Catherine, in stark contrast to her small stature, instilled a commanding presence wherever she went. This was not by any overbearing on her part, but through her self-confidence and grace. She had been the church secretary for the past eleven years and was responsible for publishing the monthly newsletter.
Rev. Ellington had just entered the room having spent the morning along with half his congregation preparing Thanksgiving meals for the poor. “I see that you read his advertisement looking for a wife.”
“I’m not sure about placing this ad. What do we really know about him?” Catherine asked. “After all he has only been in town for a few months.”
She herself had seen him tirelessly clean and prepare 9 of the 60 donated turkeys that morning. Still, she found it hard to trust the man, who sat alone, and talked to no one.
She then passed him two weeks later as he was coming out of the general store.
Some children were pelting him with eggs. Eggs landed everywhere, on the store window, his packages, his clothing, and his face.
Throughout this incident he made no sound. It appeared to her and every bystander that if he had opened his mouth all the powers of hell would be released.
She knelt down to him as he stooped down to pick up his fallen packages.
She wiped his eyes with her handkerchief. He looked at her, and then stared at the ground in silence. She could not tell if he was angry, or embarrassed, or had no feelings at all.
She had not seen him again till the following Sunday morning, when he came up the narrow stairway that led to the second-floor meeting room in the church.
Standing at the top of the stairs, he was an imposing figure, burly, balding, middle aged, red unkempt beard.
He stood facing her. In broken English he said. “My name Lars Svenson.” “I am here to America for to build Gud home, to be Gud man, to find Gud wife and raise Gud family.”
Pausing and he smiled and added, “Thank you. My friend, Catreen”.
They have remained friends ever since.
Raymond K. Olson © 2008
