Dawn's Rising

Chapter 10; A Seldom Trip Into Town

Three weeks later just a few hours before dawn, twenty three members of the four families packed into three covered wagons and headed to Fort Smith for a rare trip into town. Only Erling Lausund and his oldest son, Ivar remained to keep an eye on their homes and livestock.

The main reason for their long journey was to have baby Lukas baptized the next day on Sunday by the Reverend of Fort Smith. Reverend Jeffery Mason had baptized all of the children born to Jarle's, Roger's and Erling's families since the three families had settled near by, and now he was to baptize the first of Karl's children born in this great land.

The secondary reason for their trip to town, and the basis for why they left so early this fine Saturday morning, was to make a rare visit to the town's general store. All four families had great need for replenishing their depleted supplies as well as making purchases for the two rapidly approaching holidays of Thanksgiving and Christmas.

As for a place to set up camp, Reverend Mason had generously offered them a place to park their wagons for the night, along with an invitation to coffee this evening. The thoughtful man had suggested that they park their three wagons beside his house where they would all be safely nestled between his home and the small white Presbyterian church of Fort Smith. So there, in the shadow of the church they would all spend the night outside, a prospect that overjoyed all the children, but did not thrill the parents so much. But the discomfort of a night inside the cramped confines of their covered wagons was a price they were all very willing to pay for all that they would get out of this weekend.

Each of the three wagons had been outfitted with the traditional canvas hood to provide its occupants a little extra protection from the elements as well as some privacy for the grown ups and smallest children who would be spending the coming night within their shelter. The older children though had been granted the adventure of sleeping outside underneath the wagons, where all sorts of fantastical things might happen. All the adults were sure that they would get next to no sleep with their children lying beneath the thin layer of their wagons' floorboards, whispering ghost stories and tales of wild adventures to each other, probably the entire night through.

For Julianna and her family camping outside would be an entirely new experience. Though she was a bit uncertain about it, she was willing to go through with it for the chance to not only shop in the general store and worship with new brothers and sisters in Christ that she had never met before, but also to practice her English again. Since the Karl Jakobsen's family had moved into their new home in Fredensdal, they had rarely had a chance to practice English together. With the long hours that Karl and Petter spent at the sawmill in order to make furniture for their new house, and then the arrival of baby Lukas it was more and more seldom that their family got a chance to come together for an evening English lesson anymore. Julianna did read daily in her English Bible though, so that she would not forget any of the English which she had learned. With a sigh, she glanced up through the front opening of the canvas bonnet at the occupants of the front seat. All sat in silence as her parents, her oldest cousin, Jakob and her Uncle Karl and Aunt Kari watched the passing scenery of soft rolling grass covered hills encircled by forested mountains.

Kristine lay on her belly next to her new friend Hilde without a care in the world. She had felt so privileged when seven year old Hilde had approached her the night of their welcome feast and asked to be her best friend. Back in Norway there had been no girls her age that had lived near their home. There had only been the girls Else and Eva from the neighboring farm across the fjord from their house, but they were both over ten years older than her and seldom had time or desire to keep company with Kristina. Her cousin Thomas had been the closest friend she had ever had, although he didn't really count because he was a boy.