Faithful Unto Death

How They Grew

How They Grew benzonia, 1888 henry came downstairs smiling gently. Lottie ran to meet him and tugged at his hand. “Papa! How is mother? Is the baby well?” “Children,” began Henry, and then included Charlotte in his smile, “and Sister, I’m pleased to announce that William Henry Jr. has deigned to join us.” “A baby brother! I’m a big sister now!” Lottie hopped up and down in her joy, and Roy and Ralph grinned at their father. “Little Willie, in the best of sashes . . .” began Roy. “Fell in the ‹re, and was burned to ashes,” wickedly added Ralph. “That’s not funny! And anyway, his name’s not Willie, it’s William!” retorted Lottie. But as William grew, somehow his name shrank to Will, and Will it remained. the tax assessor apologized to Anna when she came to the door. “I know you have your hands full, what with the baby and your sister feeling poorly, Anna, but this was the only day I have to make these twenty calls. I know Henry’s gone to Traverse City for the day.” “He has indeed, but come in, Mr. Steele. Lottie can watch Will while we go over the forms. Ralph shall show you around the barn when he gets home for lunch.” Ralph showed Mr. Steele around the property with a proprietary air that quite tickled the assessor. With pride he introduced Minta and Bessie, the two cows. “Minta’s the better milker, but Bessie’s thrown twin calves twice, now.Those are hers, the bull calf and the brindle.The little one’s Minta’s, of course. Likely we’ll sell that one. Come on out the back way here; watch your step and now I’ll show you the potato ‹eld. We’re thinking of trying out that new strain of Idaho this season, it’s said to be a good keeper and very resistant . . .” When the assessor and Ralph came back in, Anna was bathing a squirming Will in a basin wedged into the kitchen sink; a woven dishcloth kept it from sliding about. “I see you have your hands full, Anna, so I’ll read the property list to you, and if you think of anything I’ve missed, Ralph or Henry can come by and add them on. Here’s what we have: forty acres with barn, twenty 82 of these acres improved, two six-acre lots in Benzonia village, one with a house on it, and twenty more acres all improved. Also four horses, two cows, three calves, and ‹fteen sheep, plus two wagons, a carriage, and two sleighs, plus mechanical and agricultural implements and tools. I put the value of those last at one hundred dollars.” Ralph spoke up,“I’d say not more than seventy-‹ve dollars, sir. Some of those tools have seen hard use, and we’re going to need a new harrow next year.” “Ralph, hush,” Anna told him sternly.“Don’t contradict your elders.” “Let’s say ninety dollars, then.” “Eighty-‹ve dollars, then,” countered Ralph gravely. “Young man, you are going to get a licking,” Anna informed him. “Eighty-‹ve dollars it is,” agreed Mr. Steele. “Try not to be too hard on the boy, Anna. He already knows his business about as well as several of the men I’ve talked to this week.” lottie stepped onto the back porch with a bowl of plate-scrapings for the hens, and paused when she heard Roy, his back to her, recite in a falsetto, “. . . some of the men protested, of course, but after the soldiers pointed their guns at us . . .” Ralph felt himself unable to resist the invitation to join the performance : “. . . of course, we were terri‹ed, not only for ourselves but for the men and women of our village . . .” He spun around guiltily at Lottie’s helpless giggle. “Oh! Lottie, don’t sneak up on a fellow like that!” “You mustn’t make fun of poor Auntie that way. You know she’s had a very hard time of it. No, I mean it; it’s really true. Why does it sound so foolish when I say it?” “Because everyone says it, and you never do what everyone else does, Puss,” said Ralph. “Well, at least don’t do that where anyone else can hear you. You know that it would hurt Mother very much.” “You’re right,” agreed Roy reluctantly, “and I know that you’re tired of these everlasting stories about...