by Nancy M Bell
Such thoughts had no place in this holy season. Christmas was a time of joy and family fellowship, but Easter was the more highly regarded occasion. Christ’s sacrifice and resurrection held more religious meaning than the date of His birth. Indeed, nowhere in the scriptures was the actual date of His birth recorded. But the events of Himmelfoat, the Ascension Day forty days after Easter Sunday when Christ rose from the dead, Easter Sunday itself, and Pentacost, a week after Easter, held the promise of everlasting life and a place in heaven for all those who gave their lives and hearts into God’s hands.
School was over for the holidays, the patter of the twins’ feet and the lilt of their excited voices sounded upstairs. Agnes was ironing the linen tablecloth readying it for the Christmas table. Ike and Walter were gone into St. Vital to the train station to pick up Onkel Jake and Taunte Mathilda. They weren’t travelling together, but their trains arrived within a half hour of each other. One from Ontario in the east, and the other from Alberta in the west.
Elsie looked forward to seeing her father’s brother and her mother’s sister. Pape would arrive later in the day on the 23rd. Mome, God rest her soul, lay under the snow in the family plot. In the spring and summer the wild roses of Landmark drowsed over the grave markers and scented the air with their heady perfume. She pushed back the chair and got to her feet. Rinsing her coffee cup in the sink, she climbed the stairs to be sure everything was in order and ready for Onkel Jake in the twins’ room.
Sun streamed in through the open curtains, a golden spill across the polished hardwood floor. The bed was made up with clean crisp sheets and a colourful quilt. A heavier Hudson Bay wool blanket was folded at the foot of the bed. Elsie leaned down and smoothed the pillowcase even though it was free of creases already. She straightened the braided rug by the bed and flicked a bit of imaginary dust from the bedside table. The door of the armoire was ajar. Elsie crossed the short distance and peeked inside. Agnes had cleared a space for Onkel Jake to hang his things. Elsie closed the door with a soft snick. Inspecting the tall dresser revealed the top drawer was also empty ready for their guest. Susan would have done the same at her home, in readiness for Taunte Mathilda’s visit. She had planned to have Pape stay at Helena and John’s, but he wouldn’t hear of it after Ruth’s departure in disgrace. Instead, Sarah and Arnold were putting him up. They had more than enough room in their house. Sarah hadn’t conceived since the last miscarriage. Perhaps having her grosspape visiting her would help pull her out of the deep depression she seemed unable to rid herself of.
The crunch of tires on packed snow drew her to the window, Ike had borrowed a car as it was too cold for the buggy. Pushing back the curtain a bit Elsie watched the car coming to a halt by the front steps, letting the curtain drop back into place, Elsie hurried downstairs.
“Agnes, they’re here!” she called reaching the bottom and stepping onto the hall floor.
“Who’s here?” Doris and Willy appeared at the top of the stairs, high pitched voices raised in unison.
“Your Grootonkel Jake and Groottaunte Mathilda are here with Grosspape. Wash your hands and face and then come down to say hello.” Agnes appeared tucking a stray strand of hair back into place and smoothing her long apron down over her dress. “Am I presentable?” she asked her mother.
“You’ll do” Elsie smiled at her eldest daughter. “I’ve got fresh coffee on the stove and a light lunch prepared. Where’s Anna?”
“Reading probably.” Agnes gave an amused sigh. “She gets caught up in a book and forgets about everything else.”
“Anna!” Elsie called up the stairs. “Come down, please. Company’s here.”
“Coming, Oma.” A faint voice came from upstairs, followed by feet hitting the floor and a door opening and closing.
The clump of boots on the porch heralded the arrival of the guests. A blast of cold air swept through the open door. Taunte Mathilda’s small figure preceded the taller one of Onkel Jake. They crowded into the front hall to let Ike and Walter come in laden with their luggage. Elsie and Agnes hurried forward to take the coats and wraps and hang them up.
“Come in, come in.” Elsie ushered Jake and Mathilda into the living room. She hugged the birdlike woman in welcome and was rewarded with a brilliant smile. “Please sit down. Here Taunte Mathilda, take the chair by the fire.”
The elderly woman perched on the edge of the chair and held her hands out to the warmth.
Jake gave Elsie and Agnes a peck on the cheek before taking the chair on the other side of the fireplace. “It’s good to be here. Travelling in this weather is hard on my old bones.”
“Would you like some coffee?” Agnes offered from the kitchen door.
“That would be lovely, dear,” Taunte Mathilda replied. “It’s so nice to see you all.”
“Coffee would hit the spot,” Onkel Jake agreed.
“We have a light lunch prepared too. Susan and Martin should be here soon with their children. Sadie will be especially glad to see you. She’s so excited about Corny coming home for Christmas, and can’t wait for you to meet him.”
“Where’s the boy been?” Onkel Jake leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees, hands clasped and hanging between his knees.
“There’s not much work hereabouts in the winter. The lad’s been in Dryden working in the pulp camps,” Ike explained.
“Oh my, that sounds like hard work to be doing in the winter,” Taunte Mathilda declared.
“Makes a man out of a boy, I’ll say that,” Ike agreed. “Felling trees with an axe, skidding them out with horses, it’s hard work all right.”
“Hilda Hildebrand worries over him, that’s a fact,” Agnes chimed in. “Frostbite is the least of her worries, she’s terrified he’s going to lose a hand or a foot to one of those big axes.”
“Hello!” Susan and Martin, along with their children, crowded into the front hall in a swirl of snowflakes and wintry air.
Elsie went to welcome them and take their wraps. “Come in. Onkel Jake and Taunte Mathilda are in the living room.”
Greetings were exchanged among the adults before the children were introduced to their relatives.
“Doris, Frank, come meet your Grootonkel Jake and Groottaunte Mathilda.” Susan ushered her two youngest offspring forward. Solemnly, Frank shook hands with Jake and gave a little bow to Mathilda. Doris dimpled and smiled shyly at the strangers. “You know Sadie, of course.”
“Hello, it’s so nice to see you both again.” Sadie smiled at her elder relatives. “Corny will be here this afternoon. His train doesn’t get in until three o’clock. I can’t wait for you to meet him.”
“I’m sure he’s a very nice young man, Sadie. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have agreed to marry him. Besides I knew his grossmama, a lovely woman, so I’d not expect anything else from her grandson.”
Elsie and Agnes repaired to the kitchen to bring the lunch into the dining room. A warm glow of pleasure filled Elsie’s heart with joy. The knowledge that Helena and John, and the boys and their wives would be joining them later in the afternoon only added to the happiness. Having her family all together was always a source of pride and joy. Such beautiful children she and Ike had produced, and the lovely grandchildren as well. Now if only Sarah and Arnold would walk through the door, her world would be complete. It was Christmas, surely Sarah would find a way to sweep back the veil of depression she struggled under and join the family in celebration. Arnold was dealing with the whole situation well, she thought. No doubt he was also sad no babies had come of their union, and it seemed likely that wouldn’t change in the future.
“There, I think that’s everything,” Agnes declared standing back to survey the table.
Elsie shook herself out of her thoughts. “The table looks very festive,” she agreed mentally checking the exact placement of silverware and napkins. No fingerprints on the glassware or utensils. Places were set for the children with appropriate sized settings.
She moved to the living room door to cal
l the family to the table. Sadie’s voice stopped her cold in her tracks. Elsie only caught the end of the sentence.
“…Corny’s family is planning to emigrate to Paraguay, but I haven’t had a chance to ask him if he plans to go too,” Sadie said.
Not today. Today is for family and joy. You can talk to Sadie about the reality of life in Paraguay later. And perhaps her young man won’t want to emigrate. Hold that happy thought. Putting a smile on her face she stepped into the room. “Lunch is ready if you’d like to come through to the dining room.”
Onkel Jake used the arms of the chair to push himself upright, and then gallantly offered Mathilda a hand up. It took a few minutes of organized chaos to get everyone settled at the table. Agnes and Susan served their little ones. Anna sat with her parents and was very solemn in appreciation of her inclusion with the grownups. Honestly, sometimes Elsie thought the girl was older than her years. They bowed their heads and folded their hands while Ike said the prayer of thanks for the food.
The phone rang partway through lunch. Elsie hurried to answer it in case it was Pape calling.
“Hello?”
“Hi, it’s Arnold. I just wanted to let you know Sarah and I will be along a bit later. She’s resting right now, but said she’s looking forward to seeing Taunte Mathilda and Onkel Jake and her grosspape.”
“Oh, I’m so glad to hear that, Arnold. It will be so nice to have the whole family together under the same roof. Please come whenever it suits you. Corny’s train gets in at three and Ike is driving Sadie up to St. Vital to meet it. Pape will be here later today, too.”
“Right, we’ll see you later then. I’ll tell Sarah her Opa will be there tonight.”
Elsie hung up and went to share the news with the rest of the family at the table.
* * *
“Pape! It’s so good to see you. Merry Christmas.” Elsie went to the front hall when the door opened, accompanied by a waft of cold air. She looked around him while taking his coat to see the rear end of a car turning around in the yard. “Your friend didn’t want to come in?”
“No, no. They have business in Winnipeg and just offered me a ride as it was on their way. It is nice to see you as well, Elsie.” William Friesen gave his daughter a hug of welcome.
“I see. Well, come along into the dining room. Onkel Jake and Taunte Mathilda are here already. We’re just finishing lunch, we didn’t expect you until a bit later. Come sit down, there’s plenty.” Elsie ushered her father into the room and quickly set a place for him at the table beside his brother and sister.
When the light meal had satisfied everyone’s hunger, Elsie and Agnes cleared up the dishes with help from Anna. They were just finishing the dishes when Arnold and Sarah arrived. Drying her hands on a tea towel before going to greet them, Elsie folded the cloth and placed it on the drying rack. She paused to smooth her hair and a run a hand over her skirt. Please let Sarah be happy, she prayed.
“Sarah, Arnold, how wonderful you could come. Merry Christmas!” She enfolded her daughter in her arms, alarmed at the sharpness of the bones beneath the material of her coat. “Come along, there’s sweets and coffee in the living room. Have you eaten? I have plenty of leftovers from lunch if you’d like?” She gave Arnold a worried glance over Sarah’s shoulder.
“I’m fine, Mome. I don’t seem to have any appetite lately. Arnold might like something, though.” Sarah slipped from her outer wear and let her mother take it from her. She hesitated as if not sure what to do next.
The lost expression on her thin face tore at Elsie’s heart. She took the coat Arnold handed her and hung both garments on the hall coat tree. Sarah looked to her husband and moved toward the living room when he guided her with a hand on the small of her back. Goodness, the girl looks frail. Surely, it can’t all be from the malaria and losing the babies, can it? She contemplated whether it would be better for Ike to speak to Arnold about the situation, or if she should. Elsie followed them down the hall to the living room.
“Would you like some lunch, Arnold?”
“No thanks, Mome. I ate a little something before we came over.” He put a protective arm around his wife’s shoulder.
“Some coffee then? And help yourself to the sweets.” Elsie busied herself getting the newcomers cups of coffee and refreshing those of her other guests. The conversation flowed around her, merriment and the joy of having her family together producing a happy glow in her heart. Finished with her hostess duties, Elsie took the chair beside Taunte Mathilda and was soon engaged in conversation catching up with everything the older woman had been occupied with since they last spoke. Pape was chatting happily with Ike and Walter, while Arnold and Onkel Jake appeared to be enjoying each other’s company. Sarah got up to take her cup and saucer into the kitchen and Agnes followed on her heels. Elsie followed them with her eyes, but refrained from joining them. Perhaps Sarah would speak with her older sister about things she didn’t feel she could share with her mother. Though she itched to be with them, she forced herself to focus on Taunte Mathilda’s story of her quilting group and the new project they were working on.
* * *
Agnes came into the kitchen with the last of the coffee cups from the living room. The quiet hum of conversation drifted in with her. She placed the china on the counter and picked up a tea towel to begin drying the items already washed and on the draining board.
Elsie stifled her curiosity and continued with the remaining plates in the soapy water. She shot her eldest daughter a sidelong glance and willed her to share whatever it was that Sarah and her had discussed earlier.
Agnes wiped an invisible spot from a saucer and set it on the table. Returning to the sideboard on the counter she paused before selecting another item to dry and met her mother’s anxious gaze. “You’re not going to like what I have to say.” The words came out in a small sigh.
“Whatever it is, please just tell me.” Elsie’s busy hands stilled in the dish water, the task momentarily forgotten.
“Sarah wants Arnold to agree to move to Mexico.” Agnes held up her hand to forestall the protest Elsie was about to make. “I tried to talk her out of it, but I don’t know how much success I had.”
Elsie pressed a hand to her chest as if that could quell her racing heart. “Why on earth would she want to do this? How can she possibly think it would be a good idea?”
“She’s terribly depressed and upset over not being able to give Arnold the family he wants. Says there are too many sad memories here for her.”
“But her family is here! Surely, you told her what it was like in Paraguay? You were old enough to remember some of it and why your father and I decided to come back to Canada.”
Agnes nodded. “I did, and I tried to make her see that changing where she lived wouldn’t get rid of her troubles.” She shook her head. “Sarah wouldn’t hear any of it. You know Mary, the girl she was friends with at school, moved down there with her family and they keep in touch. I think that’s where she got the idea in the first place.”
“Did she say what Arnold thinks of the notion?” Elsie resumed washing the dishes, needing to keep her hands busy in an effort to marshal her thoughts.
“She says he agrees it might be a good thing, but I’m not sure he’s sold on the idea. He’s desperate to do anything to make her happy again though, so he might just go along with it for her sake. Maybe Pape can talk to him? See if he can find out what Arnold really thinks.”
Elsie nodded. “I’ll mention it to him later. He won’t be happy about them thinking of moving away.”
“Neither am I, but Sarah seemed pretty set on the idea. She believes it’s what God wants her to do. It’s almost like she thinks if she goes to Colonia Manitoba, near someplace called Chihuahua, she’ll be able to give Arnold the family he wants so badly and her malaria won’t be a bother. She went on about that quite a bit.”
“I suppose there’s nothing to be done about it tonight and it’s Christmastime. Let’s not say anything to anyone, except yo
ur father and Walter, for the time being. I don’t want to spoil the happy mood with talk of family leaving us. Bad enough that Corny’s family is wanting to go to Paraguay. I do hope he doesn’t decide that’s a good idea.” Elsie set the last clean dish on the draining board and dried her hands on a towel.
Agnes wiped the moisture from the china and put everything back in its place while Elsie drained the sink and tidied the kitchen. The two women linked arms companionably and returned to the living room where the lively conversation soon let her push the worries to the back of her mind.
Ike’s chair was empty and Sadie was absent too. Elsie glanced at the small Kroeger clock on the mantel piece. It was family heirloom, brought from Russia with the first settlers. Ike and Sadie must have left to pick up Corny from the train at St Vital. Please don’t let him mention Paraguay today. I don’t want to think about any of my family moving far away right now.
* * *
Early twilight fell before the crunch of tires on the hard packed snow of the driveway announced the return from the train station. Agnes got up and went to put the coffee pot on again, while Elsie moved to the entranceway to greet her future son-in-law.
“Hello, Mrs. Neufeld. Happy Christmas.” Cornelius, Corny for short, Hildebrand gave her a brief hug, the cold of the December night sending shivers over her where his hands touched.
“Welcome, and happy Christmas to you as well. Please, let me take your coat.” She held out her hand.
Sadie hung her coat and scarf on the hall tree and then did the same for her father. The diamond on her left hand flashed in the light from the lamp. She took her fiancé’s arm and drew him toward the living room.
