The Travels of Increase Joseph: A Historical Novel about a Pioneer Preacher

17. Isaac and Caroline

a Chapter 17 Isaac and Caroline Sunday, November 27, 1859 A slow, drippy cold rain began falling shortly after sunrise and continued throughout the day. It could have easily been snow. The leaves of the aspens and the maples in and around Link Lake that had been so colorful but a few weeks earlier had fallen. The trees, like naked sentinels, stood watch over the lake and the little village of Link Lake tucked up against the south shore. The Standalone Fellowship farmers finished cutting their long rows of corn nearly a month earlier, yet some of the corn shocks still marched across the fields like Indian teepees. Each day the farmers hauled a few of the ear rich corn stalks into their barns where they husked out the yellow cobs on the threshing floor. The wheat crop was especially good this year - most of the Fellowship farmers harvested several acres. The bins in their granaries were full to overflowing. The Link Lake Mill, water powered, ran from early morning until late afternoon grinding wheat into flour. For the last several years, The Travels of Increase Joseph 129 there was more than enough flour for the Fellowship families, enough so the mill could sell what was becoming a famous brand-Standalone Premium Stone Ground Flour - on the open market with a percentage of the profits going to the Standalone Fellowship. The emblem on the flour sack was that of a tall thin man, clothed in black with his arms lifted over his head. In one of his hands he held a small red book. People came to associate Standalone Premium Stone Ground Flour with Increase Joseph, his preaching, and his famous tonic. Rainwater gently dripped from Increase Joseph's cabin roof as nightfall settled over the land. He sat in a straight backed chair on one side of the fireplace that crackled and snapped and sent cozy warmth into the modest room that served as kitchen, dining room, and living room for him, his wife and their son, Increase Joseph II. Elwina Link sat on the other side of the fireplace, in a rocking chair. She was knitting a new pair of mittens for Little Joe. A ball of gray wool yarn lay at her feet. Little Joe was reading in his McGuffey Reader, homework from the Link Lake School where he was in fourth grade. A big brown dog lay at his feet dozing, soaking up the warmth of the fire. He had no name and was simply called "Dog," or when he was out around town, The Preacher's Dog. Increase Joseph was thumbing through the Red Book, stopping occasionally to look into the fire. A gentle knock on the cabin door. Dog lifted his head. Little Joe turned toward the door; Elwina Link stopped knitting. No reaction from Increase Joseph. "Increase," Elwina whispered. 130 Apps No response. "Increase," she said more loudly. "What, what?" Increase said, his face turning toward her. "Someone's at the door." "At the door." "Yes, at the door. "Why is there someone at the door?" "I don't know." Increase Joseph slid the Red Book into his pocket and stood up. Dog walked with him to the door. Increase Joseph, in his usual flamboyant fashion , threw the door open wide and the man with the cane, who was about to knock a second time almost fell into the room. He was wet from the top of his slouch hat to the tips of his leather boots. "May I come in?" he said, a surprised look on his face. "You, you look familiar. I've seen you before. At one of our Great Gatherings maybe?" "I'm Josiah Longstreet," the man whispered. "I stopped by a few weeks ago inquiring about the railroad." "No railroad around here. You must have the wrong place." Rain continued to drip from the cabin roof, squarely on top the man's head. "The Underground Railroad." "Underground Railroad? Ah, yes. Now I remember . Yes. Yes. Why are you standing there with water dripping down your neck? Come in the house." "I've got some packages in my wagon, can 1 bring them in? The Travels of Increase Joseph 131 "Sure, yes, sure. Retrieve your packages. Ah, the packages." Shortly, Longstreet was back at the door with two blanket clad figures beside him. He followed them into the Link cabin. "This is Isaac," Longstreet said. "And this...