It was afternoon at Rubys house ,,Bill was at work,,,The older children were playing quietly with their toys while the babies took their naps..The older boys were outside teaseing the dog..or was she teaseing them,,she didnt know..Ruby heard a car coming up the road and thot for sure from a distance it was Harriot,,Ruby had planned to hide if it was and who else wud it be as Harriot was the only one with she knew with a new Modle A Ford. Ruby was ready to scat when she noticed that the Ford wasnt the same as Harriots,,She looked closer and then ran to the door,,.who was it? A gentleman got out of the car and came up to Rubys door,,The man explained that he had heard in town that their was a little cabin up by Rubys land where he cud maybe stay there a while with his family..He offered to pay Ruby and told a familiar story that Bill and Ruby had heard many times in the last few yrs,This man had been a banker and had lost his job during the Stock Market Crash,,He had owned a lovely home and lost it all,,Now he planned to live a simpler life and go back to the land,,His wife Lucille was weak and sickly from the worry of it all,,But Earl thot the fresh air and fresh food wud bring his wife back to health,,Their Modle A Ford was all they had left of any value and plus a lil savings,,The couple was middle aged and had 3 children late in life,,Ruby told the man she wud have to wait until Bill got home and then he cud talk to him about it,,To make a long story short Bill met the folks and liked them and said they cud stay in the old cabin,,This cabin was unlke anything Lucille had ever seen,,She was used to having a maid for cryin out loud,,Actually in the old days some of the old timers wud find a solid tree in the woods and build a house around it,,They nailed it to the tree,,And if a big wind came up or a storm the tree held the house down,,Well Lucille had never heard of such a thing as that,,"Oh my achin back" shouted Lucille when she saw the cabin with a huge tree growing out the top of the cabin,,!!!! Her husband who had been brot up in the woods..but later went to College and became a banker thot the tree was a good idea,,,The tree cud shelter them in the summer and the leaves and branches wud keep them cool,,As soon as Earl went out the door to check the old well.. Lucille sat down on an old log in the cabin and cried,,"Are we staying here the children asked their mother"? ...Lucille was afraid to say "Yes..i think so" Well actually they had no choice,,They had been traveling looking for a place to stay for the winter,,,They had no place else to go,,But Earl felt he cud make a decent winter home there if he fixed the cabin up..And atleast he cud keep his family going until things changed,,The cabin had an old stove to cook on and to stay warm,,
Earl had a lil money and so right away he went to town and bot some groceries,,and some boards..He had brot a few simple tools with him,,When he got back to the cabin he built some shelves onto the tree and put the groceries on the shelves,,Lucille was mortified that she had to live like a squirrel in a tree,,Earl patched up the stove and cleaned out the stove pipe to see if the stove worked and it did,,The well had water in it but it needed cleaned out..it was all back to the land living,,Lucille just sat and looked at it all and cudnt believe her eyes,,The children helped their dad to sweep the floor and carry out old sticks and rocks,,A few days later Ruby made some nut bread and brot an extra loaf to the new family..Ruby thot Earl was very ingenious to build the shelves on the trunk of the tree,,Ruby cud tell that Lucille was not impressed,,Ruby felt anger well up inside her concerning Lucilles attitude,,When Earl and the children were outside cleaning the yard up Ruby spoke to Lucille,,'Dear Mother i know this is very hard for you,,you arent used to this way of living,,But Mrs Heart your husband is doing his best ..What more can you ask out of him? He is giving you all he has to give.Many men like him have given up by now,,But he has kept going,,Dont be an extra burden on him by discourageing him when he is down." Lucille listened to Ruby and she felt her spirits begin to lift..Ruby looked at the tree,,it was no small tree,," Ya know Lucille i have some Morning Glory vines from my yard i cud bring over,,And you cud transplant them at the bottom of your tree and they wud vine and grow up the tree,,And the next week Ruby brot the plants over,,Ruby noticed that Lucille was doing her best to make a home with her tree,,Ruby and Lucille planted the vines at the bottom of the tree,,And it was August and the vines grew quickly,,And the vines produced lovely purple blossoms and blue flowers too and pink..Mrs Heart loved the colors of flowers..And the vines wound around the shelves Earl had nailed up..And Mrs Heart put her china tea pot on her shelf and some of her prettiest dishes she had packed and brot with her in her car,,She told Ruby that she cudnt have made it without the talk she had with her,,"You made me see Ruby that i had to make a home out of what my husband had given me,,Even tho it wasnt much,,i cud make it a home"..And Ruby said "yes Lucille ,,A man builds a house but the mother makes a home..It can be a humble home with a fragrance of contentment or a worldy home full of discontent,, A mother who is full of joy and contentment is the light and life of a home,,The childrens first book to read is their mothers heart,,Guard your heart Lucille for out of it are the issues of life" Mrs heart started to get healthier as she worked in her home,,Earl always loved to see Ruby coming thru the woods with her covered basket of baked goods,,He knew Rubys words were always full of light and life for Lucille,,Ruby was alot younger then Mrs Heart,,but Ruby was wise beyond her yrs,,,Ruby cud see that Mrs Heart needed a friend to just talk to,,And Ruby tried to come for short visits to encourage Lucille in the Lord,,Ruby brot healing to Mrs heart and to her whole family,,The morning glory vines grew thick up the tree,,And one of the children made a picture of Jesus ,,And at the bottom of the picture it read "Jesus is the True vine and we are the branches,".. And the Vine became so lovely as it grew up the tree, It reminded Mrs Heart of the healing vine of Christ,,The colors of purple and blue flowers reminded Lucille of the colors of Christs robe of royalty,,,Earl did get hired on with Bill thru the W.P.A...Earl then built a new cabin for his family..but they kept the old cabin with the tree,,In the spring the morning glories wud start to come up again,,And in the fall the vines covered the little cabin,,Mrs Heart was to use this little cabin as a prayer chapel after her new cabin was built,,Each evening the famiy knew that Mrs heart was out in her morning glory cabin,,communeing with the True vine who is Jesus,,love connieh
Summer was quickly coming to an end, and Ruby welcomed the cooler breezes as they blew through the open windows of the cabin. Across the road from Ruby was a small rundown clapboard house, with a small barn in back needing repairs. On one side of the house, was a fruit cellar,grown up with brush, built into the side of a hill. The house had been left vacant months ago when the last family decided to head to California after news had spread that jobs could be found in California. But Ruby and Bill had stayed in their little cabin, in spite of all the talk about California. This was the land the Lord had given them, and they knew he would bless them and their children as they stayed in their little cabin. As Ruby took her washing to hang on the clothesline she noticed an old pickup truck sitting in front of the little house across the road, she could see a few things tied down in the back of the truck. "I wonder what's going on over there?" Ruby thought. "Maybe we have some new neighbors moving in?" Ruby was excited at the thought of there possibly being another woman close by to keep company with during the long cold winter months. Ruby finished hanging her clothes on the line, and the Lord spoke to Ruby that she should go over and meet whoever was staying there. "Take a little something for them to eat, Ruby." the Lord spoke to her. Ruby was working hard to put by enough food for them to have through the cold winter months, but she knew the Lord would provide for them as he always had. So, when all the clothes were blowing gently in the late morning breeze, Ruby asked the children to get a couple jars of canned peaches from the cellar and the few leftover biscuits from breakfast that were sitting on the table under a cloth. She put the peaches and the biscuits in a small basket, took off her apron and brushed back the unruly wisps of hair clinging to her cheek. "Children, you stay in the house and play quietly while I walk over and meet the new people living across the road." Ruby told the children.
Ruby walked over to the rundown little house across the road, and stepped up on the rickety little front porch. Ruby could hear a child giggling from inside the house. She knocked on the door and the door was opened slowly by a young woman wearing a simple apron and her hair tied back with a piece of cloth. A little boy, about 2, clung to her leg as she opened the door. "Yes? Can I help you?" The young woman asked. Ruby smiled, "Hi, my name is Ruby... my husband Bill and I live in the cabin across the road with our children. I wanted to bring you these peaches and biscuits." Ruby handed the young lady the basket, and the young woman smiled warmly. "My name is Rachel. This is my little boy, Benjamin. And my husband, Robert, has gone into town for a few things. We just moved here. Robert lost his job a few months ago. We came here when a local rancher offered Robert a job. We don't have much right now, what with Robert being out of work for a few months, but the rancher bought this place and is letting us live here as part of Robert's pay...it isn't much, but we are thankful to God for a place to live. Robert and I have only been married about 4 years, and I've never tried to set up housekeeping with so little. I thank you very kindly for the fruit and biscuits, it will be a welcomed treat at dinner tonight." Ruby and Rachel stood and talked for awhile longer. Ruby offered to help Rachel in getting her housekeeping set up. Rachel was quick to accept the offer. Ruby remembed when she and Bill first moved into their cabin many years ago and how she prayed and asked God to give her wisdom in setting up her housekeeping, as Ruby wanted to make a wonderful godly home for her sweet Bill. As Ruby walked home the Lord spoke to Ruby "Now, as the older woman, you will be a Titus 2 mother to young Rachel. You can talk to her about wisdom in her homemaking. Just tell Rachel all that wisdom has taught you Ruby." Later that evening, after Bill came in from his job working at the General Store Ruby told him about the new neighbors. Bill told Ruby he had met Robert when he came in the general store to buy flour and coffee. "They sure ain't got much to be startin' out..." But Ruby knew the Lord had lead this young couple to this house, and she would help Rachel learn all that wisdom had taught her. Bill and Ruby were so happy to have such a sweet young family living across the road. And late that night as Ruby lay close to Bill she prayed to the Lord, " Help me remember all that wisdom has taught me Lord. Help me to be a good Titus 2 mother to young Rachel." Tomorrow Ruby would get up early and bake a couple loaves of bread and start a simple soup for dinner so she could spend part of her day helping Rachel set up her home. "Help Rachel get her kitchen set up Ruby...you know this is the heart of the home...this is where a homemaker can make good simple meals to feed her family. She will need her kitchen to start preparing for the winter." the Lord spoke quietly to Ruby's heart. Yes, that is what they would do. Ruby thanked the Lord for guiding her, and for sending Rachel and her family to be their new neighbors.
Summer was quickly coming to an end, and Ruby welcomed the cooler breezes as they blew through the open windows of the cabin. Across the road from Ruby was a small rundown clapboard house, with a small barn in back needing repairs. On one side of the house, was a fruit cellar,grown up with brush, built into the side of a hill. The house had been left vacant months ago when the last family decided to head to California after news had spread that jobs could be found in California. But Ruby and Bill had stayed in their little cabin, in spite of all the talk about California. This was the land the Lord had given them, and they knew he would bless them and their children as they stayed in their little cabin. As Ruby took her washing to hang on the clothesline she noticed an old pickup truck sitting in front of the little house across the road, she could see a few things tied down in the back of the truck. "I wonder what's going on over there?" Ruby thought. "Maybe we have some new neighbors moving in?" Ruby was excited at the thought of there possibly being another woman close by to keep company with during the long cold winter months. Ruby finished hanging her clothes on the line, and the Lord spoke to Ruby that she should go over and meet whoever was staying there. "Take a little something for them to eat, Ruby." the Lord spoke to her. Ruby was working hard to put by enough food for them to have through the cold winter months, but she knew the Lord would provide for them as he always had. So, when all the clothes were blowing gently in the late morning breeze, Ruby asked the children to get a couple jars of canned peaches from the cellar and the few leftover biscuits from breakfast that were sitting on the table under a cloth. She put the peaches and the biscuits in a small basket, took off her apron and brushed back the unruly wisps of hair clinging to her cheek. "Children, you stay in the house and play quietly while I walk over and meet the new people living across the road." Ruby told the children.
Ruby walked over to the rundown little house across the road, and stepped up on the rickety little front porch. Ruby could hear a child giggling from inside the house. She knocked on the door and the door was opened slowly by a young woman wearing a simple apron and her hair tied back with a piece of cloth. A little boy, about 2, clung to her leg as she opened the door. "Yes? Can I help you?" The young woman asked. Ruby smiled, "Hi, my name is Ruby... my husband Bill and I live in the cabin across the road with our children. I wanted to bring you these peaches and biscuits." Ruby handed the young lady the basket, and the young woman smiled warmly. "My name is Rachel. This is my little boy, Benjamin. And my husband, Robert, has gone into town for a few things. We just moved here. Robert lost his job a few months ago. We came here when a local rancher offered Robert a job. We don't have much right now, what with Robert being out of work for a few months, but the rancher bought this place and is letting us live here as part of Robert's pay...it isn't much, but we are thankful to God for a place to live. Robert and I have only been married about 4 years, and I've never tried to set up housekeeping with so little. I thank you very kindly for the fruit and biscuits, it will be a welcomed treat at dinner tonight." Ruby and Rachel stood and talked for awhile longer. Ruby offered to help Rachel in getting her housekeeping set up. Rachel was quick to accept the offer. Ruby remembed when she and Bill first moved into their cabin many years ago and how she prayed and asked God to give her wisdom in setting up her housekeeping, as Ruby wanted to make a wonderful godly home for her sweet Bill. As Ruby walked home the Lord spoke to Ruby "Now, as the older woman, you will be a Titus 2 mother to young Rachel. You can talk to her about wisdom in her homemaking. Just tell Rachel all that wisdom has taught you Ruby." Later that evening, after Bill came in from his job working at the General Store Ruby told him about the new neighbors. Bill told Ruby he had met Robert when he came in the general store to buy flour and coffee. "They sure ain't got much to be startin' out..." But Ruby knew the Lord had lead this young couple to this house, and she would help Rachel learn all that wisdom had taught her. Bill and Ruby were so happy to have such a sweet young family living across the road. And late that night as Ruby lay close to Bill she prayed to the Lord, " Help me remember all that wisdom has taught me Lord. Help me to be a good Titus 2 mother to young Rachel." Tomorrow Ruby would get up early and bake a couple loaves of bread and start a simple soup for dinner so she could spend part of her day helping Rachel set up her home. "Help Rachel get her kitchen set up Ruby...you know this is the heart of the home...this is where a homemaker can make good simple meals to feed her family. She will need her kitchen to start preparing for the winter." the Lord spoke quietly to Ruby's heart. Yes, that is what they would do. Ruby thanked the Lord for guiding her, and for sending Rachel and her family to be their new neighbors.
The kids were excited that Rose & August were coming to their home. Ruby enjoyed hearing Bills comments as she was busy getting herself ready for their date night. She couldn't believe this was happening to her. Bill was taking her to see a Pa & Ma Kettle Movie. Ruby knew it was a movie they would both enjoy & share laughter over. Bill had lectured Ruby on not letting herself get worked up over how folks in town might talk seeing the two of them in town spending their sparse money viewing a movie. Bill told Ruby that she was his million dollar baby & to heck with the flapping tongues of the town gossips. When August & Rose arrived Ruby was trying to not forget all that she had to say to Grandma Rose before they headed out, but Bill quickly ushered Ruby out the door saying, "that Grandpa & Grandma knew how to take care of kids & they needed to head out & quit fiddle faddling around. Oh how Ruby loved being ushered away in the arms of her strong loving husband. She felt like a little Kid in a candy store.
Grandpa August quickly settled in Bills chair after Ruby & Bill's departure. Grandpa August loved to smoke his pipe in the evening and was quick to pull it out of his pants pocket & fill er up. Rose gave August a look of disapproval since this was not their home to smoke in, but that did not stop August. Ruby's boys loved watching Grandpa August smoke his pipe and smell the aroma that filled their little homestead. The girls loved to get Grandma Roses attention and be allowed to sit on her lap and get their backs rubbed. Grandpa was getting himself geared up to tell the boys his 10 foot Grizzly Bear Story. Every-time they heard it the plot was always different. Grandma Rose didn't want him to tell the story so close to the kids bedtime fearing they would have bad dreams, but that didn't stall Grandpa August from getting the story out for eager ears to hear. Of course he had to make a pretense of adjusting his false teeth by pushing them out with his tongue & sucking them back into his mouth. That really got a response from the kids...their eyes open wide like saucers, and the little ones wanted Grandpa to show them how to stick their teeth out like him. Grandpa would then let out a laugh that shook the whole place..."Grandma Rose would have to get after her husband to behave himself despite the grin that was trying to come across her face.
Ruby's days always began with time spent in prayer and reading her Bible. God was her mainstay and her days were always better after having that time with Him each morning. Afterward she would get breakfast started and coffee perking for Bill. She liked to prepare a hearty breakfast for him as he worked so hard to provide for their family. She also packed a good lunch for him to take with him. Ruby enjoyed taking care of the man that God had blessed her with and she sent him off to work with hugs, kisses, I love yous, and a smile.
Once Bill had left for work, it was time to awaken the kids for breakfast. After they had dressed for the day, it was time to do school and chores. Ruby counted it a privilege to be able to homeschool her children and remain at home to care for her family and home. She had always longed to be a wife and mother and her wish had come true.
Ruby loved homemaking and had fun feathering her nest. She had an eclectic style of decorating for she decorated her home from her heart. She added touches of romance - crocheted edgings on her towels, doilies and scarves draping tables, candles, and fresh flowers from her garden. It was her desire for Bill to come home from the harsh realities of the working world to a place of tenderness and comfort.
Though their meals were simple, Ruby always set a bountiful table for dinner. She worked hard to cook and bake everything she possibly could from scratch in order to keep her growing family well-fed and to live within Bill's income. She also had a vegetable patch in the yard and a small herb garden, which helped to reduce her grocery expenses.
Though times were tough given the current economy, Ruby never complained. She felt blessed to be at home rather than be out in the work force. She was truly a rare gem in today's society. With the Lord's help, she and her family never went without anything they truly needed.
Ruby was young when she began having babies and she loved her children with a passion. She was tender and gentle with them, but was firm as needed.
She loved them so much that she couldn't bear the thought of them being away from her many hours each day once they became school age. With Wild Bill's blessing, she set out to teach them all they needed to know from the comfort of home.
She went to the cedar hope chest in her bedroom and opened it up. Inside there were all of her books from when she was a young girl in school. Ruby used McGuffey Readers to teach reading and spelling, Ray's Arithmetic to teach how to figure, a King James Bible for spiritual and moral growth. For art, the children drew and painted. Ruby showed them how to make paint by crushing flower petals and adding water to make watercolors.
Ruby and Bill also taught their children many practical skills. Both the boys and girls helped in with the garden. The boys learned basic cooking skills, mainly for survival. The girls learned everything there was to know about food prep - from canning and preserving to cooking and baking.
Ruby also taught the girls sewing, cross-stitch, embroidery, knitting, crocheting, and the art of keeping a home. Bill taught the boys how to chop wood, mend fences, wood-working, hunting, animal husbandry, and barn chores.
The children loved being at home with their parents. While there was always work to be done, Ruby made sure they had a few hours in the afternoon that were free - so they could play, go fishing or swimming in the creek, or simply lie on their backs in the grass gazing up at the clouds and daydream.
Now Harriet Olson was the town busybody and decided to pay Ruby a visit...unannounced , of course. Ruby was startled by the knock at the door and Willy, the oldest boy, looked out the window and upon seeing Harriet told Ruby, "It's Mrs. Olson. She's so full of hot air, I'm surprised her head doesn't explode!" "Willy, mind your manners!" Ruby declared, as she smoothed her hair back and removed her apron.
Ruby took a deep breath and opened the door with a smile. "Why Harriet, how lovely of you to visit!" Harriet stepped in and looked around with disdain. The children were all about the kitchen table doing the school work. "Children, you may take a break and go out to play while Mrs. Olson is here." said Ruby. There was loud cheering, particularly from the boys, as the children scampered outdoors.
Ruby worked to clear the table as fast as she could as Harriet sat down. "Would you like a cup of tea?" Ruby asked.
"Actually, Ruby, this is not a social call." replied Harriet coolly. "I am here to see why these children are not in school!"
Harriet's husband was on the school board committee. He was a kind man who was well-loved in the community. He had told Harriet to mind her own business when she told him her plans to see why Ruby's children didn't go to school.
"Well, Harriet, Bill and I decided to teach them here at home." Ruby said quietly.
"What on earth for?" Harriet asked with disgust.
"We see no need to send them off for several hours a day when they can learn all they need to know here at home.
"Without proper socialization they will become social outcasts and...and heathens!" Harriet declared forcefully.
"They have plenty of socialization, Harriet. There is church each Sunday, church picnics, barn-raisings, dances, and holiday gatherings. They get to see their friends plenty and they are not outcasts or heathens!" Ruby said trembling with anger.
"We shall see what the school board thinks..." Harriet said standing from her chair. Ruby strode over to the door and upon opening it said, "Good day, Mrs. Olson."
"Hmmph!" she huffed haughtily and Ruby slammed the door behind her.
Still trembling, Ruby fixed herself a cup of tea and sat down at the table. Tears rolled down her face as she spilled out her heartache to her Lord. No care was too small or deemed unimportant to Him. She opened her Bible and her eyes fell to the passage in Deuteronomy 6: 5-7.
"And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up."
And Ruby felt her burden lift and she knew in her heart that no matter what trials or challenges she faced, the Lord would see her through. He always did.
Ruby was a free spirit, but under her husband's covering she was kept from
getting into folly and foolishness and for that she was thankful. She could get
into much trouble if left to her own devices. Not intentionally, of course, but
Ruby didn't always think things through.
Her husband, Bill, loved her deeply in spite of her shortcomings. And Ruby loved
Bill with his wild cowboy ways. He certainly kept her tap dancing to keep up
with him. Life was never dull for Ruby and Bill. They lived on a wing and a
prayer. Each day was a miracle in that they always had just enough to see them
through. The good Lord would not forsake them, and He always kept His Word.
Ruby stands at the window looking out upon her little homestead and gray
overcast skies. She is thinking about Autumn being just around the corner and
Winter will be quickly on its heels. Ruby, always seeking to provide the best
for her family, worked all through the summer to make sure her family had warm
clothes when the snow began to fly.
After dinner each night, she sat in her rocking chair by the fire and knitted
socks, mittens, scarves for her family to wear and blankets to add to their
beds. Her days were filled with cooking and baking from scratch to keep her
family well-fed. There was the garden to tend, which was the family's mainstay.
If the garden didn't produce, they didn't eat.
Ruby prayed over her vegetable and herb gardens, and she had the largest
vegetables around. She was going to enter one of her pumpkins at the county fair
this year. She was sure she could win the blue ribbon prize and $25 to boot!
That money would go a long way in stocking up on baking supplies for winter and
"cowboy coffee" for Wild Bill. Ruby hoped to have enough to buy more yarn,
embroidery thread, sewing thread, fabric in order to make more clothes for
herself and her family, and perhaps some penny candy to go in the children's
Christmas stockings .
Bill was also busy with his work around the homestead. There were farm animals
to tend to: Bessie the milk cow, chickens, a few pigs and horses. On Saturdays
he helped out Mr. Brady at the General Store delivering groceries to earn a
little extra money. And occasionally he stopped by Widow Miller's to check on
her and do odds and ends. She was well off and paid him a fair wage for any work
he did for her.
This extra money would go for new shoes for the children before the weather
turned cold and a silver cross necklace for Ruby for Christmas. Bill had seen
her look with longing at it in the Spring when they had gone to the General
Store to buy supplies and knew right then and there that it would be the perfect
Christmas gift for her. She would never ask for anything so fancy. She didn't
want to burden Bill, but he knew her heart. Nothing was too good for his Ruby!
In the evenings, Bill worked out in the barn. From leftover wood he whittled
animals, made a Jumping Jack man, a spinning top, small cradles for the girls'
dolls, and various other toys for the children. Ruby made doll clothes for the
older girls cloth dollies. Suzy the youngest wanted a dolly of her own, so Ruby
would make her one this year. She also crocheted doilies, made needle cases out
of felt or flannel to keep sewing needles from rusting, made hot pads and such
as gifts to give away to others.
Ruby was always seemingly running to keep up with her busy household, but she
always made time to read her Bible and prayed continually. Her life was filled
to the brim, but Ruby wouldn't have it any other way!
heart,,Isa 32;17
"And the work of righteousness shall be peace..And the effect of righteousness
..quietness and assurance forever...verse 18 And my people shall dwell in a
peaceable habitation and in sure dwellings and in quiet resting places"..the
effects of righteousness brings peace,,But the devil is the accuser of the
righteous,,and he accused Ruby before the Lord day and nite..It was getting into
Autumn and the cool winds blew upon Rubys home,Ruby that morning started a
little fire in the livingroom fire place..just to take the nip out of the
air,,Well she shud have waited on Bill to check the chimney as it hadnt been
used since last winter,,A fire started quickly in the chimny..it burned so HOT
..it nearly burned the house down,,before Ruby noticed it,,Bill was getting
ready for work so he was still home that morning and they got the fire put
out,,But the fire burned part of the livingroom..That morning the devil was at
Harriots house and he was for once telling Harriot the truth about her life and
how she had been worldy and never cared about anything but money,,Harriot said
to herself.."Well yes i care about money,,Money makes the world for
round"...Then the devil put it in Harriots mind to go visit Ruby that
morning,,Ruby was so upset about the fire and Bill had to go to work,,Bill told
her "Dont be upset Ruby you didnt mean to start the fire,," Bill told the boys
to help their mother and to watch the chimney and make sure the fire didnt start
up again,,Ruby had to care for the babies and get them fed and dressed for the
day,,The littlest children were crying and Ruby had to be at peace and comfort
them,,Ruby had the children help and she got things organized again,,Bill wud
repair the livingroom as soon as he cud and the burned chimney,,Just then Ruby
heard someone knock at the door,,She thot it was a neighbor who had seen the
fire,,As she opened the door and saw Harriot she gasped inside,,And yet she
liked Harriot for some reason and atleast she cud visit a bit and maybe she wud
feel better with someone to talk to...And she always gave Harriot another
chance,,As she told Bill just last week ,,"People can change" ..Ruby thot maybe
the Lord had sent Harriot to encourage her,,Rubys heart was always forgiving and
even her enemies were at peace with her,,
of her car,,She made her husband shine it up every Saturday..When she was coming
up the road she cud smell the fire,,And when Ruby opened the door after Harriot
knocked Harriot yelled,,"Ruby what happened,????,Oh my gosh you had a FIRE...
!!!! Did any of the children die in the fire???,,They are so skinney anyway,,it
wudnt take much to kill em" !!!! Ruby smiled a quiet smile,,"Oh no we are
fine,,we caught the fire before it did too much damage,,"..Harriot said "Well
where is Bill? Dont tell me he went off to work and left YOU to clean up the
mess"..???? Ruby cud tell Harriot was her old self and began to pray for her to
go back home,,Ruby had just gotten the children settled and into their chores
,,But as they heard Harriot screaming they began to cry and get upset
again..Harriot offered to help Ruby clean up but Ruby cud tell that Harriot wud
do more harm then good ..She was already scareing the children thru her own
fear,,Ruby suggested to Harriot that maybe she cud come next week for a visit as
Ruby was needing to get back to her chores,,Harriot knew she was being told to
politely leave and this made Harriot seeth inside,Imagine a poor person telling
her to leave the house,,,So Harriot sat down and decided to give Ruby a good
piece of her mind,,"Well you poor people ..i spose you will expect the neighbors
to help you out with rebuilding your livingroom and chimney,,Why did you have so
many kids,,you cant hardly take care of them.." Ruby wanted to cry ,,Harriot
continued,,"And you stood up at church and gave your testimony ..and now God has
brot judgement on you with a fire,," Harriot loved condemning Ruby as it made
her feel better about her own life ..About her love for her reputation as being
rich and prosperous,,Harriot was proud and arrogant and loved to lord it over
those who had less then she had,,But Ruby loved wisdom more then riches in the
world,,Ruby didnt care what folks thot,,she wanted to walk with God in peace and
rest,,Ruby smiled at Harriot as she was thinking in her head "oH my land where
is sweet Pearly Jones when you need her"??
she heard about the early morning fire at Rubys house,,She got her coffee and
put it in her saddle bag and road out to Rubys Homestead to help her,,Pearly was
now 8 months pregnant ,,But she was as healthy at 55 yrs old as any woman who
was younger,,And she was still rideing her horse wherever she went,,Harriot was
still at Rubys when Pearl came rideing into the yard,,Ruby heard her and sighed
with relief..Ruby hurried to the door to let Pearl in,,Pearl laughed and said
"Haaay i hear ya had a fire Ruby?"..The children all gathered around Pearl and
told her what happened,,But Pearl smiled and said "Oh it isnt anything,,i have
had plenty of fires,,ya just clean it up"..Harriot sat up tall in her chair,,"Oh
but it will take years to get the smell out of this house,,it smells so
horrid,,Harriot held her nose.."oh my goodness,,it will take yrs,,"Pearl
laughed and winked at Ruby ,,The children saw her and they knew all was
well..Pearl had the inner peace from God and she had on Christs
righteousness,,Harriot had come to steal and kill Rubys faith and courage ..But
Pearl was wise and she came to give Ruby courage and faith in the midst of her
storm,,Harriot realised that she cudnt get Ruby to drop her confidence in
God...So Harriot left like a whipped dog with her tail between her legs,,Ruby
was so happy to see Pearl as Pearl had such wisdom and strength,,Pearl got a
broom and started sweeping up the livingroom ..As she did ..her and Ruby laughed
about Harriot and how Harriot held her nose and said the house stunk with
smoke..Pearl laughed so hard she had to keep running to the Out House
..Everytime she ran out the door the dog ran in and out too,,and the barn
cats,,The children loved Pearl as she was so animated and full of fun..Harriot
hated Pearl and she hated Ruby too,,And she told it all over town that Ruby
started the fire on purpose so that folks wud feel sorry for her for being
poor..But Ruby didnt care,,She wanted to obey God and walk with Him as an
obedient wife and mother,,As keeper at home,,love connieh
As i sat writing yesterday in Miss Charlottes parked car at the park,,i looked up at the trees,,They looked so happy in the warm summer stillness,,They seemed so full of joy as they watched the children run about them and under them in play..But i longed so for Fall..i cud see Ruby in the Fall ..the air is cool ,,She was walking to the house from the barn with a bucket of goat milk..it was evening,,and nearly dark,,As she passed the clothes line she grabbed Bills work shirts and tossed them over her shoulder,,She wud get the other clothes off the line the next morning..Ruby looked at the house as she walked slowly to it..She caught glimpses of the children thru the lighted windows and her beloved Bill sitting in the kitchen listening to the radio..She loved each of them so dearly,,Even out in the yard Ruby cud smell her cookstove and the fragrance of after supper,,She looked at her garden. as she walked by ...she cud smell the rich soil with the goat fertilizer mixed in,,it wudnt smell good to the world,,But to Ruby it was the sweet fragrance of home,,she thot of her husband Bill and sang "You are my Sunshine my only Sunshine"..What wud she do without Bill? Ruby walked quietly into the house and put the goat milk into some clean jars and put them in the root cellar to keep the milk cool..Ruby felt so grateful for her life as a wife and mother,,She some how knew that even tho she is young that these sweet times with her husband and children wudnt last very long,,She understood this more that evening then ever,,An ache gently laid against her heart ,,like a soft wind to remind her,,"These days are few Ruby,,savor them while you can,,The children are held in time for you to influence for such a short time,,Bill wont be there for you forever,,Serve him while you can Ruby",Ruby got dressed for bed and spent extra time that nite playing with the babies as she washed them up..and put fresh blankets on their beds,She spoke to the older children and told them of her deep love for each of them.,And in the quiet evening Ruby talked to Bill..She touched his face and gently kissed his cheeks and his forehead,,She blessed him with words of tenderness ..She said "Bill i am sorry for when i am not a good wife to you"..And Bill ask her to forgive him for when he wasnt a good husband to Ruby..Ruby spoke to Bill of a never ending love that she wud always have for him..She was like an angel to Bill that evening,,Her kisses were like angels tickleing him,,He felt renewed and refreshed like sparkleing water had washed over him..Bill and Ruby went to sleep that nite holding each other in their arms.Knowing that some day there arms wud be empty..one of them wud be in Heaven,,But this nite they were all happy together ,,all was well,,It was a silent nite ,,a holy night..A night to remember of a time when the children were all well and under one roof..And Bill and Ruby heard the Lord speak to them of a time when they wud no longer have each other,,And that they shud savor their time together,,As Bill was the most precious to Ruby and she to him,,love connieh
The weather was getting cooler and Fall was settleing in at Rubys house,,Ruby was almost done with her canning,,She had a loft in the top part of her house where it was cool and dry,,And up there she wud put her pumpkins and squash,,And these vegetables wud last for months up there if kept dry nd cool ..Then the onions and garlic wud be hung on nails..,,Ruby also had little red peppers too,,And in the fall she just pulled out the whole bush and hung in up in the loft,,And this way the lil peppers wud dry right on the bush,,When they were dry Ruby put them in a jar..She used these peppers to make cough syrup..Bill sometimes put them in his boots on cold winter days to keep his feet warm..And if the goats had worms the hot peppers in their food along with garlic got rid of the worns,i mean it wudnt do much good for the goat milk but neither wud the worms,,Just feed the tainted milk to the barn cats,,Anyway Ruby felt that she had done her best to put away as much food as she cud for the winter,,Pearly was storeing extra potatoes in her dug out for Rubys family,Most of Pearls children were grown with their own families,,,Soon Pearl wud be giving birth to her new husbands first child,,This wud be Pearls 11th baby ,,She had 10 with her first husband who had died,, and she was a widow for 10 yrs,,Then she remarried a cowboy younger then herself and now she is carrying his first baby,,Pearly was so happy !!She told Riuby that it made her feel young again to be pregnant..Pearl was 55 yrs old ..She was due to deliver her 11th baby near Thanksgiving. As Ruby walked outside with her old brown sweater wrapped around her cotton dress she looked at her big canning vessels and jars left in the yard from canning the day before,,She prayed that she had canned enuf f for her family ,,to take them thru the winter,,,Ruby felt lonely as the wind whipped at her apron .. She looked up at the gray sky,,She felt so small in Gods earth,,She put her hands up to her face to hide herself for a minute..She wanted to run to the barn to pray,,But the children needed their breakfast ..she wud pray later...
Ruby went in the house and fixed breakfast for the children,,She put on a smile and thanked the Lord that she had food for her children ,,She made oatmeal and set the table with her big yellow pitcher with milk in it,,The pitcher had been Gram Maggies and Ruby remembered it on Maggies breakfast table when she was a lil girl..Often when Ruby got worried over the state of the economy ,,the Depression,, she wud think of her grandma and Mother Rose,,How brave they were and how they walked by faith,,Ruby wud place things about the house of her mothers and grams,,to remind her to have faith in God,,Bill had brot an old newspaper home from the store a few weeks ago,,And Ruby read a story in it,,It was about a father who had stolen a bag of bread flour from the store in a large city near Rubys family,,Anyway the Sheriff came to arrest him..The children saw the sheriff coming to their house and they quickly opened the flour sack and ate the flour raw with their hands,,They were starving,,{True Story} This story that Ruby
had read in the newspaper just pierced her heart,,,She cudnt help but think "What if this had been my children,"? She cudnt get it off of her mind,,As Ruby finished up her breakfast she reminded the children of their chores,,She ask Mary and Ruth to get the babies washed up and dressed,,Ruby explained to the children that she needed to go pray in the barn for a while,,She wud do the barn chores while she was out there,,"I just need to pray children ,,i have things in my heart to ask Jesus about,," The children understood as Ruby often needed time to pray..Ruby went outside with her bucket and pumped fresh water to take to the goats and chickens,,As soon as she had watered them and fed them she fell upon the fresh hay and prayed ...She was fearful that she hadnt done good enuf with her garden and she wudnt have enuf to take her family thru the winter,,Rubys heart condemned her and fear made her body shake,,She cud feel satan and his demons hovering over her ..lying to her,,confusing her,,She cud smell the fear ,,it smelled like something dead and decayed,,Ruby cried out to God,,She had to pray until a release wud come,,She prayed the 23rd Psalm,,"The Lord is my Shepard i shall not want.." and the Lord spoke to Ruby,,"Fear thou not for I am with thee..be not dismayed for I AM thy God...i will help thee ,,i will strengthen thee,,I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness, ,"..
Ruby kept trying to remember everything the woman{Wisdom} in the barn had told her,,Ruby had work to do with the children,,But as soon as she cud she fixed lunch for them and put the babies down for a nap..She wud have a few hrs to write before she had to get about her chores again and start supper.. Bill got home from work ,early evening,,,Ruby wrote down what Wisdom had told her about using her herbs ..Rose had taught Ruby alot about the healing herbs,,but Wisdom showed her some new ideas,,Wisdom told Ruby many secrets about the state of the Depression and how things wud get better soon,,Ruby made a homemade book with all the things written down in it that Wisdom had told her,,Ruby took brown paper sacks and cut them up to be pages,,Then she sewed the pages together with her needle and thread,,Ruby had a special little bottle of black ink and a pen.. She used these for special occasions when she made her books,,Usually she just used a pencil for every day notes,..But this was special,,and Ruby knew it so she wanted to use her pen and ink..The black ink looked pretty against the brown pages,,Ruby cut out little pictures from some old seed catalogs and pasted them at the top of each writing,,Ruby wanted to always remember the visit from the young mother in the barn,, She wondered if she was an angel unaware,,Or if she was just a part of the cloud of witnesses that came to encourage Ruby and to cheer her on,,Pearly after hearing the story from Ruby thot the woman was Gram Maggie as a young mother..because of the yellow pitcher being put back on the table,,Ruby said "Well whoever she was ,,she helped me to have faith in God..she encouraged me,,so i call her Wisdom" love connieh
It was a hot simmer in Jackson..Ruby got up early each morning and canned as much produce as she cud ..She had her wash tubs outside to can with and this kept the house cooler..This morning she is canning corn,,Mary and Ruth are helping as they are shucking the corn and cutting the corn off the cobs and salting it ..One wash tub is full of corn and now has to be brot to a boil then put in canning jars that have been boiling,Then all the filled jars will be put into another wash tub and boiled some more..Now that the corn is ready the family eats it every nite for supper until its gone,,Of course with other food too but folks back then ate their vegetables in season,,Soon the tomatoes wud be ready and each nite with fresh biscuits and meat gravey they wud eat a plater of sliced tomatoes and another platter of corn..Bill and the boys esp loved the corn on the cob and ate alot of it in season,,Ruby dried some of the corn too..Ruby had some big jars too that she canned her corn in still on the cob,,As Ruby was filling her canning jars with corn she happened to look up and down the road,,,A man was coming down the road,,a man the family didnt know,,Ruby had heard that the hobos were starting to come to some of the farms near her asking if anyone wud hire them for odd jobs ..Many family men were desperate to find work and get the pay they earned back to their families,,Ruby didnt want to have to deal with this man without Bill being home,,But Ruby prayed to the Lord to give her courage,,"Mam" ..the man said as he took off his hat and walked into the yard,,"I didnt mean to scare you,,just wanted to know if i cud chop some firewood for you ..Just need a meal,,i havent eaten in 3 days".Rubys heart of compassion some how seemed bigger then her fear,,"Oh sure ,,Sir ..i can do that"..Ruby thot of Bill and what if they had to be separated with Bill running all over the county lookin for work,,Ruby cud see how God had blessed them so much with enuf to eat and even some to can,,Ruby had the girls finish up the canning as it was almost lunch time anyway,,Ruby went in the house and stirred up cornbread and then she cut up a big platter of corn and tomatoes,,She fixed some coffee too,,After the strange man had chopped wood they all ate,,Ruby had the Stranger sit on the steps outside...She told him they had plenty of corn and tomatoes ,,And if he wanted some more to eat to just knock at the door and she wud fill his plate again..The children whispered at the table and ask Ruby who this man was and Ruby said ,,"I dont know,,but maybe he is an angel.."..After lunch the stranger knocked at the door and gave Ruth his plate and cup.. "Tell your mom thanks so much for the meal,,i pray the Lords blessings upon her"..Ruth told Ruby what the stranger said ...Ruby thot about it all afternoon and kept it all in her heart..A gentle peace seemed to rest upon the house that afternoon.. Ruby and the children read some books and rested,,Each of the older children were lost in thot wondering if they had seen an angel,,
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