THE OLD BARN (Part One) (standard:other, 2018 words) [1/4] show all parts
Author: Kenneth Nash	Updated: Mar 19 2006	Views/Reads: 3678/2023	Part vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
If the old abandoned barn could talk it would tell of the happiness, hardships, and hearbreak of the four generations of families living there from early 1840-to mid 1900.

Click here to read the first 75 lines of the story


But most of the time they would talk about the “baby”. Jeremiah had
always said he wanted a son to carry on the McCauley name. But, now he 
just prayed for a healthy baby. 

It was in January when the blizzard came. Folks were calling it the
worst they had seen in years. Sarah had helped her husband get the 
livestock to shelter before nightfall, it seemed she was wearier than 
usual as she got ready for bed after washing the supper dishes. 

Jeremiah had no trouble sleeping. Sarah hated to wake him. he worked so
hard that day. She felt the pangs of the labor pains. “I can wait 
awhile before I wake him,” she thought. “Maybe the pains will ease up” 
As she tried to decide what to do, another pain, much more intense than 
before, made her gasp for breath. She had to wake up Jeremiah; he had 
to try to get Mrs. Claremore. It would be hard in this blizzard. She 
was afraid for him, herself and this baby that would surely be here 
before morning. 

Jeremiah hitched up the team to the buckboard and started to the
Claremore place. In spite of the blinding snow he made it to the small 
farmhouse and woke up the neighbors. Mrs. Claremore didn't seem 
surprised at all. “I told Cletus just this morning”, she said, “I saw 
Sarah McCauley in Berry's general store, and that young ‘un ain't gonna 
be long a comin'!” 

He waited in the small kitchen, walking the floor, and listened to the
agonizing sounds of childbirth as his first son, Matthew, was being 
born. 

When Mrs. Claremore stepped into the kitchen to let him know that he had
a healthy baby boy, and he could see his wife and son, tears of joy 
welled up in his eyes as relief flooded over him. 

Sarah was exhausted, her hair damp with sweat, but he had never seen her
look so beautiful. 

Matthew seemed to grow so fast. Jeremiah made him a high chair and a
little rocking horse. Everyone said he favored his daddy a lot. As he 
got older he loved the trips into town with his ma and pa as they 
bought flour, sugar, salt, and occasionally, coffee. There was even 
enough money left over for a piece of candy sometimes. 

Hickory Ridge had a “ general store” that, also, served as the post
office, a blacksmith shop, saloon, school, one church, and the 
sheriff's office consisting of a small room for the office, and a back 
room to hold prisoners temporarily. Prisoners that were awaiting trial 
had to be transported to Bluff City some 20 miles to the east of 
Hickory Ridge. Sheriff Morgan would often “deputize” one of the men in 
town to help with this task. 

About the only problems the sheriff encountered was the usual Saturday
night rowdy crowd that gathered to play poker, and drink at Big Ed's 
saloon.  Well, there was that time ol' Zack Maphis got drunk and stole 
the sheriff's horse. 

Jeremiah, Sarah, and little Matthew went to the small church just
outside of Hickory Ridge most Sundays. It was a day to have dinner on 
the grounds, after morning service, and visit with the other 
hardworking neighbors in the little community. 

It was in the spring of 1845 when Hannah was born. She was a year and
half younger than Matthew. 

Having two babies to care for, the gardening, and putting up food for
the winter months, was extra work for Sarah. Jeremiah put down a well 
that year so she wouldn't have to haul water from the spring. 

That was the year he decided there needed to be another room added to
the little two room log cabin. They soon realized that it was the right 
choice. Lucas was born two years later. 

Much had been accomplished at the “homestead” since their arrival in ‘42
or was it ‘43? The farm land had increased by several acres; Jeremiah 
had purchased two more horses, plows, and other equipment to help 
support his ever increasing young family. Lucas came along in 1847 and 
Leah in 1850. 

Each of the McCauley children had their own individual personalities. 

Matthew started in the one room school at Hickory Ridge. Miss Emma
Keough said he was a bright student, polite, and attentive. But, Matt, 
as he liked to be called, was quiet and reserved. He would rather be 
fishing, or hunting squirrels, deer, and rabbits rather than playing 
ball with the other boys at school. Matthew was an excellent horseman. 
By the time he was twelve he was considered one of the best marksmen, 
with the muzzle loader rifle, in the area. 

He was good about doing his chores before and after school. When school
wasn't in session, he did his share of the farm work. He enjoyed the 
time he spent in the fields and woods, with his pa. 

A very handsome boy, he attracted the attention of several of the girls
in the community. But if he showed an interest one would never know it. 


Hannah was much like Matthew. She proved to be an excellent student. She
seemed to be obsessed with getting her lessons perfect. Early in her 
school years she seemed determined to become a teacher. After school 
she would stay and talk with Miss Emma about teaching.  As she got 
older she assisted the teacher, and helped tutor the younger children. 

Lucas, on the other hand, was a different story. Only three years
younger than Matthew, he was just the opposite it appeared. Oh, Luke 
would pull his weight with the chores and responsibilities that came 
with being a member of the family. (Pa would see to that!). But, he was 
the reckless, daredevil one in the family. Luke was a fun-loving, 
outgoing, popular boy. Strikingly handsome, with a quick smile, he did 
show an interest in the young ladies that took notice of him. 

In 1850, Leah, the last of the McCauley children, was born. A bouncy,
energetic, baby. She, too, was a beautiful child with curly blonde hair 
and dark blue eyes. Sarah often said she took the fair hair from 
Jeremiah's ma and her blue eyes from Jeremiah. 

Leah, as she grew from infancy displayed an independent, inquisitive
nature. Her ma often said, “Every sentence out of that girl's mouth 
starts and ends with a question.” Jeremiah agreed stating, “She's more 
curious than that ol' tomcat that sleeps in the barn!” As time went on 
she amused her family with the vivid imagination she possessed. “Leah 
the dreamer”, they would say.  At the supper table she entertained them 
with the stories she made up that day. Leah became an avid reader. 
Hannah, being five years older, was always happy to help her read books 
far beyond her grade level. Before she was a teenager she had written 
several short stories. 

Suppertime was always the best time of the day. The McCauley family
would gather ‘round the wooden table that Jeremiah had built to 
accommodate his growing clan. Sarah, somehow, always managed to provide 
a well prepared meal for her husband and children. 

Even at the old barn the aroma of smoked ham, red-eye gravy, vegetables
from the garden (or jars from the cellar); along with the scent of 
homemade bread would be present 

If only the old barn could talk! 

There would be tales about shrieks of laughter, as the McCauley children
played in the hay loft. The childish arguments that were encountered. 
The love that was felt, even, after discipline was administered by pa 
for a misdeed of one of the children he loved so dearly. 

She had time to reflect on the years since they first started building
the log cabin, erecting the barn, buying the cow and horses and started 
the hard, but rewarding, work of building up the farm. Sarah thought 
“How blessed I am with a good life, four precious and, yes, sometimes 
mischievous children and the most wonderful husband a woman could dream 
of!” 

Life was good with the McCauley family. 

That was about to change. 

The year was 1861! 


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