American Girl

Colorado

Dillweed, Colorado—a little town that retained its old west atmosphere into the early twentieth century. A few false-fronted businesses mingled with the more imposing brick buildings on a paved Main Street lined with automobiles. Janey Frost stood on a street corner amongst her group. She shook her tambourine and sang "Onward Christian Soldiers" with gusto. Three other women and two men were part of her group. They had arrived by train the previous morning.

Janey had graduated from high school two weeks earlier and was seeking something to do. She lived in a large Victorian house in Philadelphia with her mother and father. Her father was an entrepreneur with high standards, and he expected his children to follow in his footsteps. Her older sister, Elspeth, became a missionary teacher in Africa. Janey didn't want to go so far from home or live in another country. She remained unsure of her life's direction until she passed the local Salvation Army. She signed up and, joining her group, traveled to Colorado.

Janey wore a navy worsted jacket, a matching full skirt, and a navy bonnet trimmed with red. All the women dressed the same, and the men wore uniform double-breasted jackets with brass buttons running down the front. A crowd gathered around them as they sang. Janey extended her tambourine when they finished. People dropped coins into it. She counted four dollars.

"Four dollars," Janey exclaimed when they stepped into their headquarters behind them. It was a good beginning. They bustled to get their business under operation. When they were in position, John Meadows propped open the door.

They served chicken noodle soup. Men and women lined up. Some looked raggedy, but others were well-dressed. Janey didn't judge them. She handed out soup plates one by one.

"Good evening," Janey said to each one in the soup line. She bowed her head slightly in respect. Some answered, and many didn't. Next to her, Matthew Phipps ladled the soup. Nancy Meadows, John's wife, poured the coffee. Their customers sat at small round tables and helped themselves to bread and butter. At the end of the night, they had served sixty-three customers.

Janey entered the kitchen after John locked the doors. She filled the sink with water and rolled up her sleeves to wash the dishes. Charlotte Marks helped her wipe them. Her sister, Florence, helped Martha clean the dining room.

"Florence saved back plenty of soup for us and bread," Charlotte stated, shining the silverware. "She'll make sure we get a good supper."

"I'm famished," Janey exclaimed, plunging her hands in soapy water. "It's ages since lunchtime."

"I saw how busy you were out there," Janey's companion remarked. "We're going to do good here."

"I'm glad I came. Dillweed is a nice quiet place. I would have hated it in New York or Chicago," the new recruit stated. "it's better to start out in an easy town."

"Philly was all right. This place is a lot slower," Charlotte said. She stacked soup plates and placed them in the cabinets. "I like busy places, but we can relax here. We're in the back end of nowhere."

Charlotte Marks was two years older than Janey. She, too, joined the Salvation Army after graduating from high school. Her sister, Florence, was ten years her senior. Flo worked as the chef, and Charlotte assisted her. They always stayed together.

"What made you join?" Charlotte asked after a while.

"Father wanted us to volunteer at something. My sister, Elspeth, went to Africa as a missionary. I couldn't go that far," Janey explained. "I saw the recruiting sign outside the Salvation Army and joined. It was kinda spur of the moment."