Elizabeth’s Journey

In Search of an Income to Help Support the Family
Jacob and Elizabeth prepare to depart for their journey. Everyone comes outside of the house to share goodbyes and well wishes.
Elizabeth’s mother hands her a handkerchief and says, “Some seeds fall on good ground while some do not take root because the ground is bad … [tears]… use your seeds wisely to produce a plentiful harvest of good.”
Elizabeth nods before they both hold hands with tears tenderly gliding down their cheeks.
Daniel says, “Women, daylight is burning; best be going.”
He pats the shoulders of his two children and walks toward the pasture field, not looking back. Jacob and Elizabeth gather the items they have decided to take with them to the nearby city, a few changes of clothes, bedding, cooking necessities, and some food. It does not seem like much, but Jacob and Elizabeth know that these supplies will soon become heavy as they walk the distance. Not to mention, food has been scarce since the past crop failures.
Father had given them some of the last remaining money to use for rent and food once they reach the city. Elizabeth had earlier placed this inside a small money pouch pinned close to her body beneath her skirt and slips. They definitely do not want a gypsy, which they have heard of from passing peddlers, stealing their small amount of funds.
Their mother and siblings stand beside the front door trying to comfort each other as they watch Jacob and Elizabeth leave the farm for the last time for a long while. Jacob and Elizabeth promise to write often and send as much money as possible back to the family and, fighting back the tears, they begin their journey.
Trying to conceal their emotions after leaving the farm, they walk in silence for awhile. As time passes, feeling in control, Jacob begins to discuss his job possibilities. He wants to open his own repair shop. He declares that he will be the best repairman in the city. He boasts that everyone will bring business to him because of his excellent reputation for fixing anything. Nevertheless, he timidly adds that he will probably have to be an understudy until people recognize his skills and abilities.
But quickly covering his nervousness, he says, “This of course will only be for a short period of time.”
Elizabeth listens for a long time as Jacob adds more details to his dream before she shares the ideas she has thought about for several months but has not told anyone else because she is afraid he or she will laugh at her. Maybe now is the right time to tell someone.
“Jacob, do you know what I want to become?” asks Elizabeth.
Jacob guesses, “A wife and mother of six children.”
Elizabeth shakes her head, “No, I enjoy reading, learning, and gardening. I want to find new ways to help people. You know, that we can use some specific plants to make people well. In the book that Doctor Diefenbach let me borrow, I read about these different herbs and various leaves, which can be used as medicine. I want to learn more and become a doctor. Doctor Diefenbach has allowed me to help him nurse the orphans back to health. In the city, I can meet another doctor and learn …”
She soon finds that it is not the right time to tell Jacob about her dream.
Jacob laughs, “Come now, Elizabeth, you are too pretty for people to take you seriously. And besides, you know what we believe; a woman must submit to her husband. A woman’s place is in the home taking care of her husband and children. Your husband will think for you. Stop being such an independent spirit.”
“I believe that I should have a say in the matter,” pouts Elizabeth.
“You are smarter than I. It is apparent that our parents think so because they gave you the money to carry and the responsibility to write the letters,” Jacob condescendingly lectures.
[Elizabeth thinks to herself as Jacob talks, “A robber will not suspect that a woman will be carrying money, and I write more legibly. This is the only reason Father instructed me to carry the money.”]
“Intelligent or not, you will marry and live a quiet life. Father and Mr. Meyer have already spoken. After you experience a little self-sufficiency, you will gladly marry his son,” says Jacob as Elizabeth shrugs her shoulders.
“I highly doubt that I will ever desire a self-centered, blabber mouth husband,” Elizabeth whispers.
“I know what type of wife I am looking for…” Jacob wistfully says at the same time as Elizabeth retorts, “A dumb one!”
Jacob teases, “It will be okay. I have a plan. I will visit my wise sister, Elizabeth, and ask for her advice in all affairs.”
They, both, laugh, playfully slap at each other, and, then, begin discussing the remaining distance to the next farm lane. The other equally spaced farmhouses form a tight-knit community with the fields surrounding the orderly designed village, all except one.
“Charlie’s farm is so far from the other farms,” Jacob states, “It is as if his family is trying to hide something. Charlie never talks about relatives.”
“Charlie talks about everything, so he must not have other family members,” Elizabeth frowns at the thought of such a small family of three.
At the next farm entrance, Jacob and Elizabeth plan to meet Charlie. He is joining them on the journey to find work and send money back to his father and mother, too. As they turn the bend in the road, they see Charlie leaning against the old oak that stands at the farm lane’s entrance.
He notices them coming and jokingly shouts, “Well, it is about time. I thought that you may have changed your minds.”
“We have not change our minds; we are ready for adventure!” shouts Jacob.
While he stoops down to pick up his pack, Charlie responses, “You cannot have all the fun without me!”