THE OLD BARN (Part Three and Four) (standard:other, 4029 words) [3/4] show all parts
Author: Kenneth Nash	Added: Feb 22 2006	Views/Reads: 2325/1713	Part vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
Part three and four of THE OLD BARN

THE OLD BARN 

(Part Three) 

Born to Jewish parents, who had fled the persecution in Germany and
Russia in the 1830's, Jacob and Arielle, both born in the year 1850, 
met at the little Jewish shul (school) in Pennsylvania. Jacob always 
knew Arielle would someday be his wife. The wedding took place in 1872 
as they met under the Chupah (marriage canopy). Jacob worked long, hard 
hours in the textile mill to save money to move from the city. He had 
always been fascinated with stories of the southern states. He wanted 
to see the cotton fields. Arielle and Jacob dreamed of finding the 
“perfect shtetl (small town)” to raise their family. 

Nine years after the marriage, Jacob, Arielle, their eight year old
daughter Rachel, and son Aaron, age five, joined a wagon train in 
search for the place of their dreams. 

After several weeks, it seemed like years to Arielle, they left the
wagon train and continued south. The scenery was lovely. The country 
folk were friendly. They liked the small town called Hickory Ridge. 
“Papa,” exclaimed Rachel, “it is named after a tree.” Yes, indeed it 
is. The tall trees were abundant and lined the stream that was called 
Willow Creek. 

“Yes, sir, the ol' McCauley place just up the road is for sale” said the
man at the General Mercantile Store. “I am Will Garrett, welcome to 
Hickory Ridge. Just follow that there road, until the creek cuts back 
to the left. That is the ol' McCauley place. Willow Creek cuts right 
across the farm.” “Mr. McCauley died last year and the missus moved 
somewhere up north to live with her grown children.” “Yes, sir, Mr. 
Tobias, I think y'all will like the old place, needs a little work 
though.” 

“Look at that old barn Papa”, shouted Rachel. “Could we put some hay in
the loft? I want to get a pony, too!” 

“Jacob, the house needs a little work, but it is just the right size for
us!” Arielle could already envision new curtains, another cupboard in 
the little kitchen, and putting food for her family on the extra large 
table. 

Little Aaron didn't say much but Rachel caught him as he was running
toward the creek nearby. 

Yes, it looked like they had found the place they had wanted for so many
years. 

“That Mr. Tobias that moved into the ol' McCauley place is a nice enough
man. But, he asked me a strange question just a few days ago.” Will 
Garret was talking with his wife Emily as they were putting away 
supplies that just arrived at the General Mercantile. “He wanted to 
know if I could get some kosher foods, sed he would pay extra.” “He 
gave me an address, and sure enough I got a telegraph message saying 
that kind of food could be shipped to us.” 

Pastor McPherson explained to Will that most Jews, eat what they call,
kosher foods because of their religious beliefs. 

Life for the Tobias family was much different from the Jewish community
they moved from. 

There was no “shul” near Hickory Ridge. Rachel enrolled in the one room
school as Aaron would when he got old enough. 

Religious studies of Torah, Talmud, and Midrash would continue at home,
as would the reading and writing of the Hebrew language.  Rachel did 
well in school. She loved being around non-Jewish children her age, and 
learning their different views on things. Well, at least, things that 
kids her age thought about. 

Jacob learned to like most of the men in the community. He had learned
early in life that he was considered “different or strange” by some who 
were unaccustomed to his way of living. He became friends with the 
pastor, Reverend McPherson. They spent a lot of time sitting on the 


Click here to read the rest of this story (353 more lines)