Mail Order Barbara (Widows, Brides, and Secret Babies Book 14)

by Elissa Strati

  Both her brothers were older and had been consulted, at the time of their parents’ tragic deaths in a carriage accident, by the attorney handling their estate. They had insisted Samantha be include as well.

  Knowing neither of them had close relatives upon whom they could rely to care for their children, Mr. and Mrs. Harrison had put plans into place before the first child had been born. They had met with Mother Agatha of Our Lady of Mercy and Brother Joseph, Abbot of the Franciscan Brothers and head of the St. Francis School for Boys, to discuss their wishes for their hoped for progeny.

  While not among the first families of the city, the Harrisons were sufficiently comfortable to set aside a sum for each child, held in trust until his or her majority, to be used for care and education. The Franciscans had impeccable reputations and were known for the excellence of the education they provided their charges and the first item to which the Harrisons attended was enrolling the children they prayed for into the schools.

  Mother Agnes and Brother Joseph were accustomed to such requests and gracefully accepted the stipends set aside for such enrollments. The tuitions for outside students helped fund their charitable activities such as the orphanages and some families had been attending for generations.

  The next request was a bit more unusual. Their wish was that, in the event of their inability personally to provide for their children’s welfare, the Franciscan orders become their guardians. In addition to the customary amounts set aside for such trustees and the tuition to be paid, a generous allowance for food, shelter, and clothing was also specified for each child.

  An Our Lady graduate herself, Mrs. Harrison was well aware of the strict standards the sisters set and had hired one of the orphans as her ladies’ made upon her marriage. So rather than be concerned with appropriate mentors within her own home, she had requested the children be put in residence at the orphanage in the event the did, in fact, become orphans, the allowance for each child to be passed into the control of abbess and abbot.

  “For I know, Mother Agatha, you will provide the same love and care for my daughters as you did for me,” Mrs. Harrison said softly, tears shining in her eyes.

  Brother Joseph, who was known for his brilliance with mathematics, had worked as an accountant prior to taking orders, and had been named a Trustee for several children, entrusted to protect their inheritances. Samuel Harrison had been one of his pupils so he already felt a fatherly affection for the man, and agreed without hesitation. He also agreed to be Trustee of the Harrison Estate.

  “I am honored to be so entrusted by both of you, but pray the need will never arise. But I look forward to seeing a number of your children come through the schools.”

  For Mother Agnes, this was a first, however. Even with all the talk of women’s suffrage, most women had little legal standing. Nonetheless, she agreed to take on the role of Trustee and Guardian for any female children, were it to prove necessary.

  “And let me add my own prayers and blessings for you that your marriage be fruitful.”

  Seeing Mrs. Harrison’s blushing glow, Mother Agatha suspected it already had.

  Besides the obvious and glaring fact of the loss of their wonderful, warm, and loving parents, the biggest change for the siblings, already in their teens, was walking with the other orphans to the buildings next door instead of traveling home after school in a carriage.

  ~~~

  As they were quite clever, both boys had graduated from the Franciscan Brothers’ rigorous education with sufficient standing that a benefactor had endowed further education for them. Being privy to the terms of their inheritance, Jonathan requested that since his own education was now being covered by the scholarship, that a similar scholarship be provided from his funds for another worth boy who would otherwise not have the opportunity.

  Brother Joseph nodded his approval, well pleased with the generous nature of his pupil, and was not surprised when, two years later, Philip had made a similar request.

  ~~~

  Samantha’s older brother, Jonathan, was intent on becoming a doctor and would graduate shortly. He had met a young woman at the nursing school whom he planned to wed upon graduation, and had already been accepted into a small practice in the city where she was now working. The plan was to return to the family house, which was large enough for her and her middle brother, Philip, to join them, while Phil finished his architecture degree and she went on to normal school. With graduation looming, he had already set into motion plans to reopen the house which had been occupied only by a housekeeper and caretaker, husband and wife, who had their own small cottage on the grounds.

  Jon had been disappointed when she’d rejected nursing as a career, but having helped out in the Infirmary, Samantha knew she’d be much happier teaching. And she had no doubt she’d find a suitable husband eventually since she’d be moving in higher circles than her friends could hope to attain, given their backgrounds.

  She’d already started planning her coming out with one of her other classmates, who was shy in the extreme and had proposed to her mother a joint celebration, knowing a ball sponsored by Samantha’s brothers would be somewhat awkward, since the siblings had largely been out of society for the past few years. But, oh, she had so looked forward to her first formal dance with her handsome father.

  She sighed softly and turned her attention back to her friends, wishing she could have them come out with her but knowing society would never approve.

  Bernadette

  Like Kathleen and Maria, both Bernadette, and Christine had grown up in tenement housing. Bernadette’s family was doing well and was able to keep her in school at Our Lady of Mercy. Then the summer cholera epidemic had claimed their lives.

  A police officer had brought her to the sisters as a devastated nine-year old, and their tender care had restored her natural ebullience. Give the backgrounds of many of the other girls who shared her catastrophic sense of loss, her lack of parents slid into the background of life and she focused on her friends and her schoolwork.

  Like Samantha, Bernadette aspired to become a teacher, but women in general were not especially expected to have hopes beyond a good marriage, so the orphanage’s donors seldom offered the girls benefits occasionally extended to the boys.

  Christine

  Christine had been but a toddler when she was found by a neighbor sitting on the sidewalk holding onto her mother’s hand. Her mother’s head was bleeding where she lay and it was unknown whether she had tripped or been struck. Christine had had her two middle fingers in her mouth and never spoke although she gazed at her neighbor with such sad eyes, “It like to make mah blood run cold!” the woman had told the police.

  Learning the two of them had been the sole occupants of the single room at the end of the hall, Christine’s clothes—rags, mostly—had been bundled up and brought with the child to the good sisters. Whether she’d had nightmares in her crib, no one remembered, least of all Christine, who was unaware of any prior life outside the orphanage.

  Always pious, Christine was in discussions with Sister Benedicta about the likelihood she might have a vocation. The convent was her world, her cocoon, and she had no interest in anything other than contemplation and prayer.

  Even as the other girls had developed interests in men, Christine remained untouched. Happily performing any task assigned, she had proven equally adept at sewing and housekeeping as cooking and gardening. Mother Evangeline was considering seriously her request to join the order, but wanted the child to experience life on the outside at least once before she made her final decision.

  Judith

  Judith had already studied all Sister Bridget had books for, and had been helping instruct the other girls, especially with mathematics, in which she had received special tutoring from Brother Joseph, who had recognized her keen mind.

  With her wonderful ability with numbers, Sister Benedicta had no trouble finding her a job at a Nichols’ Dry Goods store. Because of her many roles within the orphanage, sh
e was one of the girls for whom outside lodging had not been found, and she still shared a room with Barbara and Emily.

  Judith had originally been trained in her new job by the owner himself, Mr. Nichols, and been put in charge of the cash-till, carefully writing out receipts for purchases in duplicate, one for the customer and one for the store, and accurately tracking all cash and store charges. At the end of each month she was also responsible for tallying the charges and preparing an invoice for each customer as well as tracking inventory and supplies.

  At first she very much enjoyed her work. And then Mr. Nichols became ill and his son took over the store. Young Mr. Nichols had completely changed her responsibilities, removing her from the register and assigning her to stocking shelves and cleaning while he assisted customers behind the counter.

  She was now totally overwhelmed and overworked by her employer, tired of avoiding his roving eye and hands, and clearly had no local prospects for matrimony. So when the mail-order bride scheme had been proposed, the concept had caught Judith's imagination. But she didn’t want to go without Barbara.

  CHAPTER 14 – Anna

  Anna had come to the Sisters of Mercy as a foundling, in a basket left at the front door. There was no note, and the infant was wrapped in rags, but a braided lock of soft brown hair had been fastened around her wrist and Mother Agatha has carefully set it aside for when the child was old enough to understand how much her mother had loved her, to offer her up to safekeeping instead of attempting to rear her on the streets.

  She kept her suspicions to herself, confiding only in Sister Evangeline who she thought the mother to be. And when one of the local fallen women was found dead in the street not too long after, Mother managed to clip a matching curl from Anna Morgan as she helped prepare the woman for her pauper’s funeral. Young Anna would never learn the whole story, but a brief note in Mother’s hand was put alongside the two locks of hair.

  Some children are innately tidy while others have no concern for such trifles. Anna was one of the former and delighted in keeping her meager belongings just so, often helping her companions straighten their spaces as well. By the time she was six she was routinely helping the housekeeper, Sister Frances, well beyond the required chores all the children performed. And then one day she showed Sister a better method of organizing her tools so that they were handier to the reach. Sister rewarded her by making Anna her assistant.

  All of the girls learned domestic skills such as cleaning and cooking and sewing, as well as being schooled in their letters and numbers, but each was encouraged to discover her particular interests and talents. The Sisters agreed, Anna’s definitely lay in housekeeping; she’d likely end up in one of the big houses managing the staff, if given the opportunity.

  At fourteen she’d been hired by one of the parishioners as an under housemaid. Seeing life outside the convent came as rather a shock. Her only previous contact with men had been with the priests, occasionally the doctor, and the rare visits by the Board of Trustees. And of course the boys from the Saint Francis School came over once a month to dance with them. But at the age of twelve she wasn't quite sure what to make of boys, so just concentrated on learning the dance steps properly.

  Here there were a butler and a valet (who also served as a footman as needed) among the household staff; and then the main house included a father, an uncle, and two boys, plus the young ladies had masculine visitors.

  Women had husbands.

  Well, yes, she’d known the words, but having grown up surrounded by nuns and other orphans, all female, she’d never really applied meaning to them. Oh, there were so many new concepts and relationships to be absorbed as she went competently about her work, keeping the housekeeper quite happy, and expanding into ever more responsible duties.

  And then one day she had salvaged a romance novel she’d found discarded, partially burned, in the fireplace. Reading in secret, she had absorbed every word, every longing glance between the heroine and hero. For Anna, dreams of becoming a wife and mother now took precedence over the idea of staying in service and becoming Head Housekeeper. She wanted the “Mrs.” in her title to be genuine! So when she learned of the proposed mail order bride scheme at the convent, she went to Mother Evangeline and begged to be included.

  CHAPTER 15 – Decisions

  By the end of the week all of the girls had come to a final decision on what they wish to do. Samantha and Gracie we're definitely staying. Although he would miss his sister Clara, Jack was very happy with his job and his prospects in the city and equally happy to be marrying his Gracie as quickly as arrangements could be made.

  ~~~

  Christine had agreed with Mother Evangeline that it made sense for her to explore the outside world at least for the time it took for the other girls to settle into Kansas. She promised to keep an open mind on whether she wished to live a secular life or truly felt a deep-seated vocation.

  Mother Evangeline also planned to ask Father Francis to examine Christine’s faith and give his impression on its depth. Becoming a bride of Christ was a serious decision.

  ~~~

  And then Anna, whom she’d believed to be perfectly happy with her future, had come to her and begged to be able to join the group. That had been a real surprise as all had been convince Anna had found her true calling. But given the choice of running another’s household and having one of her own, Anna had wholeheartedly embraced the latter and had convince Mother Evangeline to include her.

  ~~~

  “I used to envy the children in the orphanage, you know,” Barbara confided to Sister one day. “It was evident that someone cared for them, and they had clean clothes and plenty to eat. Plus they were being taught to read and write. We pretty much had to stop going to school when our father died. That was not a good time for us. But Mother was right. When Owen came along things were good for a while and we were back in school. I really enjoyed that. But when he lost his job . . .”

  Barbara was the last to make up her mind, but had finally realized that the move west would be her best option, as well, because once she was established, she could send for her sister and niece.

  It was Emily who’d finally convinced her.

  “I think you need to find us a new home, Barbara. The sisters aren’t going to be able to keep us here and I’m growing up, too. Emilene and I can join you as soon as you are established.” A twinkle appeared in her eye.

  “You can finally start your own dressmaking shop,” she smiled.

  After talking repeatedly with all of the others, but most especially Emily and Judith, Barbara had finally concurred. She would go to Green River, Kansas, with the group.

  ~~~

  Working in the Nursery with the infants and toddlers, Emily had finally, gradually, ever so little-by-little, begun to come out of her shell and respond to others. It had started when the older babies started demanding she interact with them. They were learning to talk and they wanted her to talk back. Now she was even reading to the children at bed time.

  Although Emily had never fully recovered her strength after childbirth, she did seem to have recovered at least part of her personality and now spoke when spoken to. She still had no use for school, and preferred to work in the Nursery whenever she could.

  Sister Teresa Rose, in charge of the Infirmary and Nursery, watched Emily at work and concluded she was, in fact, a very competent helper, not just in the Nursery but in the Infirmary. However, it did not make sense for her to go back and forth between the two and possibly spread infection.

  That concept was a relatively new one but Sister Teresa Rose had been studying notes and papers produced by doctors treating military patients during the recent war between the states.

  As a woman, she would have had a great deal of difficulty getting educated and permitted to practice medicine as a doctor, but there was no law against studying on her own, and over the years she had taught herself an enormous amount about the workings of the human body and its reaction to various di
seases, exploring far beyond what she had learned in Nursing School.

  It was too bad Emily so firmly rejected the idea of reading and learning when she was obviously so talented medically. She had a wonderful touch with the infants, and a very acute sense of diagnosis. Perhaps she was just a bit closer to the angels, thought Sister Teresa Rose.

  Sister Teresa Rose began to have hope she might even get Emily to start studying medicine instead of just going by instinct, now that she seemed to be recovering her personality.

  ~~~

  So instead of the lack of interest Mother Evangeline had feared, nine of her original eleven eligible orphans were planning a train trip to Kansas, plus Anna, and Tony. How had this escalated so?

  The first thing she did was sit down and write a letter to her brother to make sure the town would be able to accommodate this large an influx of newcomers. And while she had no doubt that Anthony, who was a personable young man and quite a capable with horses and carriages, would be able to find appropriate employment, Mother mentioned him, too. Letters began racing back and forth to Kansas as details were worked out.

  ~~~

  And on top of everything else there was a wedding to plan before they could go. Since Jack had been at the St. Francis School for Boys, she expected the male orphans would be attending that as well.

  Good training for them all, she concluded!

  CHAPTER 16 – Preparations

  The congregation of St. Francis had become as excited as the girls about the upcoming trip. The Ladies Sodality had done a fundraiser to ensure each girl was properly set up, and had a valise, a travel outfit, and a dress for church. Thanks to Mother Evangeline’s hints that the St. Mary’s on the Hill congregation would be judging St. Francis by how well the girls were turned out, new bolts of fabric and trim were offered, not just the usual discards.