~Chapter 4~
A Hay Ride
Charlie's wagon had been built by Turk the Blacksmith in his blacksmith shop a few years back and was fashioned to be sturdy and carry a heavy workload. The ice-wagon was made of hardwoods from the northern part of the Indiana, where all of the strongest hardwoods grow.
This was not a fancy wagon built to hold a princess or a court of princesses, was was not lined with the finest leather from England, or decorated with the most splendid gold from Spain. The wagon was built simply to be pulled by a horse with a strong back, and broad shoulders and by one, who had the determination and will to pull it. This was just a trouble free horse cart, used to carry ice in the summertime.
Small silver bells were hung off the sides of the running boards in the summertime, to notify all within ear shod that the ice-wagon was approaching. The wagons' bells would ring in the children's ears, and all would come running for the free ice that, Mr. Beamer would hand out, as they passed by. This would cool off the children's lemonade, and help quench everyone's dire thirst on a hot summer day.
Charlie always found so much happiness in his work while delivering the ice because he would, get to say fond hello's to all the children in town.
Charlie had other jobs during the year, but the one he liked most of all was pulling Mr. Beamers other wagon, the one he would use for sleigh rides in the winter and hayrides in the summer.
Charlie was so fortunate because tonight was the annual, "Harvest Moon Hay Ride". It was the second full moon of the month, a blue moon, so this would be one of the most special rides of all.
Mr. Beamer and Louis arrived at Mr. Beamer's barn that afternoon around four o'clock and began to get Charlie's wagon ready for the night's ride ahead. The wagon was lined with hay up to the very tops of the sideboards, was wide open in the back with plenty of room, so all the children that were coming that night would fit in comfortably.
Charlie was dressed for the evening's ride in delightful dark green and red coverings for his forelegs and hindquarters, and a new bright red blanket was laid upon Charlie's back to keep him warm in case a cool autumn wind should blow in from the north. Louis placed a few small beautiful blue ribbons around Charlie's neck, and attached a few shiny new red ribbons on the top of his green, well-worn straw hat. Charlie looked just splendid and very handsome in his dressage for the evening.
Two large gas lamps were attached to the front and rear of Charlie's wagon, to help light the road ahead and behind during the ride. In addition, a large cowbell was attached to the front buckboard at the top, so Mr. Beamer could announce the arrival of the wagon, with all the happy participants inside, as they were being driven though the countryside that night.
Miss Harriet the old milking-cow decided she did not want to miss out on all the fun, and thought that she had been spending way too much time lately alone in the barn, so she accepted an invitation from Louis, (from earlier in the day) and was willingly tied, to the rear of the wagon. She wanted to stroll along with Charlie, so she would be able to hear all the festive songs that surely would be sung that night by the children and Mr. Beamer. Nevertheless especially, she wanted to hear Mr. Beamer sing, because he had one of the most striking and richest voices, that old Harriet had ever heard before.
Charlie was all hooked up to the wagon, and standing in the front yard of Mr. Beamer's barn at about seven o'clock, when all the children finally started to show up, for the nighttime ride.
Stuttering-Sammy climbed into the back of the wagon with Mildred Walters, Tessie Whitman, Chug Martin, and Short Stack. Jay, Becky, and Cindy from the ballpark showed up as well, quickly they climbed into the back as well, to make themselves as comfortable and as warm as they could, by covering themselves with thick, heavy blankets, and extra layers of hay.
Hattie May came down from her farmhouse and climbed into the front of the wagon, finding a perch on the front buckboard, on one side, right next to where Mr. Beamer was going to be sitting soon. She drew a small white shawl up closer around her neck and tighter across her shoulders, then pulled on her woolen mittens and white cotton hat, to help fight off the autumn chill, that started to fill the cool night.
"Good evening Mr. Beamer," she said as she slowly climbed aboard.
"Good evening to you as well Hattie May, and what a pleasant night it's going to be for a ride" said Mr. Beamer as he extended an open hand.
Short Stack had lathered on a little too much heat-balm before he left his parent's house that evening, so Mr. Beamer made him sit way in the back of the wagon, because the smell was just too awful.
"Short Stack, why do you put so much of that stuff on all the time?" asked Tessie as she held her nose and made a facial expression of utter disgust. Mildred and Cindy joined in as well, all holding their noses to the embarrassment of Short Stack.
"Hey, all great athletes use this stuff. I gotta do what they do, if I want to get into the big leagues," he said with a look on his face that confessed of his distaste for the whole conversation.
"Someday you'll be watching me play at Wrigley field instead at old man Hicks cornfield. You just watch," said Short-Stack as he wistfully looked out over the back of the wagon to imagine the whole thing is his mind. Now he knew how Louis felt, when he gets, picked on all the time.
"Yeah you bet Short Stack. Do they need any "short kids", in the big leagues?"
"Oh, yeah...well, I'm gonna make it. You just watch what happens to me ? ah...someday...er...being short?or?not."
"I don't think so Marty...ah... I mean Short Stack," said Tessie.
"Me either" said Becky.
"Ah girls, they don't know anything. All I need is a new glove and maybe a new bat?you'll see."
"Maybe Santa will bring you that for Christmas this year," said Charlie.
"Yeah, I sure hope so, and if he does, I guarantee I won't strike out once in next year's championship game, you just watch."
"Ok we'll be watching you next year Short Stack. Let's see," said Becky.
"Kids?kids?it's time to settle in and be good to each other?where going on a nice hay-ride here?remember" said Mr. Beamer as he admonished all.
Kids will be kids, he thought to himself.
The party settled into the wagon for the evening with Charlie out front willingly pulling all along. The wagon slowly started to amble away from the front of Mr. Beamer's barn, through the two open front wooden gates, down along the open road and out into the pleasant valley below.
The night air was calm and a little damp. Although it was, still a lovely fall early evening that was just a perfect setting for a seasonal hayride.
Short Stack and the girls made up after Tessie handed Short Stack a cup of hot apple-cider.
"No hard feelings Short Stack?"
"Nah you're alright Tessie?no hard feelings?at all."
"I promise not to be so mean in the future. I just sometimes like to cause problems?sorry?OK."
"Please just keep the apple-cider, and snacks coming, and we'll be best friends, for the rest of the night?"
"Oh?Short Stack."
"Aw?just kidding."
As the nighttime softly fell and the hours passed by, a light blue fog slowly blew from the north, which hung over the distant rolling hills. Night birds were speaking in low voices to each other, as a beautiful full Harvest Moon began to rise out of the eastern sky.
The path through the western part of town was smooth and held pleasant views of the, local farms, cornfields and pastures, and you could see the town's large water tower and train station way off, on a distance low-lying hill. Both the water tower and train station appeared as sentinels or guardians of the city, with the large white letters on the side of the water tank, "Centerville", clearly visible in the glow of the evening's orange moon.
There is always a particular feeling one gets when you see the earth's natural delights
in its brilliance and magnificence. The moon-filled night was as orange and radiant as you could ever imagine. The lingering soft clouds were a pale white and gray, and seemed to surround the moon, the way a wooden frame encircles a familiar family picture, hanging above a glowing fireplace.
The gas-lamps lit the way for the lighthearted passengers. This threw a faint yellow pale over the ground, in the front and rear of the wagon, as it sauntered and moseyed along down the old earthen road. The feelings of everyone present was that of seeing a old lost friend for the first time, in a long time, and knowing that your friendship, had not diminished or lessened, since the last time you had embraced.
Joy and a feeling of belonging filled everyone's heart.
The spattering of evening clouds gently parted as all gazed upward to look upon the luminous and very full "Old Orange Moon", which hung lazily in the country sky above. A few lone-stars, twinkled in the blackened sky, like tiny silver sparkle caps shinning off the top water of a calmed and tranquil sea.
Songs were sung on the hayride that was fitting, for the occasion and for the mood of the evening. Each child's voice rang in and sang along, as Mr. Beamer took the lead, singing skillfully aloud over the top, of all their voices. A few other joyous songs and witty tall tales were told and sung, late into the moonlit night, by Mr. Beamer (as only, he was known to do) until the party grew weary.
All of the children finally fell fast asleep.
The eleven o'clock hour was about to close in on them so Charlie, with the prodding of Mr. Beamer on the reins, slowly turned around at the outskirts of town, at a crossroad, and started to head back up the path, towards the barn.
Louis was in the front seat of the wagon with a sleeping Muncy strewn over his lap, and was about to fall fast asleep himself, leaning against Mr. Beamers' shoulder, when Mr. Beamer turned to face Louis. He thoughtfully spoke to him in a soft, low impassioned voice so no one else could hear him.
"You know Louis I've wanted to talk to you for the longest time about your father, Captain Jeremy Parks, and what kind of man he was, and I wanted to talk to you also?about...your future."
"You knew my dad, Mr. Beamer?"
"Yes, I knew him very well Louis."
"Was my father a good man?"
"Yes, of course he was, and he was very brave?"
"Was he handsome, and did he look like me?"
"He was very handsome. Did you know Louis that he has your exact same cobalt color eyes, and bright red hair?"
Louis smiled upon looking up at the glowing orange moon, hanging high above them, admiring in its beauty.
"I know you miss him more than ever as every day goes by, that you don't see him. You know Louis, I knew your father long before you were born. He was a good and very kindhearted man. He had made many friends here in town before he departed on his long trip overseas, so many years ago. I worked with him on his farm long before, I had gone off on all those adventures that I have shared with you, and the rest of the kids in the past on my back porch. You were only five or six years old when your father left. So I know you cannot really remember too much about him, but you should know that he was called off to duty by the president a few years ago, to help defend our country from some very bad people, and that he very bravely answered his countries calling. He is a true hero Louis. Did you know that?"
"I didn't know that Mr. Beamer?really he was a hero??"
"Yes, and he is also...the very bravest of men."
"I hope I can be as brave as him someday Mr. Beamer?"
"You will Louis. You will be as brave as he was, and still might be. It runs in your family. You'll see soon enough."
Louis looked sleepily up at Mr. Beamer, nodding in affirmation that he heard all that he was saying. Louis pulled the warm cotton blanket further up over his lap and Muncy's, and then looked deeply into Mr. Beamer's eyes as Mr. Beamer continued to speak.
"Your father sent letters over the years to Hattie May, you, and me from time to time, but then as the days kept passing by the letters arrived with less regularity, and then finally we just never heard from...your father again. You understand?there was a war?and all...don't you Louis?
"Yeah, I had read about the war when I was younger, but I'm afraid I'm still a little too young to understand it all."
"You are correct Louis you are still a little too young to understand it."
Louis yawned again.
"Your father told me, before he went off on his journey to make sure that I watched out for Hattie May, and especially you Louis. Louis, I just want you to know I love you like my own son and always will, and that your mother may as well be, a sister to Abigail and me. Mrs. Beamer and I care about you so much."
"Thank you very much Mr. Beamer. You and Abigail are my best friends, just like Charlie is."
"One other thing you need to know Louis?about your future."
"Yes Mr. Beamer."
"You will hold the future happiness of a great deal of people in your hands when you grow up.
"I will? What do you mean Mr. Beamer?"
"I mean that Louis, you Louis "will be called upon". A great quest is in your future. Someday you will do great things in your life that are more than you could possibly dream about?it has been "foretold"."
"What are you talking about Mr. Beamer? It has been "foretold". I am only Louis, a small boy who lives in Centerville. What could I possibly have to do that is so important?"
"Louis the daydreams and visions you are having are?a foretelling of your future. You see things that no one else sees. Your dreams are of the future.
"What Mr. Beamer. I don't understand..."
"One day Louis, you will. You will understand what I am telling you. It will all become clear. As for now that is all you need to know. There is a reason that I have been sent here, as was Charlie, and some of your other friends. We are all here to help you on your "life's quest"."
Mr. Beamer gazed up at the big orange moon for a moment to ponder over Louis's future.
Louis yawned once again, as he fought off sleep.
Mr. Beamer gave a soft tug on Charlie's reins.
"Yes Louis, you are "destined for greatness" said Charlie as he turned to look in Louis's sleepy eyes.
Louis nodded to Mr. Beamer that he understood. He then looked forward to see a smiling Charlie looking backwards.
"Yes Mr. Beamer Louis is here for us both. And Louis "you will" do great things in the future"
"Yes he will, Charlie. He certainly will..."
Little Louis closed his eyes for the last time of the evening.
He quickly fell into a deep and somnolent sleep in the front seat of the wagon, while leaning on Mr. Beamer's comforting shoulder. Mr. Beamer once again gave a slight tug on Charlie's leather reins. He looked straight ahead, as he softly whistled a little bit of that "Old Orange Moon" again.
Hattie May was asleep on the other side of Mr. Beamer while Janie Parker, Mildred Waters, Tessie, Molly, and the rest of the children were still all asleep in the back of the wagon.
The nighttime darkness and dampness drew in upon them, as the eleven o'clock hour approached.
The children in the back of the wagon had pulled a few warm knitted quilts over them, to ward of the fall chill in the air, and looked just as comfortable as a gaggle of baby ducklings, slumbering under their mothers, loving outstretched wings.
The night's adventure was winding down to a close as the wagon quietly rambled along, down the sleepy country road. Mr. Beamer rang a small bell to announce their arrival in front of each, and every child's home, and then with a tender pull of the leather reins, the wagon would come to a gentle stop.
The children were carefully handed to each loving parent's waiting arms, fast asleep and deep in their own dreams of, old orange moons, twinkling far off stars, misty covered hills and joyous
dreams, of what the impending holiday season, would soon bring to them all.
The "Old Orange Moon" slunk back into the grasp of the pale clouds as they slowly drifted by. The blue fogs, that had taken shelter earlier in the night under the canopy of a nearby forest of pine trees, reemerged from their slumber and engulfed the dozing valley, around them. By the end of the evening's hayride, all were found to be, content and happy.
Louis once again began his nightly tussle with his dreams and visions. Only this night he dreamed of the day, that his father would return safely to him.