Since we are here in Yakima, I thought I would post something about Yakima. Years ago (well about 6 years ago) we lived here for 15 years. During that time I joined a writer's club. The group decided to publish a book about stores of the Yakima area. I had already written one and so just had to submit it to be included in the book. The story takes place on the Olmstead Place State Park. The house is still there and people are allowed to go in to see it, as well as a large barn and equipment. There is a path that leads to a brook that flows through the property. There is a small school house that was brought there it keep it from being destroyed and can be seen as well. I started my article with the school house which is a made up story.
Sarah stood at the window of the little school house and looked across the field of grain waving gently in the setting sun. 'Abe is gone,' she thought. 'After all these years, just the two of us, and now I am alone.' Sarah was only 16 and Abe was ten years older when they married. He was a river man and though his job as a pilot on one of the river boats took him away from home a lot, they had been happy together.
Abe was a man of few words, but he was thoughtful in the little things he did. He would always bring her surprises from his trips down the river. Sometimes a pretty ribbon for her hair, a bolt of cloth for a new dress or just a pretty stone he had found. .'The days are lonely ones for a river man's wife.' she thought, as she continued to stare across the field to the hills in the distance.'If only there had been children to share my love.'
'
Sarah's mind drifted back through the years to that time when they were full of hopes for a family. They had been married for two years when a child was expected. Abe had hurried home from a river trip to be with her. It was an early, hard delivery. The baby lived only a few hours. The years passed and no other babies came along. So Sarah had devoted all her love and energy to her husband, And now he was gone, leaving her no one to share her love.
It was this very need to have someone to love that brought her here to this little school house in the Kittitas Valley of Washington. A notice tacked to the wall of the little general store read, "Needed - a teacher, not much pay - but room and board provided." It seemed the answer to her prayer. So Sarah had come with what little belongings she had piled into the wagon.
She turned from the window and went over to the table, sat down and looked around at her new surroundings. Through the flickering light from the oil lamp on the table, she could see in the deepening shadows of one corner, her bedstead. It was made from crude logs with a straw-stuffed mattress. A pretty patch-work coverlet brightened the corner. Beside the bed stood a bureau on which she had placed a pretty stone, one of the little surprises Abe had brought back from one of his down river trips. A small tin box contained her few pieces of jewelry. A sampler hung on the wall that said, "God bless our home." On the floor by the bed was a rag rug. A basin and pitcher for washing was on a stand in the corner of the room. At the other end of the wall, there was a small cooking range with a wood box that someone had thoughtfully filled with wood. A hutch for dishes, an iron sink, a work bench, a table and two chairs completed the kitchen area.'It isn't like the home that Abe and I shared for all these years' she thought, 'but it will do.'
Sarah continued her survey of the little log home. From where she sat, she could see the four plank benches in the other corner. The cracked slate that hung on the wall and a few dusty primer books on a small desk - not much to work with, but Sarah had learned how to make do with what she had. 'Here is where the children will sit and learn to read, write and do figures. Here is where I will be able to share love,' she thought as she stared into the shadows.
She rose slowly from the table and picking up the oil lamp, she prepared to make ready for bed. As Sarah settled down under the pretty patch-work comforter, her last thoughts before drifting off were, 'I wonder what the children will be like, I wonder...'
The chirping of birds and the rays of the early morning sun crept into the cabin and into the dreams of sleeping Sarah. She began to stir. Suddenly she remembered all that had happened yesterday and quickly sat up. 'This is my first day here in this little school house,' she thought. I must get up and get going.'
Sarah crawled out from under the warm, comfy covers, felt for her slippers, threw on her robe and quickly went to the range to perk up the fire. The kettle of water was still warm and she poured herself something to drink. With the cup of warm liquid in her hands, she slowly walked to the table, sat down and wondered what the day would bring. Out of the window she could see the grain, wet with dew, still waving in the morning sun. There were birds singing outside the window in the bushes and some flowers still blooming in the fall weather.
She turned from the window and went over to the table, sat down and looked around at her new surroundings. Through the flickering light from the oil lamp on the table, she could see in the deepening shadows of one corner, her bedstead. It was made from crude logs with a straw-stuffed mattress. A pretty patch-work coverlet brightened the corner. Beside the bed stood a bureau on which she had placed a pretty stone, one of the little surprises Abe had brought back from one of his down river trips. A small tin box contained her few pieces of jewelry. A sampler hung on the wall that said, "God bless our home." On the floor by the bed was a rag rug. A basin and pitcher for washing was on a stand in the corner of the room. At the other end of the wall, there was a small cooking range with a wood box that someone had thoughtfully filled with wood. A hutch for dishes, an iron sink, a work bench, a table and two chairs completed the kitchen area.'It isn't like the home that Abe and I shared for all these years' she thought, 'but it will do.'
Sarah continued her survey of the little log home. From where she sat, she could see the four plank benches in the other corner. The cracked slate that hung on the wall and a few dusty primer books on a small desk - not much to work with, but Sarah had learned how to make do with what she had. 'Here is where the children will sit and learn to read, write and do figures. Here is where I will be able to share love,' she thought as she stared into the shadows.
She rose slowly from the table and picking up the oil lamp, she prepared to make ready for bed. As Sarah settled down under the pretty patch-work comforter, her last thoughts before drifting off were, 'I wonder what the children will be like, I wonder...'
The chirping of birds and the rays of the early morning sun crept into the cabin and into the dreams of sleeping Sarah. She began to stir. Suddenly she remembered all that had happened yesterday and quickly sat up. 'This is my first day here in this little school house,' she thought. I must get up and get going.'
Sarah crawled out from under the warm, comfy covers, felt for her slippers, threw on her robe and quickly went to the range to perk up the fire. The kettle of water was still warm and she poured herself something to drink. With the cup of warm liquid in her hands, she slowly walked to the table, sat down and wondered what the day would bring. Out of the window she could see the grain, wet with dew, still waving in the morning sun. There were birds singing outside the window in the bushes and some flowers still blooming in the fall weather.
The scene from her window was different from that on the river bank. Here the quiet morning was calming to the soul, where on the river there were sounds of bustling activity as boats tooted and men hollered while goods were loaded or unloaded."'Life is certainly going to be different here," she said out loud, just to hear a voice. "Oh, Abe, why did you leave me? How and I going to get along without you to love?"
Well, I must get myself together and be ready for the children when they arrive. I wonder what they will be like. Sarah went back to the range and prepared herself a bit of breakfast. Then she poured some of the warm water into the basin and commenced her morning ritual . She put on a clean dress, combed her hair and with a last look into the mirror, was ready to check out the supplies.
Sarah stood at the end of the room and slowly glanced around. There was a black slate on the end wall with a piece of chalk and an eraser. On the little teacher's desk were a few dusty books, 'It seems that it has been a while since they had a teacher,' she thought, as she ;picked up a book and blew the dust off. It was a speller. There was a reader and a dictionary, too. Not much, but a beginning. After a bit more dusting and straightening up, Sarah was ready to greet the children when they arrived.
Sarah went to the door. She opened it and stood looking across the yard. Shielding her eyes with one hand, she could see someone coming down the dusty road. Yes, it looked like two children.They were holding hands and sort of skipping along swinging their paper bags. As they neared the little school house, they slowed down. Soon they came to a stand still. Sarah could see them looking at the school and whispering to themselves. She could imagine what they were saying,"I wonder what the new teacher is like?" Maybe they were even a little afraid.
Sarah waved and encouraged them to come. She greeted them with a smile, "Good morning," she said. "My name is Mrs. Sarah Jones. What is your name?" She asked this of the older child as the smaller one was sort of holding back. The two girls looked something alike and Sarah thought they were probably sisters. The older one looked up at Sarah and said, "My name is Sally Brown and this is my little sister, Jane. We live down the road, past the corner where the road crosses the little brook. I am 10 years old and Jane is 6. We are glad that we have a new teacher." "Well, Sally and Jane, I am glad that I can be your new teacher. We will have a good time learning new things together.." Sarah led the children into the room and helped them to find a seat.
Soon she heard someone outside and went to the window. Coming across the yard was a young boy riding a small pony. He slid down from the back of the pony and tied it to a tree. He went to the well and drew a pail of water and placed it where the pony would be able to reach it. Then he got his bag and came right over to the door and marched right in. "Hi, I'm Billy Johnson, and I am in the 4th grade!" "Well, good morning, Billy Johnson. My name is Mrs. Sarah Brown, and I am very pleased to meet you. I am sure that you are going to be a big help to me. Why don't you put your bag over here with the others and find a seat." Billy nonchalantly walked across the room and put his bag on the shelf, then took a seat on the back bench.
Sarah wasn't sure how many children would be here for this first day so she planned to start with an activity that would help her to get to know the children. "We are going to play a guessing game. What do you think is my favorite color?" After a few guesses, they discovered that her favorite color was blue. Then she asked each of them to ask the same question. Soon they were all sharing some of their favorite things, such as favorite food, favorite game, favorite animal, etc. As they shared these things, they soon began to feel more comfortable and so did Sarah.
Soon Billy jumped up and went to the window. "Here comes Johnny Greene. He has to help his dad do the milking, and sometimes he doesn't get here early," Johnny came running into the room like a whirlwind. He was all out of breath and grinning from ear to ear. His face was aglow and so were his freckles.
Sarah got down to the business of teaching the boys and girls their three R's. Already her heart felt better just being here with them. She knew that she was going to be receiving as much as she would be giving. Through the days, weeks and months, Sarah got to know the children and their families. She also learned about the Olmsteads who came and settled the area.
(This will be the next post.)
Well, I must get myself together and be ready for the children when they arrive. I wonder what they will be like. Sarah went back to the range and prepared herself a bit of breakfast. Then she poured some of the warm water into the basin and commenced her morning ritual . She put on a clean dress, combed her hair and with a last look into the mirror, was ready to check out the supplies.
Sarah stood at the end of the room and slowly glanced around. There was a black slate on the end wall with a piece of chalk and an eraser. On the little teacher's desk were a few dusty books, 'It seems that it has been a while since they had a teacher,' she thought, as she ;picked up a book and blew the dust off. It was a speller. There was a reader and a dictionary, too. Not much, but a beginning. After a bit more dusting and straightening up, Sarah was ready to greet the children when they arrived.
Sarah went to the door. She opened it and stood looking across the yard. Shielding her eyes with one hand, she could see someone coming down the dusty road. Yes, it looked like two children.They were holding hands and sort of skipping along swinging their paper bags. As they neared the little school house, they slowed down. Soon they came to a stand still. Sarah could see them looking at the school and whispering to themselves. She could imagine what they were saying,"I wonder what the new teacher is like?" Maybe they were even a little afraid.
Sarah waved and encouraged them to come. She greeted them with a smile, "Good morning," she said. "My name is Mrs. Sarah Jones. What is your name?" She asked this of the older child as the smaller one was sort of holding back. The two girls looked something alike and Sarah thought they were probably sisters. The older one looked up at Sarah and said, "My name is Sally Brown and this is my little sister, Jane. We live down the road, past the corner where the road crosses the little brook. I am 10 years old and Jane is 6. We are glad that we have a new teacher." "Well, Sally and Jane, I am glad that I can be your new teacher. We will have a good time learning new things together.." Sarah led the children into the room and helped them to find a seat.
Soon she heard someone outside and went to the window. Coming across the yard was a young boy riding a small pony. He slid down from the back of the pony and tied it to a tree. He went to the well and drew a pail of water and placed it where the pony would be able to reach it. Then he got his bag and came right over to the door and marched right in. "Hi, I'm Billy Johnson, and I am in the 4th grade!" "Well, good morning, Billy Johnson. My name is Mrs. Sarah Brown, and I am very pleased to meet you. I am sure that you are going to be a big help to me. Why don't you put your bag over here with the others and find a seat." Billy nonchalantly walked across the room and put his bag on the shelf, then took a seat on the back bench.
Sarah wasn't sure how many children would be here for this first day so she planned to start with an activity that would help her to get to know the children. "We are going to play a guessing game. What do you think is my favorite color?" After a few guesses, they discovered that her favorite color was blue. Then she asked each of them to ask the same question. Soon they were all sharing some of their favorite things, such as favorite food, favorite game, favorite animal, etc. As they shared these things, they soon began to feel more comfortable and so did Sarah.
Soon Billy jumped up and went to the window. "Here comes Johnny Greene. He has to help his dad do the milking, and sometimes he doesn't get here early," Johnny came running into the room like a whirlwind. He was all out of breath and grinning from ear to ear. His face was aglow and so were his freckles.
Sarah got down to the business of teaching the boys and girls their three R's. Already her heart felt better just being here with them. She knew that she was going to be receiving as much as she would be giving. Through the days, weeks and months, Sarah got to know the children and their families. She also learned about the Olmsteads who came and settled the area.
(This will be the next post.)
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