The Endless Forest
Page 214
“Ma,” Lily said, “How did you do this so many—”
And then the pain took her away. Birdie leaned over and whispered in her ear about breathing and after a while it seemed to her that maybe Lily was hearing her and maybe that was helping. Her hair and face and the sheets were soaked with sweat and little red veins had come out on her cheeks, but she was breathing the way Curiosity had showed her.
“All right,” Hannah said with some satisfaction. “Now you can push.”
“Steady,” said Ma. “Steady. Your baby is almost here, Lily. She’s almost here.”
“It might be a boy,” Martha said. She had left the folded swaddling cloths to come stand with them around Lily. They made a circle with Lily at the center, like a flower.
“Oh, no,” said Lily. “I promised Ma a girl.”
“Don’t be silly,” said Ma. “You did no such thing.”
“Of course I did,” Lily said, panting now as she wrapped her hands around the pull rope. “Wait and see.”
When the clock in the hall struck ten, Lily pushed one last time and gave birth to a daughter. Small but perfectly formed, with a head of dark curls, all rounded elbows and knees and belly and open mouth. Her eyes were open too.
“Oh, look,” Lily said, when Hannah put the baby in her arms. “Look, Ma, she’s smiling at us. Maddie, say hello to your grandma.”
“Now look at that,” Curiosity said. “Look at that beautiful child. Lily Bonner Ballentyne, look what you made.”
For once Birdie had been completely forgotten, and she found she didn’t mind at all.
Epilogue
PARADISE SUN
Light for All The Week of Monday, March 3, 1828
ADVERTISEMENTS
Friend John Mayfair has opened a law office in the new building next to the schoolhouse. Please stop by to consult with him any weekday morning between eight and twelve of the clock.
Curiosity Freeman would like all to know that she has chicks ready for sale. Potential buyers should remember that these are the descendents of Chicken Number Three, who was an excellent layer and of an unflappable temperament.
Daniel Bonner invites all schoolchildren and their families to stop by the schoolhouse to meet Mr. Lawrence March, who will be taking over the junior classroom now that Martha has withdrawn from teaching to care for her sons.
NOTICE
As you may be aware, the printing press that made publication of the Paradise Sun possible arrived in Paradise six months ago. In recognition of that fact, the editor invites suggestions from any interested party on how the newspaper might better serve the needs of its ever-increasing readership. This includes anyone who would like to offer an editorial on matters of public interest, with no restrictions as to political affiliations or world views. Please stop by the newspaper office on the town square to share your thoughts.
Elizabeth Middleton Bonner, Editor
PARADISE SUN
Light for All The Week of Monday, June 8, 1829
ABOUT TOWN
Ethan Middleton would like it known that he has taken on Nicholas Wilde of Lake in the Clouds as an apprentice builder. Given the rapid expansion of the town, Ethan is likely to be hiring again within the month. Those interested should inquire at Ivy House.
Levi Fiddler tells us that this past winter’s success of the Bleeding Heart cider has enabled him to add another two acres of trees to the orchard.
Mr. Bookman has announced his intention to petition the county for funds to cobble the main road into the village. Friend John Mayfair will assist him with this task.
PARADISE SUN
Light for All Special Edition
Monday, July 19, 1830 PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
OF GREAT IMPORT Doctor Hannah Savard reminds the residents of Paradise that all drinking water and water used in preparing food must be boiled. Further, it is of crucial importance that the new guidelines on the digging of privies be observed. These measures are our best hope to bring the quickest possible end to the typhoid epidemic that has struck at the very heart of our families.
In the past week three children and five adults are dead of typhoid or complications of typhoid. They are
Mrs. Lorena Fiddler and her daughter Margaret, age four
Mr. Baldwin O’Brien
Friend Margery Blackstone
Friend Magnus Allen
Mrs. Jennet Scott Bonner and a stillborn daughter, in childbed
Friend Alois Farmer
Mairead Ballentyne, age three
PARADISE SUN
Light for All The Week of Monday, November 7, 1831
OBITUARY
On last Wednesday, November 2, Runs-from-Bears of Lake in the Clouds was struck down by a sudden apoplexy and died within the hour. He was seventy-three years old.
Runs-from-Bears was a member of the Turtle clan of the Kahnyen’kehàka at Good Pasture. He came to Paradise in 1792 when he was joined in marriage with Many-Doves of the Wolf clan, also originally of Good Pasture.
Runs-from-Bears fought in the French and Indian War and the Revolutionary War and was renowned for his bravery and daring. The trip he made to New Orleans during the War of 1812 together with his lifelong friend Nathaniel Bonner is still spoken of both in that city and here. In peacetime he was considered the best tracker in a hundred miles or more, and his furs were sought after for their quality.
Runs-from-Bears is survived by his son Blue-Jay and good-daughter Susanna, their children Callum, Grace, and Sarah; by his daughter Annie and her husband Gabriel Bonner and their children Tobias, Jay, and Liza; and by many dear friends. He is preceeded in death by his wife Many-Doves, and by his adult children Kateri and Sawatis. On a personal note, this loss is an especially painful one for the editor and her family. Runs-from-Bears was the best of men, and we mourn his passing.
And then the pain took her away. Birdie leaned over and whispered in her ear about breathing and after a while it seemed to her that maybe Lily was hearing her and maybe that was helping. Her hair and face and the sheets were soaked with sweat and little red veins had come out on her cheeks, but she was breathing the way Curiosity had showed her.
“All right,” Hannah said with some satisfaction. “Now you can push.”
“Steady,” said Ma. “Steady. Your baby is almost here, Lily. She’s almost here.”
“It might be a boy,” Martha said. She had left the folded swaddling cloths to come stand with them around Lily. They made a circle with Lily at the center, like a flower.
“Oh, no,” said Lily. “I promised Ma a girl.”
“Don’t be silly,” said Ma. “You did no such thing.”
“Of course I did,” Lily said, panting now as she wrapped her hands around the pull rope. “Wait and see.”
When the clock in the hall struck ten, Lily pushed one last time and gave birth to a daughter. Small but perfectly formed, with a head of dark curls, all rounded elbows and knees and belly and open mouth. Her eyes were open too.
“Oh, look,” Lily said, when Hannah put the baby in her arms. “Look, Ma, she’s smiling at us. Maddie, say hello to your grandma.”
“Now look at that,” Curiosity said. “Look at that beautiful child. Lily Bonner Ballentyne, look what you made.”
For once Birdie had been completely forgotten, and she found she didn’t mind at all.
Epilogue
PARADISE SUN
Light for All The Week of Monday, March 3, 1828
ADVERTISEMENTS
Friend John Mayfair has opened a law office in the new building next to the schoolhouse. Please stop by to consult with him any weekday morning between eight and twelve of the clock.
Curiosity Freeman would like all to know that she has chicks ready for sale. Potential buyers should remember that these are the descendents of Chicken Number Three, who was an excellent layer and of an unflappable temperament.
Daniel Bonner invites all schoolchildren and their families to stop by the schoolhouse to meet Mr. Lawrence March, who will be taking over the junior classroom now that Martha has withdrawn from teaching to care for her sons.
NOTICE
As you may be aware, the printing press that made publication of the Paradise Sun possible arrived in Paradise six months ago. In recognition of that fact, the editor invites suggestions from any interested party on how the newspaper might better serve the needs of its ever-increasing readership. This includes anyone who would like to offer an editorial on matters of public interest, with no restrictions as to political affiliations or world views. Please stop by the newspaper office on the town square to share your thoughts.
Elizabeth Middleton Bonner, Editor
PARADISE SUN
Light for All The Week of Monday, June 8, 1829
ABOUT TOWN
Ethan Middleton would like it known that he has taken on Nicholas Wilde of Lake in the Clouds as an apprentice builder. Given the rapid expansion of the town, Ethan is likely to be hiring again within the month. Those interested should inquire at Ivy House.
Levi Fiddler tells us that this past winter’s success of the Bleeding Heart cider has enabled him to add another two acres of trees to the orchard.
Mr. Bookman has announced his intention to petition the county for funds to cobble the main road into the village. Friend John Mayfair will assist him with this task.
PARADISE SUN
Light for All Special Edition
Monday, July 19, 1830 PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
OF GREAT IMPORT Doctor Hannah Savard reminds the residents of Paradise that all drinking water and water used in preparing food must be boiled. Further, it is of crucial importance that the new guidelines on the digging of privies be observed. These measures are our best hope to bring the quickest possible end to the typhoid epidemic that has struck at the very heart of our families.
In the past week three children and five adults are dead of typhoid or complications of typhoid. They are
Mrs. Lorena Fiddler and her daughter Margaret, age four
Mr. Baldwin O’Brien
Friend Margery Blackstone
Friend Magnus Allen
Mrs. Jennet Scott Bonner and a stillborn daughter, in childbed
Friend Alois Farmer
Mairead Ballentyne, age three
PARADISE SUN
Light for All The Week of Monday, November 7, 1831
OBITUARY
On last Wednesday, November 2, Runs-from-Bears of Lake in the Clouds was struck down by a sudden apoplexy and died within the hour. He was seventy-three years old.
Runs-from-Bears was a member of the Turtle clan of the Kahnyen’kehàka at Good Pasture. He came to Paradise in 1792 when he was joined in marriage with Many-Doves of the Wolf clan, also originally of Good Pasture.
Runs-from-Bears fought in the French and Indian War and the Revolutionary War and was renowned for his bravery and daring. The trip he made to New Orleans during the War of 1812 together with his lifelong friend Nathaniel Bonner is still spoken of both in that city and here. In peacetime he was considered the best tracker in a hundred miles or more, and his furs were sought after for their quality.
Runs-from-Bears is survived by his son Blue-Jay and good-daughter Susanna, their children Callum, Grace, and Sarah; by his daughter Annie and her husband Gabriel Bonner and their children Tobias, Jay, and Liza; and by many dear friends. He is preceeded in death by his wife Many-Doves, and by his adult children Kateri and Sawatis. On a personal note, this loss is an especially painful one for the editor and her family. Runs-from-Bears was the best of men, and we mourn his passing.
