December 2007

        "Father, Father!  Just as I jumped off the wagon this noon, before you started for the Grand Union Hotel to drop off the corn and pumpkins, you told me a very important man came walking into Greenfield.  Who was it?  Why was he so important?"

        Just then one horse began jumping around.  He was a new, young one father recently bought and he wasn't quite "broken-in", so father took off and couldn't answer my questions.  The wagon bumped along down our cobblestone hill, rounded the corner and was gone.

        Since it was Saturday, I had a whole bundle of chores to do, so I started for the hen house to check on our new chickens.  Then out to the pig sty to fill the trough, up to the barn to let the calves out and on and on until I heard mother ring the supper bell.  The minute I heard it my stomach began to "growl".  I raced back to the house as if a mother bear were after me.  Now I would get an answer to my questions.  Well.....not right this minute, but soon after we finished the chicken and the rhubard pie.  Even before I opened the screen door, the delicious smell of baked chicken surrounded me.

        It seemed like our supper took longer than ever to finish.  Finally father asked, "Are you ready for a big slice of mother's rhubard pie?"  Quickly, I moved my plate.  I was the first one to finish the pie.  Patiently I sat and waited.  As father ate the last bit of his pie, I couldn't help it.  I blurted out my questions.  "Father, who was the important man who came to Greenfield?  Who was he?"

        Father looked toward me.  "His name was Issac Young."

        "Issac Young?  Issac Young?  I've never even heard his name before.  What did he do?  Why did he make up his mind to come to Greenfield?  "Come on, tell me!"

        Grandfather had eaten his supper early so he could go down to the barn because a calf was about to be born.  The latch on the screen door clicked.  Grandfather rushed in and stood right behind my chair.  He was breathing so heavily I could feel his breath on the back of my neck.  As I twisted around toward him, I saw his face was "beet red."

        "Come one!  Come on,"  he shouted.  "I need help!"

        Father jumped so quickly his chair tipped over backward.  He and grandfather raced out the door and disappeared like magic.

        Hey, I thought.  When in the dickens will I ever find out about this new, important man in Greenfield, this Issac Young?  I couldn't turn my mind off.  Darn it I thought, why did that cow decide to have her calf right now?  Issac Young.  Issac Young.  Don't worry, Issac.  I am really going to find out about you and your importance.  Yes sir, I most certainly am!

        "Would you like that last piece of pie?"

        Mother put the spatula under it, put it on my plate and went to the kitchen.  The house was so quiet I could hear the ticking of the grandfather clock.  I could feel the wheels turning in my brain.

        Issac Young?  Are you young or old?  Are you a farmer?  Are you a blacksmith?  Are you a shoemaker or a peddler?

        I'll find out very, very soon!  Yes I will.