Chapter 12, Rebecca Represents the Family.
In the two years that followed that wonderful Christmas, many things changed around the old brick house and around Riverboro.
The Simpsons moved away, taking Cecil, Clara Bell, and Susan with them.
It was during this time that Reverend Amos Birch and his wife returned to Riverboro.
They had been working abroad as preachers.
The Church's Aid Society had called its meeting for a Wednesday in March.
There was snow on the ground and the sky was dark.
Miranda and Jane both had colds and were too sick to go to the meeting.
You'll have to go for us, Rebecca.
You can represent the family, Miranda said.
Reverend Birch used to know your grandfather, Sawyer, so he'll be expecting us there.
Be careful how you behave.
Be respectful.
Be sure to tell everyone what terrible colds Jade and I have.
Rebecca nodded.
She was excited to go to the society meeting and represent the family.
Aunt Jane wrote her a note explaining why she had to miss school and sent her off.
The service was held in the Sunday school room.
Reverend Birch was at the front of the room, about to begin by the time Rebecca arrived.
There were a dozen people at the meeting.
Being the youngest one there, Rebecca found a friendly face in Mrs. Cobb and sat down beside her.
"'Both of my aunts have bad colds,' she said to her friend.
"'So they've sent me instead.'
Mrs. Cobb smiled and patted Rebecca on the knee.
Mrs. Birch was sitting on her other side.
She was a slim woman with dark hair and a broad forehead.
She was wearing a well-worn black silk dress and looked very tired.
Rebecca's heart went out to her.
The meeting began with a prayer.
Then Reverend Birch asked if someone would play the piano.
Oh, Rebecca, why don't you?
Mrs. Cobb said.
Rebecca went to the front of the room and sat down behind the instrument.
Her father had taught her to play the piano when she was very small, but she didn't get the chance to do it very often.
She played a few hymns while the group sang along.
After she played the last hymn, Reverend Birch told everyone that he and his wife would be in town for the evening.
He said that he would love to hold a parlor meeting and asked if anyone would be willing to host their family.
No one said a word.
Some of the ladies had no spare room.
Some had sickness in the family.
Mrs. Birch sat there with her hands wound tightly together.
"'Why won't anyone speak?'
Rebecca thought.
Her heart fluttered with sympathy.
Mrs Cobb whispered 'Your grandfather always used to entertain missionaries at the brick house, Rebecca?
He'd never let them sleep anywhere else while he was alive.'
Rebecca thought Mrs Cobb was telling her to invite them to stay, so she gathered up her courage and rose from her seat.
"'My aunts, Miranda and Jane, would be very happy to have you visit them at the Brick House.'
Reverend Birch smiled kindly and said that he would be delighted.
They spent the rest of the afternoon on the Aid Society's business.
Much to her surprise, the Reverend asked Rebecca to lead the final prayer.'
She stood up, a bit shaky at first, and began slowly.
Out came a strange mixture of every hymn, prayer, and speech she had ever heard.
After the breathless amen, she sat back down, grateful for her chair.
It took quite some time for her knees to stop shaking.
Mrs Birch came up to Rebecca afterward and said 'My dear, I am so glad we'll be staying with you'.
Would it be all right if we came at half-past five?
It's three now, and we need to get the children and our bags.
Rebecca told her that half-past five was the time they usually had dinner, so that would be a fine time for them to arrive.
Wonderful, Mrs. Birch said.
I look forward to seeing you again.
Mrs. Cobb came up and offered to drive Rebecca home.
Suddenly, the full weight of having invited the Birches' company before asking her aunt settled on her shoulders.
The drive home was very quiet, but by the time she arrived back at the brick house, Rebecca had become very excited about the whole idea, despite what Aunt Miranda might say.
Rebecca took off her shoes and put on her slippers before entering the parlor where her aunts were knitting.
It It was a very small meeting, Aunt Miranda, she said slowly.
The Reverend and his wife are lovely people.
They're coming here to spend tonight and tomorrow with you.
I hope you don't mind.
Coming here, Miranda cried.
Her knitting fell into her lap.
Did they invite themselves?
No, Rebecca answered truthfully.
I had to invite them for you, like when Grandfather was alive.
When are they coming?
Right away.
Not for two hours, about half past five.
Miranda was very upset.
They had had no company at the brick house for many years.
Now, in a mere two hours, it would be full of strangers.
How in the world did you let this happen, Rebecca?
What were you?
Now, Miranda, Jane interrupted.
I thought this might come up.
You know how much our father enjoyed helping the preachers.
Rebecca told them about playing the piano for the Reverend Birch.
She told them all that had happened at the meeting and brought home all the news about the Aid Society.
She let her aunts know how hard it was to sit there with no one to offer the kind people a place to stay.
Then she told them how.
Mrs Cobb said that her grandfather always used to have them at the Brick House.
She felt she just had to speak up.
Reverend Birch said a prayer for Grandfather right then and there.
He spoke about what a wonderful man he was and I knew I must have done the right thing, Aunt Miranda.
At that, Aunt Miranda's heart softened.
The memories of the old days came flooding over her.
She thought about her father.
He was such a good man.
The old brick house had always been full of interesting people coming and going from faraway places.
You've only done what's polite.
It's just too bad that Jane and I are sick with colds.
That just goes to show that it's right as rain to keep your house clean and shiny, with company stopping by at a moment's notice.
Rebecca kindly offered to get the rooms ready for the guests while her aunts had a good rest.
What good work she did.
She tidied the rooms, placed fresh towels on the washstands, and made the beds with fresh linens.
Rebecca even opened up the good parlor, lit a fresh fire, and turned on her own lamp.
The lamp was another Christmas present for Mr. Aladdin.
He sent them every year.
By a quarter after five, everything was ready.
The Birch family arrived promptly at 5.30.
Rebecca played with the two small girls until dinner, while Aunt Jane spoke with the Reverend and his wife.
Aunt Miranda made a grand meal.
Mr. and Mrs. Cobb joined them too.
After dinner, they all told stories around the warm fire Rebecca had lit.
Later, they shared cookies and raspberry lemonade, and then Rebecca took the young girls off to bed.
Mr. and Mrs. Cobb also said goodnight.
Your niece is quite remarkable, Reverend Birch said to Miranda.
She seems to be turning out well, indeed.
She was quite a handful when she first arrived.
Do you know who she reminds me of, Miranda?
Reverend Birch said.
Her grandfather.
She's the spitting image of her father on the outside, but she's all soulier on the inside, I believe.
Well, Miranda replied.
We'll just have to see about that, won't we?
The next morning, Rebecca woke up earlier than usual.
She jumped out of bed and quickly got dressed.
I know my aunts are still feeling poorly, she thought.
I'll go and get breakfast started.
Jane's cold had grown worse overnight, and she was unable to get out of bed.
Miranda was still under the weather, but she managed to get up anyway, although she complained about having all the guests in the house.
By the time she got downstairs, she discovered that Rebecca had already done everything.
The coffee was made, the eggs were cooking, and the fires were lit.
Miranda looked around the room with an honest sense of pride at her niece's hard work.
The Birch family enjoyed their second meal with Rebecca and her aunts.
They were all very sad when they had to leave.
The two little girls cried and cried.
Then they made Rebecca promise to write often.
Reverend and Mrs Birch thanked the Sawyers for their kindness and said that they would always remember the lovely time they had there.
Those two days became fond memories for everyone, but especially for Rebecca.
