It was the first day of the census, and all through the land each polster
was
ready...a black book in hand.
He mounted his horse for a long dusty ride, his book and his quills were
tucked by his side.
A long winding ride down a road barely there, toward the smell of fresh
bread wafting up through the air.
The woman was tired, with lines on her face and wisps of brown hair
tucked back into place.
She gave him some water ...as they sat at the table and she answered
his questions.....the best she was able.
He asked her of children. Yes, she had quite a few --- the oldest was
twenty , the youngest not quite two.
She held up a toddler with cheeks round and red; his sister she whispered
was
napping in bed.
She noted each person who lived there with pride, and she felt the
faint stirrings of the wee one inside.
He noted the sex, the color, the age...the marks of the quill soon filled
up the page.
At the number of children .......... she nodded her head .......and felt
her lips quiver for the three that were dead.
The places of birth she..."never forgot" was it Pennsylvania? or
Virginia?
or Ohio? or what?
They had come cross the sea, of that she was clear, but she wasn't quite
sure
how long they'd been here.
They spoke of employment, of schooling and such, they could read some, and
write some, but really not much.
When the questions were answered, his job there was done, so he mounted his
horse and rode toward the sun.
We can almost imagine his voice loud and clear, "May God bless you
all for another ten years".
Now picture a time warp ..... its now you and me as we search for the
people on our family tree.
We squint at the census and scroll down so slow as we search for "THAT
ENTRY" from long, long ago.
Could they ever imagine on that long ago day that the entries they made
would effect us this way?
If they knew would they wonder at the yearnings we feel and the searching
that
makes them so lovingly real.
Would they understand our efforts, our struggles, to reach back to touch
them
because they are ours?
Hush now awhile, we can hear if we listen the words they impart, "Our
bloods
in your veins and our love is in your hearts".
Author Unknown