From the Relief Society Magazine, 1956 –

Heart’s Bounty

By Deone R. Sutherland

Chapter 1

Annie stood by the wagon and horses saying a last goodbye to her mother and brothers and their little mountain cabin. Her father strapped her box in the back of the wagon.

“You hold up your head, Annie Griffith,” her mother said. “You don’t have to go, if you don’t want to. But a mountain’s no place for a girl to get higher education, and Brother and Sister Williams’ offer to have you taught right along with their daughter Marie, until your father’s mission is over, cutting stone for the temple, is a wonderful opportunity, and an answer to our prayers.”

“I know.” Annie lifted her eyes to the mountains where the brush was turning orange and brown through all the heavy green.

“The Griffiths owned property in the old country, and don’t you forget it, Annie. And we own property here, too. In another three or four years, when the temple’s finished, we’ll be back on our own farm, and you’ll be home again, a young lady.” Her eyes turned to her husband, who tightened a rope and felt the tautness of it. “You be careful, Mister Griffith.”

“There’s no need to be saying that,” smiled Annie’s father, as he took his wife in his arms, and then kissed each of the wriggling boys.

“Here now,” he said sternly, “you kiss your sister Annie. She’ll be all grown, with her hair up and everything, likely, before you have her home to live again.”

They grudgingly let Annie peck their cheeks.

“Fourteen now, she is,” said her mother, sighing. She smoothed Annie’s hair with her long fingers, and then turned her to the wagon. Annie climbed up on the seat.

“You’re a pretty girl, Annie,” her father said, climbing in beside her. “But don’t you go giving yourself airs, ever.”

“I won’t, Papa.” She kissed his cheek and threw kisses to her mother and the boys while a bird sang wildly overhead. Her father started the team and the grind of the wheels shut out most other sounds on the long, hard trip to Salt Lake.

The first night they slept in the back of the wagon. Annie watched the stars through the trees, while trying to feel out the homesickness she knew was couched somewhere, like not quite daring to touch a sore tooth with your tongue. Her father reached over and put his hand across her eyes. She soon went to sleep.

The next night they stopped at a friend’s house in a tiny, mud-spattered village. She and her father made their beds on the floor. She was too exhausted more than to glance at the log and sod ceiling before she fell asleep.

On the fourth day they drove into the city of Salt Lake. Annie stared at the big houses and the stores. There were so many of them! Her father had to ask directions twice about the Williams’ house.

“Is it there, Papa?” Annie stared at the big stone house with the iron fence running around the yard. “It has some kind of little tower, even, Father.”

“Some kind of foolishness, at any rate. The Williams are wonderful people for all that.”

He climbed heavily down from the wagon. Annie stepped out on the carriage block and saw a lace curtain move at one of the windows. She turned and stared at the wagon.

“I’ll take you in before I start loosening your box.”

Annie followed her father through the iron gate up the path to the house. He swung the knocker once and the door opened almost immediately.

“Is it the Griffiths?” A tall, brown-haired woman smiled at them. “I’m Mrs. Williams’ sister. She’ll be down immediately. I’ve already told her you’ve come, Brother Griffith. Annie dear, this is my niece Marie. You’re going to share Marie’s room as well as her studies. You’ll be great playmates, I’m sure. Oh, yes, I’m Aunt Agnes Foster.”

“Thank you, Sister Foster.” Mr. Griffith followed her into the parlor and sat on the only wooden chair in the room. “I’m too dusty to be sitting on satin and embroidery like that,” he said.

Annie hung back by the door.

Marie whirled around on a piano stool and tapped a key, while her yellow curls swung forward over her shoulder.

“Marie, dear,” her aunt reproved her.

“Ah, a piano.” Annie’s father’s eyes lit up. “Now, we’re a people who love music. Annie sings like a nightingale. You’ll love a rarity like that, Annie.”

Marie and Sister Foster looked at Annie. Annie felt the blood rush to her face.

Sister Williams came in the door. “Have they been teasing you already, Annie dear?” She put an arm around Annie’s shoulder.”I’m not very well.” She shook hands with Annie’s father. “I spend more time than I should having to rest.”

“I hope Annie’ll be something of a help and not too much of a bother.”

“Oh, yes, yes, we’ll love having a sister for Marie. Marie’s always lonely. Well, you can all clean up and rest before dinner. Brother Williams will be so interested in a full report – in hearing about everything. You planned to start back …?”

“In the morning.” Mr. Griffith started to the door. “I’ll bring in Annie’s box; then there’s lots I’ve to do this day. I’ve a long list of supplies to buy. I can rest enough later tonight.”

“Well, anyway, Marie can take Annie up and help her unpack and show her everything.” Sister Williams waved the girls to the stairway.

“Haven’t you ever seen a mirror before?” asked Marie. She put her head down beside Annie’s, and they stared at their reflections.

“Not one so big,” Annie plaited her hair slowly while Marie watched.

“I like curls better, though I daresay your hair is very becoming.” Marie smiled at her quickly. “You do have the loveliest eyes. Whoever heard of blue eyes with hair that black?”

“I have my mother’s eyes,” said Annie proudly. “I think your curls are just beautiful. My hair would never go like that.”

“Well, you could loosen it at the sides like this, so it could curls just a little. Isn’t that better?” Marie leaned back and looked critically at Annie.

“We’d better hurry.” Annie said. “We won’t be any help at all, if we don’t.”

“Don’t worry,” laughed Marie. “You’re still too new. They won’t make us do too much yet awhile.” but the girls hurried downstairs through the dining room, the kitchen, and the pantry. They were soon put to work.

By the time Annie finished eating dinner she could hardly keep her eyes open, though she tried to keep them fastened on her father as long as possible. It couldn’t be true that this was her last meal with him for a good many months, perhaps a year. Already the mere thought of her mother and brothers tightened her throat and brought tears stinging to her eyes. She was more exhausted than she realized from the long wagon trip.

Sister Williams stood up after a short visit in the parlor. “I really think we should get the girls to bed early tonight. Annie’s had such a long trip, she can hardly stay awake.”

Annie kissed her father good night after they had family prayers. He patted her shoulder with his rough hand and assured her he’d wake her in the morning before he started out. She was to wait to say goodbye then, and she was not to think of a thing tonight but sleep.

Marie went grumbling up the stairs with Annie, protesting that she wasn’t a bit sleepy. Annie washed and changed into her nightgown by candlelight. The feather tick enveloped her at once, and she was asleep in the warm softness before she’d even had a chance to remark on how lovely the moonlight was through their tall, narrow bedroom window.

Annie awoke with a terrible feeling of not knowing for a moment where she was. Then her father’s face came close to her ear. “Wake up, Annie, and dress. I must be off, and you may come downstairs and say goodbye. The wagon’s loaded, honey. Are you awake?”

There was no need for the question, for Annie’s eyes were like two saucers. She slid out of bed, and was into her dress in no time at all. Buttoning her shoes took forever, it seemed to Annie, because her hands had begun to tremble a little, and her fingers seemed all thumbs. Now that she was up and awake, she could hear voice downstairs. She pulled back the lace curtain at the window. Yes, her father’s wagon was loaded and ready. They were hitching the team up now. Brother Williams tightened the ropes holding the supplies on the wagon. She didn’t know the other young man helping her father. Her father was tall, but that boy seemed almost taller.

Annie had no time to comb her hair and rebraid it. She wet her fingers and pushed at the sides. She was ashamed to do that; certainly her mother would hardly be proud of that. But she had no more time, she thought desperately. They should have awakened her earlier. She could have helped load the wagon, and she would have had more time to be with her father. She ran down the stairs and tugged at the front door. Sister Williams called to her, and she had to go back for a shawl Sister Williams was holding. He’d be gone before she even got outside, she thought in anguish.

“It’s an unkindness to keep you, Annie, but I don’t want you to catch your death before you’ve been with us a day.”

Sister Williams smiled at her while Annie made her pounding heart subside. Then Sister Williams pointed to the door, and Annie flew out to her father. The horses were standing hitched to the wagon, ready to go.

“Have you had breakfast, Father?” Annie cried.

Her father turned and picked her up in his arms. “You can be sure I have,” he said kindly. “Now, no tears and no fretting. This is a kind of mission you’re going on, little girl. Here’s an opportunity for you to learn a great many things, to be a help to the Williams family. The Griffiths will be most proud to have a school mistress in the family. Your mother’s taught you all she can, and we know what a smart child you are already, and that you’ll take to your books with no trouble. Keep the things we’ve taught you fast in your head and heart, and live by your head and heart. Say your prayers and you’ll have nothing but sunshine in your days. There’s no kinder people than the Williams, my big girl.”

Annie blinked back the tears and promised her father to do her best.

Her father went back and shook Brother and Sister Williams’ hands. “Annie, Annie, I’ve forgotten all my manners. This young man who has helped me so well with the wagon is Brother Parker Josephson, who lives just next door. See, you’re getting acquainted with new friends already.”

The man greeted her, but Annie had no eyes for anyone except her father. Though her chin trembled, Annie held fast to her smile until her father had gee-upped the horses. The wagon rumbled down the street. Annie watched it until it turned off from sight.

“Oh, Papa,” she cried and moved away from Sister Williams’ arms as if to run after the vanished wagon.

Parker Josephson caught her. He wiped away the tears, talking in soothing tones about how soon her father would have to come in for supplies again. Annie stiffened in embarrassment. Parker let her go, leading her back to the Williams’ front door.

“We’re going to be the best of friends because Marie and I are good friends. I’ve dried more tears for Marie than you just shed many times. She cries at the drop of a hat, or, at least, every time she falls down or skins her nose or …”

Annie smiled a little. She couldn’t imagine dainty, perfect Marie skinning her nose.

Parker smoothed her hair. “I won’t tell a soul you forgot to comb your hair, if you march right upstairs and wash your face and comb and brush all the beautiful black hair properly.”

“I will,” Annie promised.

Sister Williams held the door open.

Marie ran out onto the porch, her hair a golden tangle. “Don’t go, Parker, stay and play with us.”

“At this time in the morning?” Parker laughed. “Got to be off to work.” He waved goodbye again to the girls.

Annie and Marie went upstairs together. “I’m sorry I didn’t wake up in time to say goodbye to your father, Annie. You should have poked me.”

“That’s all right,” Annie said. “I didn’t wake up too early myself.”

“Isn’t Parker the nicest person you’ve ever met?”Marie bounced on her bed.

“Yes, except for our families, of course.” Annie began to brush her hair.

“Well, I meant except for them.” Marie fluffed her hair. “I’m going to marry Parker when I grow up. He says I can. I don’t care how many years older he is …”

Sister Williams paused at their door. “Marie, is that a good example to set for Annie? Do your hair and start the beds, dear, and hurry downstairs. Your breakfast is late now.”

“When do we have lessons?” Annie whispered to Marie on the way down.

“You’ll see all too soon. We have to work and work and study and study. We hardly ever get to play.”

Annie decided Marie didn’t look too overworked. She would wait and judge for herself. Then she promised herself, I will be happy here. She would please her father and mother, and she would work very hard.

“Well,” said Brother Williams kindly, “Annie, you’ve a smile for us already, I see. That’s a good beginning.”

(To be continued)