“It is that time which has been taken away so cruelly. There are a rather large number of you who will all be looking to enter the workforce at the same time, and I believe only a few of you are courting at this time. We would like to lay out a few options for you and listen to your own suggestions of ideas to weather this storm.”
Despite their strict training, a number of the girls could not resist the urge to start twittering to each other. Mother Evangeline paused and stood silent, looking at her audience until it had resumed silence and the young ladies were again giving her their full attention.
“First of all, we have been talking with local shopkeepers and various houses to determine what positions might be available to you. Anyone who wishes to pursue this course should talk with Sister Benedicta. But we don't expect anyone to make a decision hastily, and wish you to take the time to discuss this subject with each other and with any of the other young ladies in residence who might be able to offer their wisdom to assist you. Each of us is more than ready to listen or answer questions.
‘I realize that one or two of you may have other arrangements already in hand. Please share them with me or with any of us so we know that you are properly settled.”
Here she paused and looked around the room. Mother Evangeline chuckled inwardly at the varied expressions of concern, bemusement, but, most of all, repressed excitement.
“We do have a third option made available to us. I believe most of you know that I have a brother who is in charge of a parish in a town called Green River, in the state of Kansas. He has long extolled its virtues and has come to me with a proposal for those of you who feel adventurous and wish to travel west. In effect, he is suggesting you might wish to become mail-order brides.”
A collective gasp was followed by a rustling as the girls restrained themselves from speaking, anxious to learn more details. After another pause, Mother Evangeline continued.
“Several of the ranches in his area have recently expanded and have an influx of male employees who are of similar ages to yourself, and in search of stability and marriage. And this opportunity to move west will not be limited to those who wish to become brides. There are also a number of job opportunities in the town thanks to this influx of new residents.
“However,” and here she paused dramatically once more, and looked at each girl individually, “please keep in mind that Kansas is rural. Green River is not a big city, but merely a small town serving the local ranch community. Most of you have never been in the country. Although the spaces are wide and open, big buildings simply do not exist, most of the streets will not be paved, and many of the amenities you take for granted here, like running water, and lights, are simply not available.
“This city is hot and crowded in the summer and cold and crowded in the winter, but there is a great deal of vibrancy from people of all walks of life. Options in the country may be, perhaps, more limited, and certainly different from what you know.
“So you can see you have a great deal to talk and think about.” Giving a nod to Sister Frances, she invited her young ladies to partake of the tea and cakes being brought in.
CHAPTER 13 – Discussions
The girls clustered together, all chatting at once, but gradually split into smaller groups, depending on their closest friendships. Despite the fevered pitch of the conversations, Sister Benedicta noted with approval that appetites remained excellent.
After Mother Evangeline’s meeting with her closest advisors, the entire convent had gathered together after supper to discuss the coming changes and options. Opinions varied from shocked to approving when the mail-order bride concept was put forth, but despite their relatively cloistered lives these were women of intelligence and vision, carrying on the traditions of their founders and moving forward with the times.
The general consensus had been that the proposal should, indeed, be put forward to the young ladies to determine its practicality for their individual situations.
This had now been accomplished and it would be up to each to determine her future.
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The idea might not even appeal to any of the girls, but they did not anticipate more than four or five wanting to go west. There were a few they planned to encourage a little more strongly, the ones who had the largest potential if they were given an opportunity to expand their wings. But the nuns were content to put everything in the hands of God and let Him direct his children in the manner He saw fit.
Having dropped their bombshell, they allowed the girls to toy with the ideas proposed and discuss them among themselves. As anticipated, they came up with ideas of their own and some of the discussions became livelier than appropriate for polite company, but were not quelled, under the circumstances.
CHAPTER 14 – Decisions
By the end of the week all of the girls had come to a final decision on what they wished to do.
It had become clear right away that at least some of the girls
