They have always known about fairies and they honor and respect us. For centuries, any fairy in trouble has been able to count on help from the Roma. They will do anything to aid us, at risk of life and limb, and our secret is safe with them. Likewise, we come to their aid when we can. It is so sad they’ve been persecuted and driven away in this country and many others.” Willow stopped. Her eyes became misty.
“Do you stay in touch with any Roma?” he asked.
Willow nodded. “Yes, I do. It’s a smart thing to do in case of need. Much of the Jones history Father learned from them, except for one important piece. Something happened on the Jones farm that made the workers leave one night, something awful enough to overcome their fear. Father believed the Roma hid all the events to protect the workers when they fled. Later, the facts faded from memory.
“When the workers left, the Joneses were almost ruined. They were forced to hire locals to do the work, people who demanded higher pay, and were immune to whatever held the Roma. It was a bad time for them until the Depression struck. The stock market crash affected them little, since they had everything in the farm, and cheap labor became plentiful again. The farm prospered from the many government food programs. Armstrong proved to be a shrewd businessman and traveled far to secure contracts while James remained in Hoopeston to run the farm. For the next twenty-five years, business was good as the Depression gave way to World War II and even greater need for farm products.
“Armstrong’s son, Anthony, was born just before the Depression. He grew up during the farm’s heyday, but he didn’t care about the business side. His father and grandfather were too occupied with making money to spend time with him, so their commercial zeal wasn’t passed on to him.
“Nineteen fifty was a pivotal year for the Jones family. It was the year Chester Jones was born, Anthony’s son, and a few weeks after his birth, James passed away. The lucrative Depression and war contracts had vanished, and Armstrong pressed Anthony into service to help him save the farm. Over the next twenty-five years, the family sold off several parcels to raise cash. The Big House became expensive to maintain, but Armstrong would not discuss parting with the old place. He and his wife, Clarisse, and Anthony and his wife, Janet, as well as Chester, lived in the old place, with no want of room.
“My parents moved to the area around 1950 also. They bought the home south of the Jones property and Father opened his business in Hoopeston. Within a few years, he developed many contacts in the local financial community and so became aware of the Joneses’ strained finances. In the early seventies, Father approached Armstrong about buying the woods property, including the Big House. My father’s contacts told him this was the only way the farm could survive. One last large cash infusion would save it, as well as relieve the burden of taxes and maintenance on the Big House. My parents had decided years before that they wanted the property.” Willow paused and took a long drink of water.
“How did Armstrong react?” Noah asked.
“My father would never tell Mother and I what was said. Father was a gentle man who didn’t swear or show anger, but anytime he talked about the conversation, his face grew red. I presume Armstrong told my father where to put his offer. Armstrong went so far as to accuse Father of turning the banks against him so he would have to sell.
“One surprising thing about the meeting was that Chester Jones attended, but not his father Anthony. Chester and his grandfather were very close. Chester became involved in running the business end of the farm when he was in his early twenties. Anthony was different from his father and son and stuck with farming itself. You could often see him out working in the fields, which was beneath Armstrong and Chester. Many people who didn’t know
“Do you stay in touch with any Roma?” he asked.
Willow nodded. “Yes, I do. It’s a smart thing to do in case of need. Much of the Jones history Father learned from them, except for one important piece. Something happened on the Jones farm that made the workers leave one night, something awful enough to overcome their fear. Father believed the Roma hid all the events to protect the workers when they fled. Later, the facts faded from memory.
“When the workers left, the Joneses were almost ruined. They were forced to hire locals to do the work, people who demanded higher pay, and were immune to whatever held the Roma. It was a bad time for them until the Depression struck. The stock market crash affected them little, since they had everything in the farm, and cheap labor became plentiful again. The farm prospered from the many government food programs. Armstrong proved to be a shrewd businessman and traveled far to secure contracts while James remained in Hoopeston to run the farm. For the next twenty-five years, business was good as the Depression gave way to World War II and even greater need for farm products.
“Armstrong’s son, Anthony, was born just before the Depression. He grew up during the farm’s heyday, but he didn’t care about the business side. His father and grandfather were too occupied with making money to spend time with him, so their commercial zeal wasn’t passed on to him.
“Nineteen fifty was a pivotal year for the Jones family. It was the year Chester Jones was born, Anthony’s son, and a few weeks after his birth, James passed away. The lucrative Depression and war contracts had vanished, and Armstrong pressed Anthony into service to help him save the farm. Over the next twenty-five years, the family sold off several parcels to raise cash. The Big House became expensive to maintain, but Armstrong would not discuss parting with the old place. He and his wife, Clarisse, and Anthony and his wife, Janet, as well as Chester, lived in the old place, with no want of room.
“My parents moved to the area around 1950 also. They bought the home south of the Jones property and Father opened his business in Hoopeston. Within a few years, he developed many contacts in the local financial community and so became aware of the Joneses’ strained finances. In the early seventies, Father approached Armstrong about buying the woods property, including the Big House. My father’s contacts told him this was the only way the farm could survive. One last large cash infusion would save it, as well as relieve the burden of taxes and maintenance on the Big House. My parents had decided years before that they wanted the property.” Willow paused and took a long drink of water.
“How did Armstrong react?” Noah asked.
“My father would never tell Mother and I what was said. Father was a gentle man who didn’t swear or show anger, but anytime he talked about the conversation, his face grew red. I presume Armstrong told my father where to put his offer. Armstrong went so far as to accuse Father of turning the banks against him so he would have to sell.
“One surprising thing about the meeting was that Chester Jones attended, but not his father Anthony. Chester and his grandfather were very close. Chester became involved in running the business end of the farm when he was in his early twenties. Anthony was different from his father and son and stuck with farming itself. You could often see him out working in the fields, which was beneath Armstrong and Chester. Many people who didn’t know
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