Read RR05 - Tender Mercies for Free Online Page A

flag. . . .” John spoke slowly and clearly so that the children could follow easily. At the end he turned back to his class. “Very good. We’ll work on memorizing that for all the new ones here.” He picked up his Bible and waited for the rustlings to cease. “Today we are reading from Matthew, where Jesus is talking to His disciples and a large crowd. ‘He said, “Suffer the little children come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.” ’ ” John looked up at the serious faces before him. “You see, Jesus has a special place in His heart for little children, but we are all His children, some of us just older than others.
    “Shall we pray?” He waited again until all heads were bowed, eyes closed, and hands folded.
    “Heavenly Father, we thank thee for the life and death of thy son, Jesus the Christ. We are glad that He is here with us right now to bless our school and our hearts and minds so that we might learn quickly and behave in a quiet and godly manner. Be with us now, in Jesus’ name. Amen.”
    Lifting his head he looked at his students and breathed a quiet prayer that God would give him the wisdom needed to guide these lives entrusted to him.
    “You may be seated,” he told them.
    He took up his pad of paper and newly sharpened quill pen to write the children’s names and ages, later to fill in their grade according to their level of learning. Some still spoke little English, but he had resolved to no longer talk Norwegian in the schoolroom. These children would learn to speak English if he taught them nothing else. It wouldn’t be long before the weekly language classes for their parents would begin again also.
    “I would like all of our new pupils to come forward and line up beside my desk. The rest of you may choose a book from the shelf and read to yourselves until I am finished.” He ignored the two groans, feeling fairly certain which throats they came from. Baptiste would never say a word, but the Baard boys were not so reticent. He knew for certain who it was when their younger sister Anji hissed at them. He had a fair idea that Agnes would deal with them when they got home.
    One by one he wrote down the names of the four youngest, asking them their ages and how to spell their names. He looked at Ellie. “It is Peterson or Wold now?”
    “Wold.” Her smile lit her face.
    “So the adoption is final?”
    She nodded. “Pa said so.”
    All but one passed with flying colors, and that was because he only spoke Norwegian. When John translated, the little boy did fine.
    “Very good. Now, can you recite your alphabet?” At their looks of confusion, he said, “your ABC’s ?”
    Andrew led the way. “A.” He glanced at the other boy. With only minor prompting from the teacher, they rushed through to the end. “Z. That’s the sound the saw makes. Zzzzzz.” Andrew flashed a grin up at the teacher.
    “You’re right. And that’s the sound of bees buzzzzing too.” John smiled at each of them. “Now, how far can you count?”
    Ellie went the furthest with twenty-nine. She’d shut her eyes to remember the last numbers, so when she opened them, the teacher smiling at her made her cheeks turn red.
    “Very good. Now, you four may take your seats and write your letters on your slate. Anji Baard will help you if needed.” As they filed away, Toby and Jerry White, soon to be Valders, stepped forward.
    “We ain’t had no schoolin’—”
    “ ’Cept what our new mama gived us.” Neither of the boys looked too excited about it now either.
    “Can you spell your names?” They shook their heads. “How old are you?” Shrugs. John had talked with Hildegunn Valders, and they decided the boys were about seven and nine, Jerry being the eldest.
    “I . . . I can count.” At the teacher’s nod, Jerry scrunched his eyes closed and rattled 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-10 without a breath.
    “Nine.”
    “Huh?” His eyes popped open.
    “Nine. Nine comes before ten.”
    “Oh, I