Lyddie

Walking away from the house was harder then I imagined it would be, no matter how hard we tried we couldn't get the door to close all the way. We were scared that critters like coons and other animals would get in. I spied our wood pile and began to stack the wood in front of the door. It didn't take long for Charlie to catch on and help. We finished quickly. I couldn't believe that this might be the last time I saw this little cabin. Then I remembered what if Daddy came back? What would happen then? How would he find us? I had left Mamas letter on the table and had written my own to tell Daddy where we had gone, but how was I to know that he would find those letters? I couldn't say but we had to get a start on our long journey. I turned my back to the cabin, slung my boots over my shoulder and began to walk away. Cow and calf in tow.

Our walk was going to be a long and hard one, considering the muddiness of the road. The Stevensen's was about 5 miles down the way and the whole time I was walking I couldn't stop thinking about how much Quaker Stevens would want for the chubby little heifer. I hadn't realized how much time had passed when we rounded the corner to the Stevensen's place. Quaker Stevens was out front, I marveled at the sight of their farm. It was obvious that they were of a certain amount of wealth. They had two barns attached to their house which was ten time bigger then our cabin. He greeted us with a wave. 'I see my bull served thee well' He said. 'We come the thank you' I said thinking quickly. 'We're obliged to sell off this pretty calf straight away. Our mother's put us out to work.' 'I'll give thee twenty dollars for the calf,' Quaker said. 'No, twenty-five. I know the sire and hes of a good line' He smiled. 'Seems mighty high' I said. 'It's a fair price for a nice fat little heifer. Thee's kept her well.' He invited us into his house to complete our business but his wife wouldn't let us leave the house without a hearty noon dinner. We thanked them for their kindness.

Luke offered us a ride on the wagon, he said since he was going our way he would drop us off. He tied the cow and horse to the back and we were off. I hadn't realized how small the wagons seat was. I was squished in between Luke and Charlie. Luke was 16, and an alright looking young man.

Lyddie

My Daddy left us alone to work the farm. He left north for great riches, he promised he was coming back but that was 3 years ago. We still have hope but not a lot of it. After Daddy left, Mama went crazy. She usually just sits in her rocking chair and stares into the fire. Being the oldest I have become the one my siblings count on.

The day that drove my Mama truly insane was the day the bear barged into our cabin. Charlie had been out getting wood and came in not closing the door properly behind him. (However that wasn’t his fault the door hadn’t closed properly since last summer) We were cooking porridge in the kettle; the bear must have smelt it and being hungry followed his nose. I was the one to stand up to the great beast. I looked him right in the eyes trying not to let the fear inside of me leak out. Mama was whimpering as I told them to get up into the loft, I listened as the babies (Agnes, 3 and Rachel, 4) climbed the ladder along with Mama and Charlie. All the while I looked that bear in the eye daring him to set foot inside the cabin. I began to back towards the ladder as the bear advanced. I fled up the ladder pulling it up just out of the bears reach, and then Charlie helped me pull it all the way up into the loft with the rest of us. We watched as the bear overturned our bench and table. I prayed that he didn’t break anything. We couldn’t afford to buy any new household items much less support our family. He searched the cabin for the source of the smell that brought him here. He found it over the fire bubbling in a kettle. I could smell the Porridge burning to the sides of the kettle. I watched as the bear stuck his nose into the kettle. He howled in pain jerked his head away getting caught by the handle. He swung his mighty head around to try to get it off but flung it back onto his nose, spilling the scalding hot porridge all over his head and neck. He searched franticly for the door but in his rush he ended up closing the door on himself locking himself and us in the cabin. The bear hurdled himself at the door snapping it off of its pathetic leather hinges running for the forest. We stayed where we were until the crashing of the bushes was no longer auditable. Then one by one we all started to laugh, and I don’t mean chuckle nervously I mean full on hysterical laughter. I can’t remember how long it had been since I had laughed that hard. Mama was the only on not laughing she told us that the bear had been the devil. That was the moment I knew for a fact Mama was crazy. The bear was her undoing.

After the bear raided the cabin, Mama decided that she and the babies would go and stay at Auntie Clarissa and Uncle Judah’s farm, leaving Charlie and I to run the farm, but only until Mama go more money to support us. I had a good feeling about this. In the spring we were blessed with a beautiful calf, we had bred our cow with our neighbors bull. Then we got the letter.

Dear Lyddie,
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The world hav not come to the end yit. But we can stil hop. Meentime I hav hire you out to M.Cutler at the tavern and fer yr. brother to Bakers mill. The paschur, feelds ans sugar bush is lent to M. Wescott to repay dets. Also cow and horse. Lv. at wuns you git this.
Yr. Loving mother,
Mattie M. Worthen
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We left that afternoon stomachs grumbling, the walk ahead of us was about ten miles. I packed a dress wrapped it and slung my boots over my shoulder. We then walked with the horse, cow and calf tagging along at her mothers heals. While walking I contemplated the idea of selling the calf (which was rightfully ours since Mama didn’t mention selling it to someone to pay off depts.) to our neighbors. I decided that that was what we were going to do.