The Little Sparrows (25 page)

“And those solid black ones in that pasture over there on the other side of the road?”

“Uh-huh.”

“Well, the red ones with the white faces are called Herefords. They are beef cattle. As are those black ones over there. They’re called Black Angus. So both the Hereford and the Angus are raised strictly to provide meat for our tables.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Now notice the cattle that are white with black markings.”

“Okay.”

“And those that are a light reddish brown with white markings.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Well, both of those are milk producers. The white ones with black markings are called Holsteins. The others are called Guernseys. The Holsteins give the most milk, but the Guernseys give the richest milk. So most of us own both kinds. That way we mix the milk and have a whole lot of rich milk!”

Johnny laughed. “That’s pretty neat, Papa.”

Mary pointed to a nearby farm. “Papa, what’s that tall round building next to the barn over there?”

“That’s called a silo.”

“What’s it for?”

“We store fodder in there. Fodder is hay or cornstalks. The silo keeps the fodder dry and fresh all winter long, which helps us to feed our livestock sufficiently when there is no grass for them to eat in pastures.”

“Wow!” said Johnny. “This is really interesting! We’re gonna learn a lot here, Mary.”

“We sure will,” agreed his sister.

Johnny ran his gaze across the Nebraska plains. “I’ve never been able to see so far before.”

“Me, either,” said Mary. “It seems like there’s no end to all the land.”

Moments later, Leah said, “Look up there on the right, children. See that farmhouse with the cottonwood trees in the front yard and the big red barn out back with the white silo beside it?”

All three nodded.

“Well, that’s our place.”

The Marston three focused harder on it.

“Wow!” said Johnny. “That’s really a neat farm!”

As they drew closer, they saw the beef cattle and milk cows, and Johnny said, “You’ve got Herefords, don’t you?”

Will grinned. “Sure do.”

“And you’ve got both kinds of milk cows. And I see another draft horse. Do you have saddle horses, Papa?”

“Mm-hmm. Two of them. They’re probably in the corral over by the barn, standing where we can’t see them right now.”

“Can I ride one of them?”

“Of course, but you’ll have to let me teach you how, first.”

“Okay!”

“Me too!” chimed in Lizzie.

Leah laughed. “You’ll have to get bigger first, sweetheart.”

Lizzie rubbed her nose. “Okay.”

They pulled up to the gate, drove over the cattle guard between the posts, and headed toward the buildings.

The large two-story white frame house, which stood partially in the shade of the cottonwoods, was situated in the midst of the prettiest flower garden the Marston three had ever seen. The windows—upstairs and down—sparkled in the afternoon sunshine, and the breeze moved the swing on the wide front porch.

Mary studied the house.
It looks like a happy house
.

Suddenly there was movement on the porch, and a large dog with a deep red coat bounded down the steps, wagging his tail and barking his welcome.

Lizzie’s eyes widened. “Oh! A doggie!”

“What’s the doggie’s name?” asked Mary.

“His name is Red, honey,” replied Leah.

Johnny laughed. “What kind is he, Papa?”

“Irish setter.”

“Oh yeah. I should’ve known that. I saw one at Central Park one time.”

Red jumped up and down as Will stepped from the buggy and petted him. He quickly spotted the children as they left the buggy and responded quickly to their attention. After Red had met Mary, Johnny, and Lizzie, licked their hands, and had been petted by all three, Leah said, “All right, children, let’s go in the house.”

When they went inside—with Red following—Mary told herself the house looked as happy inside as it did outside. The spacious house had four bedrooms upstairs. The master bedroom belonged to Will and Leah, and Leah explained that the girls would have one bedroom together, and Johnny would have his own bedroom. This would allow the Bantons to still have one spare bedroom when company came to stay all night.

Mary put her arm around her little sister and looked at the Bantons. “I’m glad Lizzie and I will be in the same room so I can take care of her.”

Lizzie’s eyes were dancing. “Me too!”

They were taken to the girls’ room first, which was simple but quite cozy. The twin beds were covered with blue and white quilts. A dresser and washstand took up the greater part of one wall. A rolltop desk sat in a corner of the room. Mary was fascinated with the wide, cushioned window seat. She pictured herself whiling the hours away while sitting in that comfortable spot and enjoying the scenery in view through the large window.

The girls followed as Johnny was led down the hall to his room.

When Johnny stepped into his room, it reminded him somewhat of his bedroom at home in Manhattan, though it was much larger. A colorful patchwork quilt covered his bed, and the afternoon sun made a pattern on the glossy wood floor. A rag rug of many hues lay in the middle of the room, and a white dresser and washstand stood against one wall. He had a large window, like the one in his sisters’ room.

Will ran his gaze over the three bright faces. “Well, kids, what do you think?”

“We love it, Papa,” said Mary.

Johnny and Lizzie spoke their agreement. Red was at Johnny’s side and enjoyed the attention his new friend was giving him.

Having caught the mood of the children, Leah smiled. “We want you to be very happy here.”

Mary moved to her and hugged her. “Oh, Mama, we will be happy living here with you and Papa. It’s all new and different, but everything is perfect. Thank you for choosing us.”

“Thank all three of you for wanting to come and live with us,” Will said.

Leah smiled, a feeling of satisfaction growing in her heart. “Sounds like we’re all pretty happy. Well, Will, let’s show them through the rest of the house, then give them the grand tour of the rest of the place.”

After being shown through the rest of the house, the children were taken on a tour of the barn and outbuildings. They were able to see the saddle horses and pet them, which was a thrill. The tour also included a walk for some distance in the pastures and the cornfields and hayfields. Red, of course, tagged along, happy to be petted by his new friends.

That evening at suppertime, the family gathered in the large kitchen at the round oak table. The kitchen had lots of cupboards. There were windows on two sides, looking out onto the yard and the fields and pastures beyond.

Will glanced at the fully loaded table. “What’s for supper, honey?”

“Pork chops with mashed potatoes and gravy, fresh green beans, and tomatoes. Mary and Lizzie helped me prepare it.”

Johnny smacked his lips. “Smells good to me!”

As they all sat down, Leah said, “Now, children, if I should put food before you at meals that you don’t like, please tell me. It will take a while for me to know your likes and dislikes. Papa and I are happy to have you in our home, which is now your home too.”

Mary smiled at her. “We are very happy that it is, Mama. We will help around here any way we can. Just let us know what you want us to do. We are pretty hard workers, even though we are young. Our parents believed that everyone in the house who was old enough should do their part of the work. Lizzie’s only four, but she can help out in many ways.”

“Your parents were wise people, honey, and they have raised three special children,” said Will. “Well, let’s eat!”

As was usual for him, Will picked up one of the bowls and started to scoop potatoes on to his plate.

Johnny looked at Mary, then at Leah. “Aren’t we going to offer thanks to the Lord for the food?”

Embarrassed, Leah cleared her throat. “Papa Will must be so hungry, he forgot.”

Will’s face tinted. “Uh … let’s bow our heads and close our eyes.”

He waited till all had complied, then bowed his head and closed his own eyes. “We thank You for this food, God. And thank You for bringing Mary, Johnny, and Lizzie into this home. Amen.”

When Will opened his eyes, he found Mary and Johnny looking at him quizzically. “What’s wrong?”

Johnny frowned. “Papa, you’re supposed to close your prayer in Jesus’ name.”

Will’s features turned crimson. “Oh. I’m sorry. I forgot. I’ll remember next time.”

After the meal was over and the kitchen was cleaned up, they all sat down in the parlor—including Red, who was happy to have Johnny sitting on the floor with him.

Will and Leah, wanting to learn all they could about the Marston children’s background, carefully asked questions, trying not to upset them over the loss of their parents. The conversation soon led, however, to their parents and their death in the Atlantic Ocean. Mary and Johnny began to cry, and this caused Lizzie to do the same.

Will took Johnny on his lap and Leah gathered the girls to herself.

When the weeping subsided, Will kept Johnny on his lap. “Mary, Lizzie, Johnny: we’re so sorry for this terrible tragedy
happening in your lives, but let me say again that we are happy to have you in our home. We promise that we will take good care of you. And whenever you need to talk to either of us, we want you to feel free to do so. Okay?”

Mary and Johnny both nodded, and Leah kissed Lizzie on top of her head. “Children, like I said, we’ll take you into town tomorrow and buy you new clothes and shoes.”

Lizzie rose up on her knees and planted a kiss on Leah’s cheek. Then she ran her gaze back and forth between her sister, who sat on Leah’s other side, and to Johnny, who sat on Will’s lap. “Mrs. Roberts was right. God does take care of His little sparrows.”

Mary’s brow furrowed as she looked at her little sister. “What do you mean, Lizzie?”

“Papa Will an’ Mama Leah are gonna let us live here in their house. They’re gonna feed us, an’ they’re gonna buy us new clothes. God gave ’em to us.”

Mary and Johnny agreed and that made Will remember Lizzie’s comment about having little sparrows on their farm.

“Exactly what did Lizzie mean by having little sparrows?”

“Yes,” said Leah. “I’d like to know.”

Mary said, “Mrs. Roberts is the neighbor lady who took care of us when Mama and Papa went on their trip. And when the policemen came and told us that our parents had drowned in the ocean, Mrs. Roberts tried to encourage us by showing us in the Bible how God loves little sparrows and takes care of them. She showed us that Jesus said those of us who belong to Him are more valuable to Him than many sparrows.”

Leah’s eyes widened. “Really? Jesus said that?”

“Mm-hmm. If you will let me use your Bible, Mama, I’ll show you.”

Will and Leah exchanged glances.

Leah stood up, leaving the girls on the sofa. “I … ah—we … 
ah—have a Bible in one of the closets upstairs. I’ll be right back.”

After a few minutes, Leah came down the stairs, carrying a Bible and wiping dust from its cover with her hand. When she entered the parlor, she handed it to Mary. “Here you go, sweetie.”

Mary accepted the Bible, and while Leah sat down once again between her and Lizzie, she opened it to Matthew chapter 10. “Here it is. It’s Jesus speaking. ‘Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.’ ”

Leah shook her head in wonderment. “Isn’t that interesting? I sure didn’t know that was in the Bible. Did you, Will?”

“Ah … no. I sure didn’t.”

“It’s also in the book of Luke, too,” said Mary. “And when Mrs. Roberts read us both passages, our Lizzie got all excited and said, ‘Mary, Johnny, we’re God’s little sparrows!’ ”

Will gave Lizzie a tender look. “Well, sweetheart, it seems to me that you understood exactly what Jesus was saying, didn’t you?”

Lizzie smiled at him. “Uh-huh.”

Leah pulled her close once again and kissed her cheek. “Sweetheart, Papa Will and I are so glad that we have God’s little sparrows in our home!”

The Bantons asked more questions of Mary and Johnny, and as the night drew its curtain of darkness over the land, Lizzie began to yawn and rub her eyes.

Leah noted it. “Okay, little ones, I see Lizzie about to fall asleep, and her sister and brother look pretty tired too. It’s been a big, exciting day, and I think it’s bedtime for all of us.”

In Johnny’s room, he patted Red’s head, told him good night, and doused the lantern. Seconds later, the happy Irish setter
hopped up on the bed and went to sleep, folded in Johnny’s arm.

In the girl’s room, Mary helped Lizzie into her nightgown, which they had brought with them on the train, then pulled her own over her head. Using a brush provided by Leah, she stroked Lizzie’s hair and asked, “Which bed do you want?”

Standing in her bare feet, Lizzie ran her gaze to one bed, then the other. “I’ll take that one by the wall, an’ you can have the one by the window.”

“You sure you wouldn’t rather have the one by the window?”

Lizzie shook her head. “I like the one by the wall.”

“All right. That’s fine with me.”

Mary brushed her own hair, then turned down Lizzie’s covers. When she had turned her own covers down, she took hold of Lizzie’s hand, and they knelt down together at Mary’s bed. Mary led them in prayer. She thanked the Lord for the Bantons, and for giving them a home so soon.

Just as Mary finished praying, she felt Lizzie’s little body begin to tremble. “Lizzie, what’s wrong?”

Lizzie sniffed and choked on the lump in her throat. “I … I miss our real Mama an’ Papa.”

Mary hugged her. “Johnny and I miss them too. But we must make them proud of us. We have to be strong and realize that our real Mama and Papa are in heaven, and they want us to treat our new Mama and Papa right. They want us to be happy. God has given us this nice new home, with people who love us. It’ll get better as time goes on. I promise.” Mary was fighting a lump in her own throat.

When they stood up, Mary cupped Lizzie’s little round face in her hands. “Tell you what, sweetheart: how about you just sleep
with me in my bed tonight?”