a strange country without a job or means to support herself, until she met Midge. She was a freed slave along with her husband Markus and they were happy in a small cabin he built and he worked on their farm, such as it was. Therefore now everything was gone since his death.

“I’s going on near fifty years with my lady and I’s not going to leave her alone,” Joanna thought. “Not till the ‘Good Lord’ sees fit to takes me. I’s seventy-five years old now and I will stay right here with her. Yes  sir’re. Right here.”

It was late in the afternoon when the party broke up. Friends and neighbors didn’t want to tire Midge completely. So, with their expressions of good wishes and many more happy birthdays’ to come, they said their good-byes. One after another they departed in their buggies, horses, or horseless carriages.

Midge stood with her handsome adopted son, Bartholomew in the doorway of her beautiful thirty room, white and green, eight pillared mansion, waving goodbye to all her guests.

As Midge stood, she looked around at the hundred acres of lovely landscape surrounding the estate was an eyeful of beauty, superbly kept estate grounds, with an expression of sadness.

Sighing deeply, she took Bartholomew’s arm and slowly went back into the house to sit in the grand ballroom, where the party had been held. Bartholomew settled Midge comfortably on the sofa, and then sat down next to her. He knew she was feeling tired and worn out from heat fatigue and exhaustion due from a recent flu and of course, old age.

Now Midge’s children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great, great grandchildren gathered around her with anxious excitement. They were told earlier, that Grandmama was going to tell her life’s story once again.

Of course, the older grandchildren had heard the story so many times before but that didn’t mean they weren’t just as excited as the children who had not heard it weren’t. The family never seemed to tire of hearing it.

A smile touched Midge’s face as her youngest great granddaughter Tanya (Bright Star), two years old and a plump, pink cheek child, eased herself on her lap and put her head on her chest. Tanya was her son Bartholomew’s (Strong Bear) granddaughter, by his daughter Pamela (Little Flower). Bart and his wife Lara (Little Fawn) also have a son Barton, also known as (Red Fox) who was still single.

Bartholomew looked at his beloved adopted mother and thought, “She looks so drawn and pale, almost translucent due to her recent illness, an illness, which seemed to have zapped her peachy cream complexion to a sallow yellowish tinge. It was not good. He knew she wasn’t long for this world and there wasn’t a thing he could do to help her. He loved her dearly and he couldn’t help her. He felt helpless. No other mother could love him more and he knew it.

Midge’s son Billy sat next to his wife Young Midge on the soft green love seat. All the rest of her children’s offspring were sitting all around her, waiting patiently to hear their grandmama’s life story. They all looked at her with love, respect, and awe. She was the love and light of their lives.

Midge’s granddaughter, Susan, who was the daughter of her oldest son Tom and his wife Rosie. Susan, who was a famous writer, was ready to write everything down in her notebook. It was to be published and the royalties were to go to all the grandchildren, for as long as they lived. The room went suddenly quiet as all eyes focused on Midge. Her children were misty eyed as sad memories of her and the thought that this might well be the last time their beloved mother was to tell her story.

“Well, now, let’s see,” Midge began as she held Tanya more firmly on her lap as they dimmed the lights down to a soft glow, just enough to see everyone around the room, the warm glow of the fireplace making everyone comfortable. “I remember way back when my papa and mama, your great, great grandparents, Henry and Lynette Penyia, were so proud when I was born in 1804 when Thomas Jefferson was president. They raised me to be a lady and being their only child, they spoiled me dearly. Papa built the house we lived in for my mother before I was born. It was a happy loving home.” Midge hesitated a moment then went onto say, “Oh yes, by the way, this house we live in now, Grandpapa Bart built it for me when we moved here from Bear Trap County, Missouri. Now, let’s see. What year was it? It must have been 1860. Yes, it was . . .”

She shut her eyes for a moment and had thoughts about her beloved husband Bart. She remembered looking at his handsome face as he squeezed her hand gently and smiled with a twinkle in his eyes, whispering, “I love you,” softly then winking at me. I would blush then catch my breath again. He always seemed to know what I was thinking.

She coughed, clearing her throat. Still smiling Midge said, “Where were we now? Oh yes, I remember. We belonged to what they call high society, but we were not snobby like the rest of my parents’ friends. We got to know and like all people, rich and poor. It never mattered to us. Papa and Mama raised me well.”

Formats

Softcover

$22.95

$20.75

Softcover

$20.75