Chapter 1- I always was one to stick up for my siblings. No matter what was said or done I was there for them. I remember one of those rare days we had at school when we had recess one of our classmates, John Franklin, who is a year older than me, was picking on Rachel. I overheard him telling her,

“I don’t understand why you want to stay with the Galliker’s. They don’t even want you.” I had jumped up from my spot on the grass I was sitting at with some of the other girls and walked over to him. It was a hot day and the second I stepped into the sun, I was instantly hot. The small patch of shade I was under with the other girls was welcoming even on that hot afternoon. Once over at where John was with Rachel and whomever was near enough to hear what was going on, I put my hand on his shoulder and made him turn around to face me. I wanted to punch him in his big dumb freckled face. I put my hands on my hips and snapped,

“What did you just say to Rachel?!”

“I told her your family doesn’t want her.”

“You have no right telling her that! We do want her and always will. Boy, you better shut up or I will make you.”

“What will you do?” With that, I dove into him and started punching him. I was not going to allow anyone to talk like that to anyone in my family. Or anyone for that matter. The other children stood around us in a circle and started yelling ‘fight! fight!’

I knew I would be in trouble for fighting a boy. Or for fighting in general and I hoped Daddy and the others would see why I did. At one point, William had come out of the one room schoolhouse with Ms. Lane. They quickly came over to the shouting to see what was going on. Once they came over and found me fighting John, they slipped inside the circle and Ms. Lane grabbed me by my arm while William grabbed John. Ms. Lane asked in a fierce tone that I don’t ever recall hearing her speak in,

“Emily Rose! Johnathon! Enough of this nonsense. What in the world is going on?!” John didn’t speak. So I had to. I started to cry when I said,

“He was talking mean to Rachel and I wasn’t going to stand around and let him. I’m sorry Ms. Lane.” I wiped my arm across my face. When I did that, my face got much dirtier from the dirt and tears.

“What did he say?”

“He told Rachel that we didn’t want her and he didn’t know why she wanted to stay with us. I told him that was a lie and that she is wanted by us. She will always have a home with us!” I shouted at John.

“You two will have to stay behind after school today. I want to talk to you both alone. Until then, you children better get back inside and seated.” With that, we were let go and I walked inside with my head hanging. Once inside the one room school house and at my desk, I silently slid into my spot and waited for everyone to sit down and get quiet. 

Time went by quicker than I thought it would. I was worried about what Ms. Lane would tell us. I hope she didn’t tell us that she would call our families later. I was thankful that John sat a few seats behind me. Once school was finally dismissed and the children ran outside, John and I stayed in our seats. Silently. 

When Ms. Lane saw the last of the children out and closed the doors behind her, she went back to her desk and sat down. She cleared her throat and said,

“Will you two please come up to my desk please.” With that, we did as we were told. I couldn’t look her in the face so I looked down at the ground. I started to dig my toes at a spot on the wood floor. She went into saying,

“John, first of all you have absolutely no right speaking to Rachel, or anyone for that matter, like you did today. Ever! So I don’t blame Emily wanting to fight you. And you young lady. That didn’t give you the right to fight him. The next time you hear something you come and get me straight away. I will deal with whatever was said. Deal?” Shaking our heads in agreement, she went on, “I just want to say how ashamed I am with the two of you fighting on school grounds. Not that fighting anywhere else is any better. But I hope you both learned something from this. Just so you both know, I will be stopping by sometime this evening after dinner to speak to both of your parents.”

“Please don’t. I will tell mine.” I begged. I knew John didn’t want Ms. Lane to speak with his parents either. Most children wouldn’t I guess.

“It doesn’t matter, Emily Rose. You made a mistake by fighting. You both have. But I am more ashamed that you chose to fight, being a girl. And as for you John, I am ashamed of you for ever wanting to fight a girl, I thought you are better than that. Like I said, you had no right to ever say what you did to Rachel. You know the Gallier family wanted Rachel to stay with them after what happened with her family. You wouldn’t want an older boy to say what you did to Rachel if you didn’t have a mama or a daddy. Would you? From this point on, I do not ever want to hear or see either one of you fighting each other or anyone else for that matter. Do you understand me?”

“Yes ma’am.” We replied together. 

“You be thankful I don’t make you both stand in the corner until I was done.” I was thankful because she could be there up to an hour afterwards to clean and do what she needed to help out the next day.There she dismissed us. When we grabbed our books and lunch pails from our desks we silently walked outside. There we were greeted with our siblings. William said, 

“Come on now. We have chores to do before dinner.” I lagged behind the others. I was glad that John and his sisters turned the opposite direction than us. At one point, Rachel stopped and waited for me to reach her. She reaches up and takes my hand. She said in a soft voice,

“I’m sorry you got into trouble because of me. I could have handled it on my own.”

“Rach, that isn’t the point. As long as I am around, I will not allow anyone to talk bad about you or any of the others. If it was William they were picking on, I would have done the same for him. Or even if it were John, I would step in.”

“I’m sorry. I hope Mama and Daddy won’t be too hard on you. I will try and see if Ms. Lane will allow me to stay as well when they talk to you.” With that, we stayed quiet the rest of the walk home. She has started calling both parents ‘Mama and Daddy’ within a few months of staying with us. I think they were worried because they didn’t want her to actually forget her real parents. 

When we walked around the bend and onto our land, Rachel reached over and took my books and lunch pail. I said,

“I am going to start my chores if anyone asks.”

“Okay.” I walked off to the chicken coop and started gathering the eggs. Rachel stood there a few seconds watching me before going inside.

Mama and Grandma looked at me in surprise when they saw me walk inside and over to the sink. After I washed my hands I dried them before grabbing bowls from the cupboard. Walking them over to the table, I sat them down. I needed to grab a rag to wipe the table down first. Although it didn’t look like it needed it, I still would wipe it down quickly. As I worked,Grandma leaned over to Mama and whispered,

“Is everything okay with Emily? It isn’t like her to help with meals. Not willingly that is.”

“I don’t know Grandma. Maybe we will find out later.” They both went back into finishing up the last bits of dinner. Mama went through the mud room and hollered out the door,

“Dinner time. Come in and get washed up.” Slowly everyone came in and washed up. All in silence and without fussing about who was next in line. Once they dried their hands, they climbed into their seats around the table. Daddy said,

“Ma, can you pray please?”

“Dear God. I pray this food is nutritious to us all and bless the hands who prepared it and bless the hands who helped care for the ingredients. I also pray we have a good evening. I wish it would rain soon because we could use it. Amen.” We all said ‘amen’. I silently sat there and picked at my food while everyone talked and ate their food. I whispered as I asked Daddy,

“May I be excused?”

“Aren’t you going to at least eat first?”

“I’m not hungry.” Mama got up and walked over to me. There she reached from behind me and placed her hand on my forehead. She gave me permission to go to my room. I got up and looked down to the ground as a tear ran down my cheek. Daddy seen it and waited until I went up to ask the other children,

“Is there something we are missing out on that happened at school or on the way home?” None of the children said anything at first. Daddy asked more firmly as he snapped the bottom of his fist on the table which made everyone jump.

“When I ask any questions, I want answers. Now, what happened today with Emily?” Rachel jumped up from her spot at the table crying and ran outside. From there, William said,

“There was a fight at school today. It isn’t in my place to say anything else about it, only because Ms. Lane asked us not to say anything. She told me to say that she would be calling sometime this evening.”

“Oh good Lord. I hope it isn’t anything too crazy. That is the last thing we need right now is having one of the girls get into a fight.” Grandma said.

“Ma we don’t know if she was in a fight yet. You children finish up your dinner and go outside to find something to do until after Miss Lane comes and leaves again.” Everyone finished their food in silence. Even Nellie felt something was off because she is usually very bubbly and tonight she ate her food in silence. Once they were finished they placed their plates in the sink and went outside. George grabbed the checker game and took it out to the front porch. They would take turns playing against each other until they were allowed to come back inside to do their homework. We usually start on our homework after dinner. But since the adults didn’t tell them to start on it right away, they quickly went out before they changed their minds. While Grandma and Mama cleaned up the table and started on the dishes, Daddy hollered up the steps,

“Emily Rose Galliker! Come down here please.” I got up from my bed and slowly went downstairs. When I made myself to the kitchen, I sat down in my spot I usually sit in. Once sitting, Daddy asked,

“Okay, young lady. What happened at school today?” I broke down and told the adults what happened. That’s when there was a knock from the front door. Getting up from his spot, Daddy walked over and opened it up. It was Miss Lane. After showing her inside and shutting the front door again, he asked,

“Would you like some coffee?”

“Yes please.” He motioned towards the table. They walked over to the table and sat down. As she waited for Mama to pour the coffee, Ms. Lane asked,

“I take it you just found out?”

“Yes. Yes we did.” Daddy said as he sat back down and Mama worked on grabbing a cup for coffee.

“I can tell you what I think should be done with them.” Grandma asked.

“What do you mean?” Mama asked.

“Well, I think she should stay home from school for a day. Along with a switch to her behind. In fact, she would have already had a switch to her bottom and sent right to bed without dinner if she was my child. All the while reading the Bible until bed. They both wouldn’t go to school. Emily and Jonathon.”

“Ma, we can’t just not send them to school. I mean, we have a say of what happens to Emily Rose, but as far as Jonathon goes, we can’t say what happens to him. They need their education. As far as I can tell you about Emily, nothing like this will never happen again. Will it, young lady? And if it does, you go right inside to Ms. Lane and tell her so she can take charge of it.” Placing his face in his hands, Daddy took a deep breath and went on, “As much as I hate to say it, and the more I am thinking of it, Ma, you are right. Emily will stay home tomorrow and stay in her room aside from doing her chores. You are to stay there all evening tonight when we are done here and again once the others are home from school tomorrow. Do you understand? The only time you are to leave your room is to use the restroom, come down here to eat and do your chores thoroughly and quickly. You will also work on the other children’s chores as well.” Swallowing the lump in my throat, I shook my head. I got up from my spot, whispered my apologies and quietly went back to my room. Grandpa said,

“Clyde. I think you are being a bit too hard on the girl.”

“Pa. This is my responsibility. I thought I taught these kids better than this. Not that I have to worry about the boys being boys and wanting to fight, now I have to worry about my girls fighting..”

“I can send any homework home with one of the other children for her so she doesn’t lose a day. I understand you don’t want any of your children missing out on their schooling, but I respect your parenting. In fact, Jonathon’s  parents are not sending him to school either. He will be spending time in his room and helping around the home with his chores. I am so sorry this happened.”

“No, it isn’t your fault Ms. Lane. We all ask enough of you to teach our children. We understand that you can’t always be with them at every moment during school hours. Thank you for coming out and talking with us.” After talking for a few minutes more, she got up and shook hands with Mama, Grandma and Grandpa. Daddy walked her out to the porch and waved her on as she started off to her home. Daddy walked out to the porch where the children were and said,

“Okay children. No one talks or does anything with Emily this evening or before and after school tomorrow. She is being punished. Why don’t you go see if there is anything you can do to help clean up dinner things and then get a move on with your homework.” They didn’t say a word as they got up and walked inside. Mama and Grandma told them they didn’t need help. With that, they gathered their books and sat around the living-room and started on their homework. All in silence. Once they were done, they sat around the porch and read some. I had all of my homework done within an hour of being upstairs. 

Once I was done, it was just getting dark. I slipped off my overalls and shirt and into my nightgown. I was sitting in the middle of my bed when Betty, Nellie and Rachel came in to change into their nightgowns as well. I made sure not to look at them and pretended to pick at a spot on my quilt. Nellie went over to her bed and grabbed her rag doll and stood there for a second before gingerly slipping it onto my lap. A tear ran down my cheek as I quickly looked away. She climbed into her bed and under her quilt. Both Rachel and Nellie were out within 10 minutes or so. When I knew she’d be sleeping well, I slipped her ragdoll under the blankets with her again.

It has been dark and was for quite some time when Betty and I were laying in bed knowing the other was awake with thoughts bumping around in our minds, when we heard a soft tap at the bedroom door. Slipping out of bed, Betty goes over and opens it up. There she was greeted by Grandpa. He had a plate in one hand and a candle in the other going ‘shhhh’ quietly. Betty opens the door enough to allow him to come in. The plate had some sliced turkey and a thick slice of buttered bread. He tells Betty,

“Honey, I placed a cup of milk in the hall, can you get it for me please?” He sat down on my bed, still holding the plate. Once she came in and shut the door, she handed the cup to Grandpa. From there, he tells us in a whisper,

“I know we are not allowed to talk to you Emily, but I know no one brought you any dinner and I was not going to allow you to go to bed on an empty stomach. Especially knowing you hadn’t eaten since this morning before school. So I waited for everyone to go fall asleep before I got this for you. Sorry it couldn’t be more.”

There he handed me the plate and cup with a small smile. I quickly finished everything on my plate. I washed it down with the milk. Once I was done, he reached over and gave me a hug and a small kiss on the cheek. I whispered ‘thank you’ when he got up from the bed and out the door. Betty smiled small to me and I smiled back. I climbed back under my quilt and laid there while Betty took the candle over to her bed and placed it on her small table between her and Rachel’s beds. Once back in her bed and under the quilt, she blew it out. 

I don’t remember what time it was when I had fallen to sleep, but when I did, I fell asleep with a smile on my face.

Come morning, when I heard the cow mooing, I opened my eyes. Quickly clearing my eyes, I sat up and climbed out of bed. I silently slipped off to the bathroom before the others. Between Betty and I, we usually were the only two up most mornings before the other children. They were awake, but it took them an extra minute to actually get out of bed.

Once back in the room, I helped Nellie out of bed and grabbing her dress from the end of her bed, I said,

“Let’s get you dressed. I’ll comb your hair and then you can head downstairs with Rachel and Betty.”

“We aren’t allowed to talk to you today. Daddy was really mad last night.”

“I know. Let’s pretend we didn’t talk this morning okay? Any of us.” I said quietly. I looked at Betty. She knew what I meant. They nodded in agreement.

“Okay.” They all whispered. They finished getting ready before going out.

I grabbed my shirt and cover alls and slid into them. I quietly went down-stairs before slipping out through the mud room and grabbed a basket. I had passed Grandma and Grandpa on the way out to the chicken coop and they gave me a small smile. I didn’t smile back because it would be hard to know exactly where Daddy was. It was rare that he would be seen before breakfast, then he would start on his work for the day. I didn’t want to get into any more trouble by smiling at Grandma and Grandpa. 

After I had the eggs gathered, I took them inside and placed them in the basket we kept inside for the eggs. I walked out to the mud room to place the basket back into its spot. Rachel and Betty were getting the table set up for breakfast. I had grabbed the milk pitcher from the ice box to start filling up cups. Once Mama had finished the hot cakes and scrambled eggs, she told Rachel to go call everyone for breakfast. Grandma had finished slicing the bread and placing it on the plate, she walked it to the table.     Everyone came inside and started to wash their hands and find their spots at the table. Once everyone was sitting and had their food on their plates, Daddy said,

“Listen up you all, Emily won’t be going to school with you children today. As you all know, Ms. Lane came by last night. She told us what happened yesterday at school and she agrees that Jonathon and Emily shouldn’t go to school today. She said she will give all or if any at all homework to one of you to bring home from school to give to her. Also, you are not allowed to talk to her before leaving for school and afterwards. She will have all of her choirs and whatever else I decide for her to do before you get home done. From there, she will spend the evening in her room reading the Bible and whatever else she seems fit to do with her time. Everyone can come straight home and start on their homework at the table before dinner. Is that understood?” All the children shook their heads yes and replied with, 

“Yes sir.” I was sad that I would be missing out on a day at school, but I had it coming to me. I had to make myself eat. I didn’t put much on my plate. The last swallow of eggs went down with the lump in my throat. When us children were done with our food, we got up to take our dirty things to the sink when Daddy said before any of us got away from the table,

“Leave your things children. Emily will get them. This morning, she will do the dishes. Mama and Grandma could use a break from doing them. Besides, I am sure they could find about a thousand other things to do.” He looked at them and raised his eyebrows at them. George said, 

“But we always put our dirty things in the sink.”

“Not today you aren’t. Now go get yourself ready for school or you will be late.” The children all gave me a look that had sorry written all over them. I felt the heat rise. As I hung my head, they quickly placed their things back onto the table. They walked off to their bedrooms to gather their school books. Once they were downstairs again, Mama had their lunch pails ready for them to grab. All the while I was cleaning off the table. Daddy and Grandpa went out to the mill to start their day. Mama and Grandma went out to start working on some of the laundry that needed washing. 

The day went by fast when I heard the other children coming home from school. I was just finishing up the sweeping on the front porch when I heard them up the dirt road some. I quickly finished the step, I slipped inside the mud room to put the broom back in its spot when I was greeted by Grandma. She was wearing a simple blue dress that had an apron over it and her only pair of shoes. She whispered,

“Child, I want to say I am sorry for what I did last night. I didn’t mean it. I wanted to tell you sooner but I couldn’t get a second alone with you. I want you to wait here until the children come in to say hi to you. Besides, you need to get your homework from them.” 

“Yes ma’am.” I got out when a tear ran down my cheek. She takes a few steps between us and gives me a quick hug before wiping the tears from my face. Grandma was mean when she needed to be but she was super sweet otherwise. When the children came in, Grandma said quickly and ever so quietly,

“Look children, why don’t you all give Emily a hug and say hi before your Daddy finds out? Also, is there any homework for her?” They gladly came over and each gave me the biggest hug they could give. William said,

“Ms. Lane didn’t give anyone homework this weekend. But she did say we could read some in a book of our own. Or read a book together if we wanted.”

“Oh well that is good then. Why don’t any of you girls go up to your room early tonight? I am sure it’ll help Emily feel like she isn’t too lonely. Just tell your daddy you have to read. Since that is what Ms. Lane told you to do.”

“I’ll do it.” Betty said. She gave me a smile. We heard Daddy and Grandpa coming up to the door and Grandma quickly said,

“Emily run upstairs before your daddy comes in. You other children take your books to your rooms and change. Quick now.” I had slipped upstairs before she had finished her sentence. To make things seem like they usually are when they first come in, they started acting silly. With Grandma all the while hollering up at them to stop. Mama gave her a smile as she continued on with the ironing. Nellie was happy to see the other children home from school since she wasn’t allowed to be with me. 

Once they had gotten changed, they went back downstairs. Once downstairs, Daddy and Grandpa were standing at the sink drinking some water from the tap. Daddy asked,

“Any homework for the weekend children?” 

“Nothing serious today. Ms. Lane just told us that we could read a story together or read from a book alone. She told us to pick a book we haven’t read before because she is going to ask us questions about it. She has read so many books in her time.” Thomas said. 

“Rachel and Betty, was your sister in her room reading the Bible?”

“Yes sir.” Betty said. 

“Children, I know you help with the choirs after school, but I know Emily had done most of them before you got home. The only thing that needs to be done yet is the evening feedings and milking. So until dinner, why don’t you all take Nellie outside and play with her. It’ll mean the world to your mama.” Betty went over to Nellie and picked her up. They all went out as Nellie said,

“I wish Emily could come out with us. We always have fun with her don’t we?”

“Yes we do. But she is being punished and will be able to come out of her room tomorrow. Which means if we all get our things done quickly tomorrow, the more time we get to play with her, right?”

“Yes.” Nellie replied back with a giggle. Once they were out of ear shot, Mama, Grandma and Grandpa all gave Daddy a look. He put his hands up in defense and asked,

“What?”

“Why don’t you leave the child off early Clyde? She has been punished long enough and has been so helpful today with doing her chores and did all of the other chores for the children. And all without complaining.” Grandma said.

“Why? Weren’t you just telling me last night what to do with her? Besides, if I left her off early, she will just think she can get away with this bad behavior again?”

“No. I am saying, you go up to her room and tell her she is to read the Bible until dinner and then once dinner is served and things are cleaned up, she may stay down and be with the other children? To listen to the story. Besides, she will need to know what story is being read for her homework. I think she learned her lesson last night when her school teacher came by. Let her out after dinner is all I am saying. And I know that I was a bit hard on her, and I feel horrible for it. I will apologize to her like I do all the children if I holler at them. But we have to at least think about why she did what she did. No matter how old that child gets she will always fight for her brothers and sisters. I don’t want to change that about her, no matter how much I hate a girl fighting in the first place.” Even though she already apologized I think she said that so Daddy didn’t get me in more trouble.

“Fine Ma. If it gets everyone off my back I will tell her.” 

I was sitting at the only desk in the shared bedroom with the Bible open. I wasn’t exactly sure where I was to be reading from, so I read the Bible story on Daniel and the lions den. Knocking on the door, Daddy came in and shut the door again. Standing at the end of my bed, he told me what the adults talked about in the kitchen. I tried not to show my excitement. 

Once he left, I smiled big. I made sure I read several short stories so if they asked which ones I read I would tell them.  Not that they asked because when we were bad and had to read the Bible, they believed us 100% that we actually read it and not something else. I was so happy when I finally heard one of the boys hollering up the steps. Jumping up from  my spot at my desk, I ran downstairs and found my spot at the table. Once seated, the prayer was said before diving into we dove into our food on our plates.