Dawn's Rising

Dawn's Rising; Chapter 2, The Unexpected Happens

Upon their arrival in Newcastle, England, Karl Jakobsen and his family took a three hour train trip to Liverpool where they had to wait for nearly two days before the S/S Egypt arrived in port. The Jakobsens were one of the first to board the huge four hundred thirty four foot long steam ship. Within half an hour they were all settled into the amazingly small room that they were to share together with two young sisters also from Norway for their long journey to the great United States of America. Soon the ship fell into a gentle rolling motion upon the choppy waves of the ... and the hum of the ships motors settled into a low droning rhythm which would be a constant accompaniment to their every activity for the next eleven days.

As their mother unpacked all they would need during their journey onboard Julianna and Kristine took a seat on the bottom bunk across from the two young ladies and wasted no time in starting up a friendship. The youngest, Irene Torstein, was but two years older than Julianna, and Stine Torstein was to be nineteen in only six days. They were on their way to Oklahoma where their oldest brother John, had found them both husbands. After exchanging pictures and a half dozen letters with John's two young friends, Irene and Stine had agreed to marry Jim and William Thompson. Julianna admired these two young women deeply for their courage in taking such a leap of faith in accepting husbands that they had never even met. She wondered if she could ever do something so daring, relying fully on the Lord's guidance and protection.

With youthful glee the two sisters showed the pictures of their fiancés, and alternated in telling all the preparations that their soon to be husbands had already made for their arrival. With a sigh and a surge of girlish desire Julianna wondered if a husband was awaiting her too in the yet untamed wilds of Arkansas. Silje glanced over at her oldest daughter and then met Karl's knowing smile. Both parents had followed unobtrusively the conversation of the young girls and could tell what Julianna was now thinking about. Kristine only sat quietly, swinging her dangling legs as she listened to the older girls speak of things which she was yet incapable of understanding.

Entering into the small chamber after taking a walk around the winding passageways, Petter gave a polite nod to Irene and Stine, who smiled and returned his nod. He then tweaked Kristine's cheek as he passed by her on his way to their father who lay outstretched on an all too cramped bunk. Petter took a seat on one of the trunks piled in the corner of the room and started up a conversation with his father, "I met a nice fellow who works down in the kitchen. He is also Norwegian and has worked on this ship for five years now." Petter said while trying to stifle a yawn.

In need of a diversion to keep awake, Karl took the bait and continued the conversation. "What is his name?" Karl asked. Opening his eyes he tried to stretch out his arms to their full length but only succeeded in knocking one hand into the bunk beside him and the other into his wife's hip. "Sorry dearest." He said with a lopsided apologetic smile.

Silje gave him a tired grin in return. Seeing the dark rings under his wife's eyes and the paleness of her face Karl stood up and took her hand. "Take a break and lie down for a while. You look exhausted." Karl stated his words gently but firmly, inviting no compromise.

"I think I better. I guess I am starting to get sea sick all ready." Silje said with a weary sigh. She stretched out her aching back muscles and rubbed her belly then finally took over the bunk that her husband had so thoughtfully vacated for her. Karl sat on an exposed corner of another trunk as his son was doing and turned his attention again to Petter.

"His name is John Arne, and he is just a few months older than me. Just think, he left home to work on this ship when he was only thirteen. His father had died when he was twelve and he had to take this job to help support his mother and four younger siblings. He sends them nearly all of his pay each month." Petter said in a tone that reflected his respect. His father gave a hmph and shook his head in sympathy over the young man's life story.