Mabel

CHAPTER 6

 

Mabel clad in her warm toasty flannel nightgown found the floor very cold  that morning so she tiptoed over the soft sheepskin rug over to the window.  Looking out she saw Nels pumping water vigorously.  Not only did he have his jacket on but a warm stocking cap pulled clear down over his ears and his nose was red!  That meant long johns for sure!  So trying to stay warm, she tiptoed to her beautiful trunk and opened the lid.  First, she pulled out that heavy cap that Mother had knitted her and its matching mittens.  That wasn’t enough!  She pulled out her warm toasty long johns and a sweater she knew would keep her warm.  Washing quickly in the cold water, she hurriedly dressed and went downstairs.  Mrs. Thornsen as usual had the enormous coffee pot on the stove and a dish of oatmeal and hot homemade bread and some strawberry jam.  The jam was a real treat as their strawberries were new that year and Mrs. Thornsen was so proud of the jam she had made.

 

Hurriedly she bundled up and Nels had gone to the barn for Pet whom he adored.  Pet kept a brisk pace that cold frosty morning and relished the idea of being kept out of the sharp bitter wind that day as she munched on hay in the shed.  Soon she would be joined by the students’ ponies as well as Nels’ furry brown pony.

 

Since the students all came in with rosy faces and cold hands, Mabel decided she would start off the day having them march around the room and do some exercises.  She played a brisk tune on the guitar and soon had them singing as well as marching.  We will just learn a new song while we march and for the next twenty minutes around and around they went singing lustily.

 

She said, “I have a wonderful surprise for you!  It is in this long box.  Can anyone guess what it is?”  Although there were several attempts, none were correct.  “My father thought that you would like it.”  And so, with “oo’s “ and “ah’s”  she pulled out a very big heavy rolled-up piece of paper.  With much help un-rolling the large world map and even more help in deciding where to put it, the map found a home on the large wall opposite the row of windows.  What excitement as they all gathered around to find their home—United States and then Montana.  It was difficult to get anything else done that day!  But when Mabel wrote Papa she knew he would be so pleased.

 

 

CHAPTER 7

 

 

Snow covered the ground and the schoolroom seemed to be very cold that morning.  She tried putting more wood in the fat pot-bellied stove but it didn’t want to put out much heat that day.  Suddenly she heard a noise—a stampeding of horses and looking up, she saw at least a dozen Indian braves peering in the windows at her.  Their ponies were snorting and blowing steam, but they sat there silently staring at her, not making a sound. She knew not what to do or why they were there.  She had several Indian children but they all seemed happy and did not look up.  She decided to follow their lead and paid no attention , but shivers ran up her spine.  “What in the world did they want?”she thought.  She wasn’t beating their kids and they were doing very well.  Indeed, they were quite sweet, even Billy Redcreek.

 

 

 

 

                                                  CHAPTER 8

 

Snow made the land white and quiet.  As Pet trudged through the snow, Mabel wondered if more were yet to fall that day.  When Mabel got to school, already the fire in the big pot-bellied stove was warming the school.  As Nels hadn’t arrived yet, she wondered who had come by and put more wood  in the stove to give the room such a nice warm glow.  Sometimes some of the ranchers dropped by to see if everything was going well, and she could only suppose it was one of them.  She had brought some potatoes, onions and some more vegetables that she could grab easily from the kitchen.  She threw them in the big pot she kept for just such times.  They were all going to have hot soup together with their sandwiches or crusty bread at noon-time.  If the children were cold, they wouldn’t learn much.  Hmmm!  That nice fragrance of gently bubbling soup was wafting over to her desk.  How would she keep the children from wanting their lunch the first thing they arrived?  Nels came in and said it was blowing very hard and the snow was drifting.  By now all her precious twelve had arrived and she let them stand next to the stove as they took off their outer coats and warmed themselves briefly before going to their desks.  They did their reading assignments, all three groups, and were working diligently on their mathematics when Mabel looked out the window.  It was snowing hard, in fact, she could hardly see down to the young tree no more than fifty feet away.  That wasn’t good!! 

 

Suddenly she made up her mind.  She was afraid that the new child and some of the others would have a hard time getting back home.  “Children, we are going to stop right now whatever you are working on.  We are going to have some of that delicious soup you have been smelling and your lunch and then I am going to dismiss you early today as it is really snowing hard.”  To “Oh, thank you, Miss Mabel” and “Goodie” and shy smiles, they crowded around the stove as she ladled soup into their outstretched big cups.

Pulling on caps, scarves, mittens and with their lunch pails firmly in their mittened hands, they went out to the shed to get their ponies and be on their way home.  By now, it was really snowing  so hard, you could hardly see your pony’s head.  Mabel hurriedly banked the fire and Nels made sure they had enough wood for the next day and they both went out for Pet and Browny.

 

Mabel soon found that she couldn’t see a thing.  She called to Nels, “Are you OK?”  Nels said don’t worry and that Pet would find the way.  She knew that Pet would have to as the snow fell even more heavily, if that was possible.  She couldn’t even see Nels!  She would have to give Pet her head, as the phrase went and let her find her way home.  She was glad she had put on that extra scarf that morning—she felt frozen.  She called out to Nels but heard only a muffled noise as if he were miles away, but she knew he wasn’t. Finally, they pulled into the corral and the barn, snow-covered and tired.  Mabel helped Nels  dry off the animals and put blankets on them as they were very cold also and their legs were wet from plunging through such deep snow.  Lots of hay and a dipper of Pet and Browny’s favorite grain fixed them for the evening.  Mabel gave Pet an extra hug for bringing her home so safely.

 

Mrs. Thornsen was not surprised to see them home early.  She had said she thought it would really be a blow-up blizzard.  She had kept Ted at home because he had a cold and she was glad she had.  Mrs. Thornsen poured a cup of very hot coffee for both Mabel and Nels and put a plate of wonderful streudel on the table.  Mabel and Nels stood by the stove and warmed themselves and sipped on their steaming coffee and nibbled on the streudel and talked of how long they thought this blizzard would last.  Nels teasingly said he hoped until spring and glanced at Mabel and laughed.  Mabel laughed too but said she hoped it would end sooner or it would be so deep they wouldn’t be able to see out the windows.  Mr. Thornsen came in and said he thought it wasn’t snowing quite so hard and he thought that the stock would be all right.  But they missed a week as the drifts were so high, it was impossible for even the horses.

 

 

                                                  CHAPTER 9

 

 

It seemed almost Christmas and she had just got started teaching the children.  They would never be where she wanted them to be in reading or math or even geography!  So more and more books they had to read!

 

Only one day had she seen the Indians.  They came up to the windows again on their beautiful snorting ponies, looked in for a time and then opened the door and came into the schoolroom.  They strode in silently, stood watching expressionless.  They kept glancing at the shiny wallmap that Father had sent but did not go over to look at it.  They just stood in the back of the room.  Finally, with no gestures whatsoever they turned and left.  Mabel decided she was their entertainment!

 

The children wanted a program for Christmas and so they planned poems, songs and a story or two and, of course, REFRESHMENTS.  And, Mabel agreed, laughingly that REFRESHMENTS were the most important thing of all.  So, on the Saturday before Christmas, parents crowded into the warm and cozy classroom and listened with pride to their children’s recitations and songs and ate REFRESHMENTS—wonderful cake filled with apples, nuts and raisins and squares of chocolate and slices of dried apples and cherries and drank, of course, strong coffee!  Each child promised to write a story or practice their handwriting on the tablet and pencil which Miss Mabel had given them.

 

Miss Mabel was homesick!  Never before had she been away from home for so long but she also had already decided not to go home when summer came.  She wanted to go to the college at Dillon, Montana.  She had written and they had a summer course which she thought would be good to take.  She also found she could live in a boarding house nearby which was what the students did and she would be a “lodger”.  She would write home and see what Mother and Father thought.  Also, it was quite expensive for the train fare and the hotel going and coming.

 

So, she tried to fill her mind with thoughts of summer and try not to miss everyone for Christmas.  She made small gifts for the Thornsens and together with what she had asked her parents to send her for them, she thought she was “prepared”.

 

And, she spent Christmas quite differently from any she had spent before.  It was impossible to go to church—still too much snow to go to Miles City.  Mr. Thornsen told the Christmas story, Mabel played her guitar and they sang some carols, Nels and Ted had prepared a funny little skit and they exchanged gifts, little surprises made when no one was looking.  Mrs. Thornsen came up with a beautiful cake and coffee.

 

Months flew by and spring showed signs of arriving and finally did arrive when some wildflowers adorned the hills.  The people of Miles City, well, everybody started planning for the big “pow wow” to be held in Miles City.  Everybody, absolutely everybody for miles around came for that—cattle ranchers, ranch hands, cowboys, town folk, church groups, Indians—all came to celebrate just being alive and getting to see one another!  There would be pie contests, best canned fruit, best canned vegetables, prettiest baby, best steer, finest hunting dog, most beautiful quilt, finest crochet work and knitting.  Just about everything.

 

When I said everyone would be there—that was true.  Calamity Jane would be there.  And all the ladies wanted to see her!  Mabel had heard she had skin like leather, swore as bad as any man and could shoot every bit as well as any man!  Mabel couldn’t wait to see her!  She didn’t want to stare but she sure hoped she would get a good look at her!  She couldn’t imagine skin like leather!

 

It wasn’t too many days until the wagons were pouring in, laden with families, picnic baskets, whatever they planned to enter the contests.  The ladies of the church groups generously loaned tables and chairs and were hospitable in every way.  Town folk were happy to see some of the ranchers who didn’t get in town very often and opened their homes to their friends.  The Indians were there too and pitched their beautiful colorful teepees on the outskirts of the grounds.  Surely there would be a rodeo!  Mabel hoped so and maybe a square dance, although she didn’t know who she would have for a pardner.

 

Mr. Thornsen had a brother in Miles City who had a feed store and who was married with two children and who had invited them all including Miss Mabel to stay with them during the fair.  This was wonderful as they intended to stay more than just the one day.  They had brought some tender roasts, some tasty strawberry jam and Mabel brought some wonderful soap which they had all liked so much.

 

So stopping at the Thornsens long enough to get rid of the dust and freshen themselves on roast beef sandwiches and cider, off they went to see the sights.  The first thing Mabel and the two Mrs. Thornsens wanted to see was Calamity Jane!  And they did!  Short wispy hair, wide brimmed cowboy hat, a divided soft deerskin riding skirt, cowboy boots.  And, yes, skin like leather and heavily tanned.  She wasn’t cursing right then and Mabel didn’t want to stare.  She figured she would be able to see her again.  Right fascinating, she was.  They took in the baking table and saw that both brothers Thornsen had signed up to judge the pies!  Their two wives both said, “That figures!”  They took in the remaining exhibits and saw that indeed there was to be a square dance and that very night too!  Well, it would be fun to go and see.

 

After returning to the Thornsen home to rest and have dinner, they all, including Nels and Ted and the two younger boys, found themselves back where the dance was being held. Mabel looked around to see if there was anyone she knew from church the few times she had been able to go, but no, not a soul that she knew.  But, wait—who was that tall auburn-haired man standing over by the door?  She poked her elbow into Mrs. Thornsen’s ribs—“Do you know who that is?”  “No.” “See if your husband knows—please”—She did as she was told.  “No” was the answer.  Mabel relayed through Mrs. Thornsen—“Find out—please.”  And so he did.

 

He found that the handsome, six foot plus auburn-haired man was Davis Bowen from Wisconsin who was traveling with his cousin returning from California where he had been visiting and just seeing the sites.  They had heard about the fair and decided to stop and see some more of Montana.  But who was that beautiful young lady over with your party?  And, of course, he meant Mabel!  After chatting some more with Davis and his cousin Fleek, they made their way over to the Thornsen ladies and Mabel for introductions.

 

Soon the fiddles and the harmonicas and the banjos were starting a lively tune and Davis invited Mabel to have that dance with him.  Mabel thought he was quite the most handsome man she had seen and she liked his bright sparkling green eyes.  So they danced another dance and another.  Davis said he and Fleek were changing their plans and were going to stay a few more days in Miles City!  And could he come and see her before they left? And could he write to her? And was she going back to Iowa when she finished that school year?  And could he come and see her there?

 

Now you can see where that is leading! All of the above took place as well as plans for a wedding after he visited her in Iowa. 

 

Mabel Gardner and Davis Bowen were married September 7, 1901, in the M. E. Church of Onawha, Iowa, by Rev. S. Bassett. Mabel looked radiant in a powder blue and rose dress with wide bands of delicate cream-colored lace.   Davis wore the traditional Prince Albert coat.  They made a handsome couple.

 

 

                                                  EPILOGUE

 

I would end this story of Mabel’s Adventures here but there are two stories that I must include in the  life of Mabel and Davis.

 

 They resided for a number of years in Brodhead, Wisconsin, and later on the Flambeau River in Wisconsin.  Davis became a woodsman, cutting down trees and preparing the logs to float down the river in the spring.  They lived in a cabin in the woods.  It was beautiful and serene.  Their nearest neighbor was about a mile away but Mabel was kept busy with the children—Jean, Lee, and Calvin a tiny baby.

 

One day Mabel wanted some supplies from town and Davis said he would hitch one of the horses to the buggy and go after them.  He promised he would be back before dark and told Mabel not to worry. 

 

It was almost dusk and Davis had not returned.  Mabel was worried and kept going to the door to check.  Suddenly  she heard a horse neighing in fright.  She hurriedly gathered up Jean and Lee and posted them down next to the road.  She took baby Calvin and started up the road where she could hear the horse still neighing.  Soon she saw the buggy over on one side and the horse had managed to free itself.  An ENORMOUS BEAR was heading off also.  Davis was partly under the buggy and barely conscious .  Mabel, carrying Calvin with Jean and Lee following close behind hurried to the neighbor for help.  They took Davis to the doctor in town who said lucky man, no broken bones and a few day’s rest and you will be all right.

 

About six months later and the final episode of life in the woods.  Davis had stacked his logs in a cleared space.  They were stacked upright so they would dry evenly and float more readily. 

 

Their neighbor came to the house and said he could see fire in the distance.  Lightning had struck some of the pines some miles away.  Hurriedly they both plowed the usual area so the fire wouldn’t jump onto their land but it looked like it was getting too close for comfort.  Davis rushed into the house and told them to start loading the wagon—take the important stuff—make sure to get quilts and warm stuff.  With smoke and fire crackling all too close, the horses were hitched to the wagon and Davis grabbed the reins.  The horses reared and whinnied!  Mabel got down from the wagon, ran to get some cotton feed sacks and wet them in the rain barrel next to the house.  Davis covered the rearing horses’ heads and said, “Mabel, you are going to have to take the reins while I lead these fool horses!” (He really didn’t say “fool”!) Jean held Calvin, and Lee, a sturdy little boy, tried to help with the reins.  Somehow, with fire crackling and sparks flying next to the lane, Davis led the reluctant horses down the corduroy (the road just the same as material) road to safety. A whole year’s work—the logs were lost!

 

To this strong, vibrant, intelligent and beautiful couple three more children were born—Francis, Eula and Virginia with Jean, Lee, and Calvin making a warm, close-knit family—all of whom went different ways career-wise but all were tied to nature and the environment in some way.