For Mary, the years tumbled and flowed. Each day a blessing, each hurdle, a triumph. Lil Theo married Pearl on May 9th 1885. A home was built on the fifty acres Theo had given him. Lil Theo cleared part of the land, planting his own crops. He had to hire several hands to help. His small farm prospered with his loving hand. Lil Theo worked his land and oversaw the main property. He was a happy man with his short wife, who kept him well fed. It was hard not to laugh when you saw them together, Lil Theo towered over Pearl, but Pearl had the command the situation, she was the queen bee in that house and Lil Theo loved her for it. Pearl delivered him a daughter the following year, in March, 1886. They named her Beth and added her to the growing gaggle of grandchildren for Mary.
By then, Ida had delivered a son, Joseph, in May of 1884 and Mary Beth had delivered two more children, Molly in 1884 and Hannah in 1885, who had died shortly after birth. It had been a sad time indeed. Rachel had another son, Taylor Theodore, born in June, 1885. Rachel and Joshua had come to the farm during the summer break, bringing both boys.
Mary loved all her grandchildren and doted on all equally. The children were shuttled between homes, spending time with each grandparent. They were never left alone, someone was always hugging and kissing them, feeding them treats. Some of the children helped Mary in the flower garden, as she had done when she was a child. Ida was by her mother’s side, pruning the roses, with help from her children.
Late one September afternoon, Theo was out in the yard, he was talking with Dark Henry when his face paled and he staggered back. Henry caught Theo and eased him to the ground. Mary had been sitting on the porch and came down into the yard. Her worn hands touched his pale face, looking up at Henry, tears began to fill her eyes. Theo was dead, it had been that fast and no warning. Henry sent Alex to get one of the men, to go fetch Drake from the field.
Henry gently lifted Theo in his arms and carried him into the house, he sobbed all the way. Taking a rag from his pocket, he wiped the tears from his face. Drake came sometime later, his face drawn and pale. Ida was rocking Joseph, crying, her grief reaffirming the truth, that his father was dead. The funeral for Theodore Drake Anderson was impressive, he was laid to rest beside the graves of his parents and sister. The whole farm population attending, their sorrow palatable. Drake was hardest hit; Theo had been his idol as well as his father. It was a sad time for all.
Mary’s life picked up speed, it seemed like time was passing her by at an extraordinary pace. The home that she and Henry shared was never quiet, grandchildren running in and out. By 1895, the homes had swelled with more children. Victor and Mary Beth had added Rebecca to their family, she was the last, Mary Beth declared.
Ida and Drake had another set of twins, Martha and Sarah in November of 1897. Lil Theo and Pearl had Ethan in May of 1898, Philip in January of 1900 and April-Ann in April of 1901. April-Ann died three years later, she had fallen into the creek and drowned. Pearl was devastated, and Lil Theo could not speak for weeks, his heart torn out.
In July of 1903 Malcolm was born, he was the last child for Mary Beth and Victor. Mary Beth had almost died giving birth to him, he was a large baby, nearly twelve pounds. Mary Beth said if she got pregnant again, she would take a skillet to Victor. Sue gave her sister gave her herbs to ensure she wouldn’t get pregnant again.
Sue had become a talented healer, and the farm’s inhabitants went to her for all their aches and pains. Sue married Willy and had three boys. One of her boys, the oldest, would eventually go on to college and become a physician, Terrance Anderson MD.
A new century had come and with it came new marvels. In 1910, electricity and the electric light were brought into the main house, and all marveled at it. Mary lived to hear of men flying in machines, though she still didn’t believe it. A war broke out over in Europe and Mary feared it might come to Georgia. She remembered vividly sorrow and pain of the Civil War and didn’t quite understand.
Drake bought a new automobile; it was shiny and went fast. Though it made a great deal of noise and smelled terrible, Mary enjoyed riding in the thing. It didn’t jar her as much as the wagons did and the seats were vastly superior to the wooden planks in a wagon. Drake taught Ida to drive, and Ida nearly ran Drake over while they were out on a jaunt.
Mary marveled at all the new things that trickled into the home. Ida sent away for a washing machine from the Sears and Roebuck. It made laundry day easier, though with all the children, that wasn’t saying too much. Henry had turned the majority of the blacksmithing to Willy. Henry didn’t have the strength to wheel the heavy hammer. More and more, he spent his time with Mary and the grandchildren. Mary worried about Henry, he seemed to be losing weight, though not alarmingly. She watched him closely and ensured that he ate well.
On August 30th 1917, Dark Henry Anderson lost his battle with cancer and died. He died in Mary’s arms, as she sang to him
