A Winter's Promise by Jeanette Gilge Page A

thought about the team of horses again. Last night she had been so excited about all they would do when they got the horses, she had felt equal to any chal lenge—even being alone with the children for another winter. But now, in the early morning gray, a knot of fear clutched her middle at the thought of Al trudging off to camp again.
    “ I ’ ve got to talk to him, ” she told herself. “ I ’ ve got to tell him how bad it was. There must be something w e can do. Right after breakfast, we ’ ll talk. ” She thought again of her daydream about Al coming home, putting her tenderly to bed, and saying he didn ’ t know how she had managed to get through all those hours.
    Emma sighed. “ That sure was a dream! I can do with out praise, but at least he could tell me he knows I had a rough time. I wish I could talk to Kate or Ma or someone! ”
    Objects in the room were taking shape by the time the baby had finished nursing, but Emma still nee ded to light the lamp to see to wash Al ’ s things. She opened Al ’ s turkey and took out the soggy socks and underwear. I ’ ll have to finish knitting his new socks before next weekend, she thought, as she examined a pair almost be yond darning. She scrubbed and rinsed and wrung, scolding herself for not washing them last night. She wrung each one until she couldn ’ t extract another drop, then hung them on the rack behind the stove and re minded herself to turn them often so they would be dry by the time Al had to leave. If only he had enough socks and underwear that he could take clean ones and leave, these home for her to wash during the week. But under wear and yarn cost money.
    “ Money! Money! ” she muttered. “ No matter where I turn, we need money. ” She stirred oatmeal into boiling water and was almost done setting the table when the boys woke up. Of course they woke Ellie, who began to cry until she remembered Papa was home. Out she flew, bare feet pattering across the cold floor calling, “ Papa? Papa? ”
    “ Papa ’ s still in the barn. Come. Let ’ s get dressed be fore he comes
    “ Boys! ” she called as she dressed Ellie. “ I ’ ve got a sur prise for you as soon as you ’ re dressed. ”
    “ What? What? ” they clamored.
    “ I can ’ t tell you till you ’ re all done dressing. ”
    They ran out of the bedroom in moments, still strug gling with buttons.
    Emma opened the little brown packet and spread the pictures on the table. “ See, Fred! That ’ s a train. ”
    “ I want the twain, ” he yelled grabbing it.
    Luckily Albert wanted the horses, or there would have been a squabble.
    Emma handed Ellie the telephone picture. Soberly the little girl turned it over and back again, looking up at Emma for an explanation.
    “ Here, Liebchen, I ’ ll put it away for you. When you ’ re bigger, I ’ ll tell you all about telephones. You ’ ll like this better. ” She pulled out the red ribbon. “ See! Mama ’ ll make you pretty! Let me tie it in your hair, and you ’ ll look pretty when Papa comes in. ” I
    When it was secure Ellie patted it, eyes questioning. Emma picked her up and l et her see herself in the wavy, walnut-framed mirror. The pain that shot up Emma ’ s spine almost took her breath away, but Ellie ’ s delight was worth the cost, she told herself as she set her down.
    A chorus of, “ Papa, lo ok! Papa look! ” greeted Al when he came i n from doing chores. Emma felt a twinge of envy. They never greeted her with such exuberance.
    While Emma tied a flour-sack towel around Ellie ’ s ne ck and poured cream on her oatmeal, Ellie waved and jabbered and fussed.
    “ Eat your oatmeal now! See? Mama put sugar on it! ” But Ellie just banged her spoon and yelled all the more.
    The boys showed Al their pictures, and he tried to tell Albert about the horses ’ har nesses. Ellie ’ s fussing threat ened to drown him out.
    Al frowned at her. “ Ellie! What are you yellin ’ about? ”
    She pointed at the boys ’