by Mary Wingfield Bell
Chapter One -
Maggie's brother, Abner, sat on a soft patch of grass.
"Let's see who can hit that tree trunk on the other side of
the water," suggested the boy.
"O.K., now we can start," said Maggie. "Delight, you can go
first."
"Maybe you should be first," returned Delight.
"Sure, I'll go first," said Maggie, eager to prove herself
Maggie threw a little rock and missed. "Oh, peanuts!" she said,
disgusted.
"Now, Delight, it is your turn," was Abner's command.
Delight cast a small stone over the rippling water, hitting a
clump of bushes but not the tree trunk. "I'll do better next
time," she promised.
Abner took his turn without saying anything. Whick! He hit the
tree trunk at the center and a broad smile of triumph came across
his face.
"Abner, you always hit the target," sighed his sister. "If I
were a boy I could do it, too."
The children went on taking turns until Delight and Maggie
each finally hit the tree trunk.
Every time Abner threw a pebble, it hit the tree until
Popcorn, Delight's dog, jumped out of the bushes and the little
stone hit him. The dog gave a loud yelp.
"Poor Popcorn," sighed Delight when she saw her dog get
hurt.
The animal was not hurt much. He put one front paw in the
brook where the water was shallow. Then he put the other one in.
Soon he crossed the brook to where the children were playing. He
came out of the cool water, shaking himself.
Delight loved her pet. She had raised him from a tiny puppy
four years before.
"Hey! Popcorn you're getting me wet!" shouted the girl with
the lame leg.
"Me, too!" joined Maggie, enjoying the sprinkle.
All three children tried to hug the dog at the same time.
Popcorn decided this was too much attention and freed himself.
"Delight! Delight!" called Grandma from the house.
"I am coming!" Delight hollered in answer to her grandmother.
She was ready to go home anyway.
A neat thin elderly woman was waiting on the porch. Standing
there in a blue print dress that was almost covered by her apron.
Grandma looked good. Her new apron was so pretty, trimmed in red
bias tape with red and blue morning glories appliqued on the
pocket" Delight's grandmother had a way of making everything
around her attractive. There were flowers and butterflies sewn on
the curtains in the dining room. In the living room were an
abundance of pillows with crochet tops. Grandma had embroidered
birds on two of the pillows.
The sun was shining on her brown and silver-streaked hair as
she came down the front steps to meet Delight.
"Hey, guys, don't Grandma look great in her new apron," said
Delight, hinting for compliments from her friends.
"Grandma Capley, you always look nice," Abner replied.
"Thank you, Abner," said Mrs. Capley. "Would you and Maggie
like some vegetable soup?"
"I'll run and ask Ma," the boy said on his way out of the
yard.
Grandma stood behind Delight as she went up the steps to make
sure the girl did not fall. The granddaughter did not want any
help unless it was absolutely necessary.
By the time Grandma and the girls were in the house and
Delight was seated, they heard Abner calling, "Ma said we can eat
with you."
The two Canberry children lived a short way up the hollow from
the Capley house. They often spent time playing with Delight.
Abner and Delight were both ten years old and Maggie was nine.
The three youngsters had good times playing in Dogwood Hollow
where they lived.
The Capley boy was fond of Delight and found all the ways
possible to please her. He usually walked ahead of the girls,
making the path safe for Delight. He would move rocks out of the
way and pull back the briar bushes until she passed by.
Delight cared about Abner, too. She loved Abner and Maggie
like a brother and sister. Since she had no brothers or sisters,
she was glad that there was the neighbor children to play with.
Maggie helped Grandma by placing the bowls and spoons on the
table. Then she poured milk into three glasses.
Grandma poured coffee for herself.
Grandpa had gone to Clintsville with a friend for most of the
day. It was nice having the Canberry children to fill the
vacancy.
Mrs. Capley blessed their lunch and they all ate heartily.
When the soup bowls were empty, she brought out a big plate of
oatmeal and chocolate chip cookies from the cupboard.
"Wow! these cookies are good!" exclaimed Abner.
"How do you know the cookies are good?" Delight asked. "You
haven't eaten any yet."
"Shucks! All your grandma's cookies taste good." It was an
indirect compliment for Grandma.
"Thank you, Abner, you always have a real appetite," returned
Grandma.
The mountain of cookies dwindled to a little mound and
everyone was satisfied.
"Grandma, may we make something?" asked Delight.
"What do you want to make, dear?" asked the woman.
I'd like to make a pillow top," Delight spoke as she turned to
her friend. "How about you, Maggie?"
Delight limped into the bedroom to look for scraps of material
in Grandma's sewing basket while Maggie helped Mrs. Capley with
the dishes.
"Abner," said Grandma, "you can make something out of wood."
She handed him a hammer and bag of nails.
Abner went onto the back porch and found small blocks of wood
in a box where Grandpa kept scrap pieces. Often the old man carved
small wooden statues from the scrap blocks, such as birds and
little wild animals. He was an excellent wood-carver, making the
most beautiful figurines. There were times when he worked for days
and even months on a very special object.
Abner decided to build a bird house but wished he could make
pretty things out of wood the way Grandpa Capley did.
Grandma showed Delight how to make a butterfly pattern, by
folding notebook paper and cutting wings the same size. Then the
granddaughter pinned the pattern on yellow material and cut out a
butterfly. This she sewed on a square of green gingham and with
black embroidery thread she outlined it.
"Grandma Capley, I'd like to make a pillow top with a boy or
girl on it," said Maggie.
The old woman patiently helped the Canberry girl cut out a
pattern of a boy by folding notebook paper and showed her how to
cut out a boy paper doll.
Maggie did as Mrs. Capley suggested but the boy's arms were
too long.
"I can't make a boy or girl," fretted Maggie.
"It's O.K.," said Grandma and trimmed the ends of the arms.
There was a perfect pattern.
"You're the best," said Maggie. She gave Grandma a hug.
Maggie cut the boy out of the blue cloth and sewed it on a
white square. With pink embroidery thread she stitched the boy
onto the pillow top.
Before the girls were near finished with their pillow tops,
Abner came into the dining room carrying a two-story bird
house.
"Great, Abner!" said Grandma. "And you didn't even mash your
thumb with the hammer."
"May I take it home?" asked Abner, knowing that the answer
would be yes. The Capleys were always generous, knowing it was
more blessed to give than to receive.
It was late Friday afternoon. The children had made this a
good holiday from school. Hilda Canberry's voice could be heard
calling Abner and Maggie. The day had been so much fun that the
children left reluctantly. Mrs. Canberry called a second time.
"Coming, Ma!" shouted Abner and his voice trailed off into the
foliage. He carried his bird house home. The boy knew just where
to put it - on a back yard fence post. There were always birds in
or near the backyard.
Maggie left the pillow top at the Capley house. Another day
she would finish the pillow, besides that would be an excuse to go
there again.
The Canberry girl turned around and saw Pa's pick-up truck
coming over the bumpy road way. He stopped and the children rode
the short distance to the house.
Delight finished the butterfly pillow top and laid it in
Grandma's sewing basket. Then she went into the living room to sit
by the fireplace. It was getting cold in the dining room. Nights
were always cold in the mountains where the Capleys lived.
Grandma put another log on the fire. Her granddaughter sat and
watched the flames dance and flicker while the old woman went out
to the hen house to gather eggs. There were seventeen big eggs.
"Good! Another dozen to sell," Grandma whispered to herself.
The twenty-one hens were good producers and the money from extra
eggs was a blessing.
Delight heard a car door slam in the distance and she knew
Grandpa was coming home. He walked from the highway because the
road in the hollow was so rough. The old man came in wearing a
happy smile and bent down to kiss his granddaughter.
"Where is my Comfort?" he asked.
"Grandma is gathering eggs." said Delight.
Grandma came into the living room, smiling also. The fire gave
off a warm glow and so did the faces of the grandparents. The
Capleys were a truly happy family.
"Comfort, guess what?" Grandpa said as he swung Grandma
around.
"Watch it!" returned Mrs. Capley. "You're not a young lad.
O.K., what is so good that you shake me apart?"
"You know that stallion I carved; I sold it for a good price.
The man in the gift shop wants more. He says my work is exquisite.
Isn't it wonderful, darling?"
"Yes, Mark," said Delight's grandmother. "But I will miss that
statue. He is so handsome. You will make more horses for me; I
know because you like carving so much."
"Did you show Abner and Maggie the grapevine tree?" Mr. Capley
asked as he sat down beside his granddaughter.
"No, Grandpa," answered Delight. "That is my special tree. No
one knows about the tree but you and Popcorn."
"Well, now I know," said Grandma.
"That's O.K.," returned Delight. "I am going there again,
maybe tomorrow."
Grandma went into the kitchen to fix supper for Grandpa. He
was very hungry after his long day in Clintsville. The old woman
brought the trays into the living room so they could eat by the
fire. Delight watched her grandfather devour the salmon cakes and
beans. He finished his meal with black coffee and pie.
Delight was not very hungry. She sat silently by the fire. The
girl was in deep thought, remembering the grapevine that wrapped
around the tall tree in the woods just beyond the back yard. The
vine had encircled the tree trunk a few times and draped itself
over a limb hanging in the air and making a strong rope-like
swing. Delight had found out that she could drop her crutches,
stand on one foot and grasp the vine. Clinging tightly, away she
went through the air. It was like flying. The girl was sure the
grapevine grew there just for her.
This is my tree. Yes, this is my tree, she thought. She felt
so free and happy swinging there. Popcorn ran back and forth as
she swung. This secret she would keep as long as possible.
Grandma went to the kitchen to put the food away and wash
dishes. Grandpa sat and talked with his favorite grandchild.
Delight was a bright light in his life and besides Grandma, he
loved her best.
"Want to play checkers?" Grandpa asked the girl.
"No, Grandpa, not tonight. I am tired, I am going to bed. I'm
going to put on my gown right now."
"O.K. dear, sleep well," he said, giving her a good-night
kiss.
Soon Delight was in bed and Mrs. Capley came in to kiss her
good-night. "Honey. remember to pray," said Grandma.
Delight always remembered to say her prayers. When Grandma was
gone from the room and all was dark and quiet, Delight began
talking to God.
"Dear God, I really thank you for the grapevine you put on the
tree out behind our back yard. That is a real nice gift for me. I
hope you don't mind that I am not telling my friends about the
tree. Thank you, too, for Abner and Maggie. They are good friends.
Bless them. Bless Grandma, bless Grandpa and take care of me and
Popcorn."
Delight lay quietly, thinking how nice and warm it was under
the covers and how good it felt to have the metal brace laying on
the chair instead of strapped to her leg.
The pleasant voices of her grandparents, sitting by the fire,
drifted into her room. This gave her much comfort. When they went
to bed, all was quiet. Only the sound of a freight train, passing
through Apple Hill, could be heard. Soon the girl was very much
asleep.
"What are we doing today?" she said upon awakening in the
morning.
"To start with we are having a good breakfast. Grandpa is
going to the Auto store to buy a new battery for our old Plymouth.
I will feed the dog and the chickens.
"Good!" said Delight. "We're getting the car fixed. I have
really missed our rides on Saturday and Sundays."
"I'll be glad to drive again," added Grandpa. "Since I have
found a place to sell my wood statues things are looking
better."
"Remember the scrapbook I received for Christmas," continued
Grandma. "Delight, how would you like to paste in the pictures?
You can arrange the photos as you like."
"Sure, Grandma, I'll do that," answered Delight.
"It is a big job. I doubt that you can finish all of it
today," she said. Then Grandma went to the closet to get the shoe
box loaded with pictures of relatives. The box had been on the
shelf for years.
Delight worked all morning even after Grandpa had brought the
car battery home.
In the afternoon the girl went with her grandparents to town.
It was nice riding in the car again after several weeks of seeing
the automobile just sitting there in the side yard.
Dogwood Hollow branched off the main highway that went through
Apple Hill. In the spring there was beauty almost everywhere in
the hollow. Dogwood trees grew in many places with lovely pink and
white blossoms. Pink rhododendrons bloomed along the low hill
side. White and purple violets grew in profusion and Delight
enjoyed gathering them to put on Grandma's round oak table that
was covered with a white tablecloth.
When she picked violets, the girl would lay her crutches down
and drop to the ground and pluck the flowers. Then she put them in
a brown paper bag. It was the only way to get the violets to the
house safely since she used crutches. Sometimes her two friends
were with her and carried her violets.
Now that fall was coming, the trees were changing from bright
greens to other colors - orange, brown, purple, red and gold. Soon
the ground would have a beautiful covering of leaves, sort of like
a patch-work quilt with so many bright colors. The hollow was just
as lovely in the fall as the spring time.
Darkness fell soon after the Capleys arrived home. The night
was colder than the night before.
Grandma helped Delight get into the large laundry tub where
she took her bath in the kitchen. The wood stove kept the kitchen
warm. Delight shampooed her hair and her grandmother rinsed it
with pitchers of warm water. Then she helped dry the long blond
hair with thick towels.
After the bath Delight put on leotards and a pink-flowered,
quilted housecoat. How clean and warm she felt. The warm water
soothed the pain in her leg.
Delight decided to wait up with her grandparents for Bible
reading and prayer. Afterwards Grandma played the old organ in the
corner of the living room and they sang for a little while. Then
there were good-night hugs and everyone slept well.
Delight laid her crutches down and sat on a smooth rock beside
the babbling brook. Her friend Maggie sat on another rock.
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