A Mother to Be

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Posted by Many Flags on May 13, 2001 at 12:50:41:

13 May 1759
Dawn at the Cabin in Allemangel
County of Berks, Penn's Colony

I have not written for months, but now since I am in my own cabin again, gazing on my beautiful Magdalena as she sleeps, I, relaxed, refreshed and filled with overflowing joy, believe that some written words are necessary.

Several days ago, we left Fort Augusta. In our small band was brother Three Tales, cousins Davey Gunn, Malcolm MacWilliam, and my sister-in-law Two Bottle, and Andrew Kuntz, the artist. We had left Seamus and Nancy to head north to their cabin along the Loyalsock. They needed time (Seamus said with a wink), and our Uncles Quasi and Angus, we're not sure where they went. But, they have promised to accompany us south in a few weeks to the Carolinas for the Gathering.

Our small band headed south east and yesterday late we reached our aged parents' cabin. Mutter and Vater are well and they were keeping Tales and Bottle's children. We visited some, for mother had never met her nephews Malcolm and Davey. Several times she became emotional as she talked of her brother Hugh, the father of Malcolm and Davey, his death, and other bittersweet memories. Finally, Brother Tales and Two Bottle gathered up their children, we said hasty goodbyes, promising to meet within a few days to plan the trip south. Kuntz and the Scottish cousins said they would accompany me to my cabin which is ten miles or so south east of the aged parents.
I was hurried to get home to my Magdalena, and it was already dark. But my mother surprised me with news which made me hurry even faster.

"The damage is done!" she screamed at me as soon as Tales and his family were out of sight. "Ich verstehe nicht, was sagen sie?" I replied. Mutter screamed at me again and took up the nearest broom to begin hitting me over the head as my comrades stood in awe...she raged in Deutsch, "The damage is done. Your beautiful bride is in great need of you, and you, you go off fighting savages, attending fairs, and now traveling to Gatherings. You men are all the same. Now, GET YE HOME! SCHNELL!" I looked to my father, the German immigrant, for help, but he only stood there laughing.

I finally calmed down my poor old mother, whom I thought had gone adled in the brain. Then she broke the news. "Many Flags, my son, Magdalena is with child. She is waiting patiently for you." Amidst the slapping on my back from Andrew Kuntz, Malcolm and Davey, my dear mother once again took up the broom and began beating me about, shooing me out the door. We left in a trot, but not before my dear Mother, took me by the arm, hugged me, and through her joyful tears she whispered, "Go, Many Flags, you may make it home by midnight. It is past full moon, but you must travel by night to go home to your Magdalena. And when you arrive, it is her day, her special day as a new mother to become."

It was late in the night by the time we took off. I know the trail with my eyes closed from my aged parents to my newly built cabin. We seemed to fly through the night, it was a cool night, no sweat rose on our brows and my moccassined feet seemed to have wings, the clip-clop of the cousins' and Andrew's buckled shoes clamoring behind me, they were huffing and puffing to keep up.

It was after midnight when we arrived to my cabin. I stopped before going through the clearing. For on the small porch was my dear Magdalena, several candles burning around her, I could hear her singing sweetly a Deutsches kinder Lied, a children's song, from our old country. I must have stood for several minutes, my comrades finally catching up with me and almost bowling me over. I shushed them and stood a bit longer, catching a whiff of smoke from the chimney, for it was a cool night and Magdalena had a small fire lit for the chill. Suddenly, without me entering the clearing, Magdalena stood. She was dressed only in a chemise with a schall round her shoulders, and in the candlelight I could see her lower body was filling out with.....yes, with my child. She stood silently for a few seconds, then called out, "Flags, are you there? I feel your presence!" I could wait no longer and ran to her. In the half light of the moon and the candlelight we embraced, not as tightly as we once could have, but with just as much ardor and love.

Finally, I sensed the presence of the comrades. Magdalena and I let go of each other, both of us a bit embarressed, for we had forgotten the world and those around us, and we welcomed our guests into the cabin. As we turned, I whispered to her, "A mother to be you are, meine Liebe. Dies is deine Tag. This is your day. For on this day, I embrace you as a soon to be mother. God be praised!"

And so we visited, we five, for some time, then slept. Malcolm and Davey on the porch, Andrew in his usual place beside the small fire, and I, well, I slept once more in my place with my wife, the mother to be of my child on this day, the 13th of May. Before dozing off in each others' arms, I asked my Magdalena if our friend Andrew the artist could be godfather to this child. A nod of her head made the decision complete. So, if the child is a son, his name shall be Andrew, or Andreas in the German way.

My liebe Magdalena now stirs. I see the place on her body where the child lays. I must again ask her permission to go to this Gathering. If I am to go, I will take my love to her parents' home in Womelsdorf. She must not be alone in this forest while she is with child and I am gone.

Pax Aye! A special day this is for meine Frau, a mother to be.

Many Flags

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: 13 May 1759
: Dawn at the Cabin in Allemangel
: County of Berks, Penn's Colony

: I have not written for months, but now since I am in my own cabin again, gazing on my beautiful Magdalena as she sleeps, I, relaxed, refreshed and filled with overflowing joy, believe that some written words are necessary.

: Several days ago, we left Fort Augusta. In our small band was brother Three Tales, cousins Davey Gunn, Malcolm MacWilliam, and my sister-in-law Two Bottle, and Andrew Kuntz, the artist. We had left Seamus and Nancy to head north to their cabin along the Loyalsock. They needed time (Seamus said with a wink), and our Uncles Quasi and Angus, we're not sure where they went. But, they have promised to accompany us south in a few weeks to the Carolinas for the Gathering.

: Our small band headed south east and yesterday late we reached our aged parents' cabin. Mutter and Vater are well and they were keeping Tales and Bottle's children. We visited some, for mother had never met her nephews Malcolm and Davey. Several times she became emotional as she talked of her brother Hugh, the father of Malcolm and Davey, his death, and other bittersweet memories. Finally, Brother Tales and Two Bottle gathered up their children, we said hasty goodbyes, promising to meet within a few days to plan the trip south. Kuntz and the Scottish cousins said they would accompany me to my cabin which is ten miles or so south east of the aged parents.
: I was hurried to get home to my Magdalena, and it was already dark. But my mother surprised me with news which made me hurry even faster.

: "The damage is done!" she screamed at me as soon as Tales and his family were out of sight. "Ich verstehe nicht, was sagen sie?" I replied. Mutter screamed at me again and took up the nearest broom to begin hitting me over the head as my comrades stood in awe...she raged in Deutsch, "The damage is done. Your beautiful bride is in great need of you, and you, you go off fighting savages, attending fairs, and now traveling to Gatherings. You men are all the same. Now, GET YE HOME! SCHNELL!" I looked to my father, the German immigrant, for help, but he only stood there laughing.

: I finally calmed down my poor old mother, whom I thought had gone adled in the brain. Then she broke the news. "Many Flags, my son, Magdalena is with child. She is waiting patiently for you." Amidst the slapping on my back from Andrew Kuntz, Malcolm and Davey, my dear mother once again took up the broom and began beating me about, shooing me out the door. We left in a trot, but not before my dear Mother, took me by the arm, hugged me, and through her joyful tears she whispered, "Go, Many Flags, you may make it home by midnight. It is past full moon, but you must travel by night to go home to your Magdalena. And when you arrive, it is her day, her special day as a new mother to become."

: It was late in the night by the time we took off. I know the trail with my eyes closed from my aged parents to my newly built cabin. We seemed to fly through the night, it was a cool night, no sweat rose on our brows and my moccassined feet seemed to have wings, the clip-clop of the cousins' and Andrew's buckled shoes clamoring behind me, they were huffing and puffing to keep up.

: It was after midnight when we arrived to my cabin. I stopped before going through the clearing. For on the small porch was my dear Magdalena, several candles burning around her, I could hear her singing sweetly a Deutsches kinder Lied, a children's song, from our old country. I must have stood for several minutes, my comrades finally catching up with me and almost bowling me over. I shushed them and stood a bit longer, catching a whiff of smoke from the chimney, for it was a cool night and Magdalena had a small fire lit for the chill. Suddenly, without me entering the clearing, Magdalena stood. She was dressed only in a chemise with a schall round her shoulders, and in the candlelight I could see her lower body was filling out with.....yes, with my child. She stood silently for a few seconds, then called out, "Flags, are you there? I feel your presence!" I could wait no longer and ran to her. In the half light of the moon and the candlelight we embraced, not as tightly as we once could have, but with just as much ardor and love.

: Finally, I sensed the presence of the comrades. Magdalena and I let go of each other, both of us a bit embarressed, for we had forgotten the world and those around us, and we welcomed our guests into the cabin. As we turned, I whispered to her, "A mother to be you are, meine Liebe. Dies is deine Tag. This is your day. For on this day, I embrace you as a soon to be mother. God be praised!"

: And so we visited, we five, for some time, then slept. Malcolm and Davey on the porch, Andrew in his usual place beside the small fire, and I, well, I slept once more in my place with my wife, the mother to be of my child on this day, the 13th of May. Before dozing off in each others' arms, I asked my Magdalena if our friend Andrew the artist could be godfather to this child. A nod of her head made the decision complete. So, if the child is a son, his name shall be Andrew, or Andreas in the German way.

: My liebe Magdalena now stirs. I see the place on her body where the child lays. I must again ask her permission to go to this Gathering. If I am to go, I will take my love to her parents' home in Womelsdorf. She must not be alone in this forest while she is with child and I am gone.

: Pax Aye! A special day this is for meine Frau, a mother to be.

: Many Flags

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