January 2009

        "Ben, I heard that your teacher mentioned Philip Hone yesterday."

        "Yes, my teacher has an uncle who is Philip Hone's friend."

        "When yo heard that name, what thoughts went through your mind?"

        "That's easy father.  The first thing I remembered was the last time Mr. Jervis was here.  He mentioned Philip Hone also. That's the day Tillie's calf was born.

        "Oh, yes.   I had forgotten.  That was sure a hectic day all right. Tillie almost died, but Sam Hewitt got Dr. Hoyt here just in time to keep her alive.  What a scare that was.  Anyway, did your teacher mention anything else?"

        "He said his unle, Jerome, had gone to school with Philip Hone and this uncle had lived for a short time with the Steele family.  Father, do you think this might be why Mr. Steele is so interested in canals and shipping?"

        "Sure. Say, I am glad to hear this.  I do not want to be the only person in this area who is constantly interested in what is happening with the canals and the possibility of having a faster way to transport everything.  One of these days, I am going to pay Mr. Steele a visit.  And since you are one of the top students in your school, you can be sure we will not be discussing your academic achievements, Ben."

        "Mr. Steele said the other day that he is going to go to the Town's Fair and Festival next week, Father. Maybe we'll see him there."

        "Oh, good.  We can have a chat right there.  That reminds me. Your mother and Marion are going to show that beautiful quilt they just finished.  Ben, please mention to Mr. Steele I'd like to see him at the fair."

        "Yes, I will father. Are you sure it will be all right to show Bucky at the fair?  I spent hours feeding and grooming her and I don't want anything to happen to my sheep."

        "I know. I Know!  I talked to Jerry Stafford.  He said you don't have a thing to worry about. Your sheep will be just fine."

        "Good.  If Jerry Stafford said that, then I certainly don't have to worry about Bucky.  Maybe she will win a prize."

        The serene, blue sky served as the perfect background for the feathery clouds gently floating up from the horizon.  Ben had carefully groomed Bucky and she stood arrogantly inside the fence as if she were saying, "Hey, come on everybody!  Look at beautiful me."  Ben had his hand stuck through an opening in the fence and was patting her neck to try and comfort her.  The many fairgoers clustered around Bucky's pen were somewhat noisy and rambunctious.  Bucky seemed a bit uneasy.

        "Oh Ben.  There you are!  I wasn't sure you would be here with your sheep, out looking at the other birds and animals, or sampling some of the delicious food.

        "I have been right here beside Bucky since we brought her in the morning.  I don't want her to be scared before the judges come over here."

        "Good idea, Ben.  I saw your Mr. Steele for just a minute this morning. We agreed to meet at noon on the long bench by the chickens and ducks.  We will eat our lunch there so we can talk.  Bring your lunch bag over and eat with us when you are finished here."

        "I will Father, after the judges have moved on."

        "I sure am eager to hear everything Mr. Steele knows about this canal and railroad business.  I will see you later, Ben."

        Ben's father disappeared behind the equine area and nearly bumped into Mr. Steele right in front of the Ladies Auxiliary table, loaded with food and surrounded by delicious odors.

        "Mr. Steele, how are you on this sunny, blue-sky day, in the middle of such a joyous crowd?"

        "I am fine, very fine and looking forward to our conversation.  Ben told me John B. Jervis is a good friend of your family so I am guessing that you have quite a bit of information from him already."

        "Yes, I do because he visits our farm quite often."

        "Well then.  Let's go and sit down over there and share our information."

        Luckily, the long bench was facing west so Benjamin and Mr. Steele would not be facing directly into the blazing sun.

        Lily, Luke, Doris and Ella stood quietly next to their father and Mr. Steele.  John, Marion and Ben were just across a dirt path, watching the pig race.

        "Ben, come over for just a minute."

        His father's loud, clear voice was completely audible over the voices of the large crowd of fair attendees.

        John, Marion and Ben crossed the dirt path, holding the lunch bags their mother had made.  The handles she added were just the right size.

        "Ben, will you, Marion and John take your sisters and brother over beyond the Church Ladies table to watch the log cutting competition?  The loggers will finish in about a half hour.  Come back here then.  Oh yes, you all have your lunch bags.  Good!  We will all eat lunch right here when you come back."

        The children trotted quickly toward the Ladies table, disappeared behind it, and were out of sight.

        "Now, Mr. Steele, let's hear your Philip Hone story."

        "I'll begin just as soon as you start calling me John, instead of Mr. Steele."

        "Fine, John.  I am Benjamin.  Let's begin."

        "Well, I'm sure you already know that Philip Hone was president of the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company and I'm sure John B. told you about the speech Philip Hone gave on July 13, 1825, as company president."

        "Oh yes. It was quite a speech, laying out the reasons the Canal was built and then describing just what benefits he expected to see after it was finished.  He especially mentioned that the Canal would furnish an outlet for their timber and farm products.  He also emphasized the use of the Canal for transporting coal.  As he ended his address, John B. said that he assured the citizens of New York and Pennsylvania that the Canal would be more than just an object of interest to them."

        John's eyes were wide with astonishment.

        "Benjamin, how on earth did you remember all of that?  I am sure that even I, as a teacher, could not duplicate what you just did.  I am impressed.  No!  That's wrong!  I'm astonished!"

        "Well, I'm sure my deep interest in the topic helps my memory. But, let's not get suck on my memory.  What else did Philip Hone have to say?"

        "He said the breaking of ground to begin additional work on the Canal started right after he spoke.  He explained how pleased he was.  Major work began a month later at the end of August, to extend the Canal 10 more miles.

        "The summer of 1825 was quite a summer, wasn't it?"

        "Yes, Benjamin, it sure was and the progress on the Canal extended to November 7, 1825 when an agreement was reached to build the Canal sixteen more miles."

        "What a . . . . "

        "Wait, Ben. Wait!  It doesn't stop there.  On December 6, 1825 the last contract was signed to extend the Canal from the Judson River, all the way to the Delaware River."

        "What a story John!  And a true story!  What a great boost this will give all of us farmers who have struggled for years to get our products in and out quickly and easily."

        "Benjamin, you are exactly right.  It will be a tremendous shot in the arm for the whole economy of this area.  I just can't imagine right now, how different many things will be.  Well.......let's see what we have a year from now.  That will tell the real story."

        "Yes, I'm sure it will be quite a change all right.  Quite a change."

        Just then the children came running back from the log splitting contest.

        "Hey, Father!  You should have seen it.  It was great!"

        "Oh, I'm sure it was.  Now let's sit down with Mr. Steele and have lunch.

        As the children sat, some on the bench and some on the grass, Mr. Steele ate quickly, shook hands with their father, said good bye to them and started off in the direction of the delicious smells.  As he started to walk away, he stopped short, as if he had stepped on a sharp rock, spun around and said, "Benjamin, are you going to attend the spelling contest at school next Friday night?"

        "Of course.   I wouldn't miss if for all the nuts in that oak tree.  Why?"

        "Well, my uncle told me that Philip Hone had alerted him to an event which is expected to be happening in England very soon."

        "What does that mean?"

        "I have sort of an idea, but I won't mention it because I'm not sure.  My uncle says we will know about it soon.  He feels that it will be something as important that it will affect all the people in England and he said something else, which scares the boots right off my feet."

        "For heaven's sake.  What did he say that was so threatening?"

        "He said that this event is so important, that it will affect the lives of every man, woman and all the children in this country."

        "When will we know about this enormous happening?"

        Just as Father spoke the last word, Lily let go of Marion's hand and started running just as fast as her two year old legs would carry her.  Father and all of the children raced across the dirt path, calling her name loudly.  She paid no attention at all and ran a bit faster.

        Mr. Steele, going in the opposite direction, turned around, laughed and kept walking toward the horses.  The voices of Benjamin and the children faded from his ears as he began to pat the silky smooth, chestnut and ebony colored horses standing patiently.  His mind was scrambling to sort out, to think about, what Philip Hone had said about an earth shaking event which would change the lives of everyone, not just in this tranquil, rural valley, but in the whole country.

        What was it?  What was it"  He tried to focus his mind on the sleek horses or the delicious smells wafting through the late summer air.  It was hopeless.  Round and round the words spun in his brain until he felt dizzy.  What was this event, this happening, which would have such a potent affect on the whole country?

        What was it?  How could any one occurence be that powerful?  What on earth could it be?