Since the story really takes place in two different times, there are two different "sets" of Characters.
1941 (or there abouts)
Mr. Mitchell
Mrs. Mitchell (Emma)
Edmund - 21
Jimmy - 19
Johnny - 19
Chris - 15
Maria (called Ria) - 13 Ria is a lively, energetic, only daughter and almost the only girl in all her many relatives. Since there are twenty older brothers and cousins, Ria is a little spoiled. When she met Lydia, she instantly became friends with her. Now the two girls are on a quest to find a forgotten hero that no one knows or thinks about.
1915
(Written by Emma -Mrs. Mitchell- when she was a girl)
Please allow me to introduce you to my family.
My daddy’s name is Lawrence Randolph Foster. He is a strong, broad shouldered Kansas farmer. He is not really very tall, unlike his older brother, my uncle Fredrick. Daddy’s hair, which falls occasionally over his high forehead, is brown. It’s not dark and it’s not light, it is just plain brown. Daddy jokes about his hair, telling us that it is the only thing he inherited from his English Grandfather. He didn’t get an English house or an English wife, an English fortune or an English life, but he did get the good old English hair. Daddy has dark blue eyes that twinkle almost all the time. He is a wonderful example to us children of perseverance, patience, and enthusiasm; also of how important it is to place Christ first in our lives.
Mama, Helen Jeanette, is the most wonderful mother in all of the United States I’m quite sure. I would say in all the world, but my cousin Maria says that her mother is the best, at least in Canada, and I don’t want to be disagreeable. Mama has long dark hair. It is so dark that most people mistake it for black. Her hair is curly; when she leaves it down, which is not that often, it frames her lovely face. I wish I were an artist and could paint her face for you. Mama laughs when we children tell her she is pretty, but Daddy agrees with us. She has soft gray eyes and a bright smile. Her wonderful sense of humor causes many good laughs and fills the house with joy. Mama is outgoing; she always has a good word for everyone and can accomplish more in ten minutes than I could hope to do in an hour.
David Fredrick is my oldest brother. He turned 15 on January 10th. He is rather quiet, but he has Mama’s sense of humor and is a wonderful big brother. His hair is light brown like Uncle Fredrick’s, but he has blue eyes like Daddy. David is tall. Right now he is almost as tall as Daddy, and Mama says he will probably get even taller. David wants to quit school so that he can help Daddy all day on the farm. Daddy and Mama are praying about it. I know it would help a lot, but I don’t know if the law will let him.
I am next, even if my twin brother thinks that is unfair. My name is Emmaline Louise, but I am almost always called Emma, except by my twin who for some strange reason calls me “Lucy.” I don’t allow anyone else to call me that, only Edmund. I am 13 years old. My hair is dark; it’s almost as dark as Mama’s, but it’s not curly. When I leave it down, it reaches to the middle of my back. I don’t leave it down much because it gets in my way, and Edmund likes to pull it. My eyes are dark brown, like Grandpa Foster’s, Daddy says. My twin & I are the only ones to have brown eyes. I am like Mama a lot in temperament, usually bright and talkative, ready to laugh at almost anything, and always busy. When I’m not busy with school or helping Mama around the house, I am off somewhere with Edmund.
Now I’ll tell you about Edmund Lawrence, my twin brother. He is the best brother anyone could have, even if he is a dreadful tease at times! He is about one inch shorter than me, much to his great disgust. Edmund has dark hair like me and brown eyes. Mama said that for the first year and a half of Edmund’s life, he had one brown eye and one blue eye; then the blue eye turned brown. In looks Edmund and I are like Uncle Philip with a square jaw, low forehead, and a slightly dark complexion. Edmund is such fun, but he can be serious if the situation requires it. He & I have shared many secrets over the years and I’m sure we will share many more.
After Edmund comes Caroline Elizabeth who is 9. You never hear her called Caroline though; she is always called Carrie. Her light brown curls reach just below her shoulders. She has gray eyes like Mama. Carrie isn’t usually as outgoing as Mama and me, though at times she comes really close. She is much calmer than I am, and has patience like Daddy. Carrie enjoys helping Mama in the house and watching the little ones.
Next is 7 year old Vincent Charles. Although he dislikes anything mean, he is the leader of most of the mischief that goes on around here. He has light brown hair. Not as light as David’s and yet not just brown like Daddy’s. Most of the time his gray eyes twinkle and his lips are curved into a smile. He enjoys being quite active, yet he will sit still for hours watching a bird build her nest,or watching the clouds blow across the sky. He is a darling little brother, and I thank God for giving him to us.
My youngest brother is George Washington. He is quite a character. If Vincent is the leader, Georgie is the willing follower into anything, mischief or otherwise. He is just like Daddy with straight brown hair and blue eyes, though, at 4 year old, his shoulders aren’t as broad, nor is he very tall. But unlike Daddy, Georgie hates to have his hair combed and he won’t comb it himself. He would let every hair on his head stand on end rather than let anyone touch his head with a comb or brush! Georgie may have Daddy’s looks, but he definantly hasn’t acquired his patience or perseverance yet! He is outgoing like Mama and has declared that he will be a newspaper man when he gets big, in a year or two.
Little Rosalyn Virginia is the pet of the family. She will turn 2 on May 15th. Her hair is very dark brown like Mama’s and is curly. Her blue eyes are shaded by long lashes while her read lips make her mouth like a rosebud. She has such round, rosy cheeks that when she smiles and her little teeth show, her dimples make sweet dents in them. Rosalie talks some, but usually she stands with one finger in her mouth watching everything. If she gets scared or nervous, she puts two fingers in her mouth and holds onto the hem of her dress. If things are quiet around the house, Rosalie busies herself with her dolly or falls asleep wherever she happens to be. Rosalie is such a sweet little sister, I almost wish she would stay like this always.
Our family lives on a 400 acre farm about five miles northwest of Codell, Kansas. Daddy grows wheat on 375 acres while the other 25 are used for various things: our garden, pasture for the horses, our ten sheep and few cows. and our small orchard. Our home is a white, spacious two story house with a large attic. It is in the shape of a capital T with a wrap around porch. The bottom of the T is the front of the house, and it faces southeast. The house sits back of the main road about a quarter of a mile. Back behind the house is the large red barn which is in need of a new coat of paint. A few smaller structures, such as the shed and smokehouse, complete the buildings on our land. I can’t forget to mention our cellar, which doubles as a storm shelter, even if the only thing you can see above the ground are the heavy doors to it.
About five years ago, our family and Uncle Fredrick's family lived near each other in Nashville, Tennessee. Daddy didn’t like the big city though, and soon we were out here in Kansas. Daddy loves farming. Being outdoors all day long, working hard with no noisy trollies or streetcars to disturb the peace and quiet, is wonderful! We all love it out here. After we moved, Uncle Fredrick took his family northeast to Nova Scotia, Canada. Maria and I decided to write to each other every month so as not to lose touch.
(Written by Emma's cousin Maria about the same time.)
Now that my cousin Emma has introduced her family to you, please allow me to introduce mine as well.
Papa’s name is Fredrick Andrew Foster. He is tall and has light brown hair; he is very handsome with his high forehead, square jaw, and deep blue eyes. His eyes always shine with the love of Christ, and now, even though he is in Europe, I know he will still be sharing Christ’s love with the wounded soldiers. Papa is always gentle but firm. His is a doctor and a marvelous one. Papa has an extraordinary sense of humor which is a real cheer to his patients. I am sure there is no Papa quite as wonderful as my Papa.
Mama is a tall, slender woman with straight light brown hair that is a little lighter that Papa’s. Her eyes are dark blue like the ocean on a sunny day. Mama is rather quiet, but she enjoys listening to anyone with a problem or who just needs to talk. In her quiet way she points others to the Rock of Hope. And with her smile, she brightens so many lives. Mama’s name is Amelia Jane, and she is the best mother in all of Canada!
My only older sister is Edith Rose. At 16 she looks much like Mama except for her high forehead which is like Papa’s. She has dark blue eyes and a quick smile. Her hair is quite long. If I remember right, it is about five inches passed her waist. Usually she wears it up on her head, or occasionally, when she is working hard, it will be in one braid down her back. Edith is a wonderful sister. She is very patient with people but can be quite firm when she knows she is in the right. Her quick wit reminds me of Aunt Helen in the States. Of all of us, Edith is the most outgoing.
I am the next child, and my name is Maria Suzanne. I am 13. My eyes are light blue, and my hair, which I usually leave down, is the same color as Papa’s and hangs almost to my waist. I am often quiet, though I love children and usually have at least one of the village children with me when I’m outside. I am Papa’s shadow when he is at home and making calls. I love to nurse the sick and help if someone is injured. I miss Papa so much now that he is away and watch for his letters eagerly.
Mark Dawson is the only boy of the family He enjoys being taller than most other 8 year olds. Mark has the darkest hair in the whole family, but even that isn’t very dark. His eyes are a very dark blue and always have a glint of fun in them. Mark has a square jaw and high forehead like Papa and can be very determined at times. Before Papa left, he told Mark that he was to be the man of the family now and to take care of us. He has been faithful to those orders so far.
Three year old Lydia Ruth is the youngest of the family. Right now her straight hair is blonde, but Mama is sure it will darken as the rest of ours has. Lydia Ruth is a cheerful little darling, so full of life and joy. Her bright blue eyes twinkle and sparkle, and she is constantly dimpling into a bright smile. She is quite talkative and is seen everywhere with her favorite dolly, Abigail, in her arms. She is not shy and makes friends so easily.
We live in a little village called, Princeville, right near the ocean. Princeville is north west of the town of Pictou in Nova Scotia, Canada. Of all the village hoouses, ours sits the closest to the water, on the top of some small cliffs. It is a two story home with three gables and a large wide porch. The front of the house faces east and looks down the hill towards the rest of the village. When standing on the north porch, one can look out over the sea toward Prince Edward Island. If you look hard enough it’s easy to imagine that you can see the island itself, though you cannot. Off to the east you can see the lighthouse at Pictou harbor. Though our house is near the cliffs, there is a wonderful beach close by where the children love to play. Our house, like most other houses in the village, is red. The red comes from mixing clay with cod liver oil to protect the wood from the salt water. The houses look very pretty nestled amongst the dark pines that are native to our country.
We moved to Nova Scotia from Tennessee about five years ago because Papa didn’t want to live in a big city anymore, and there was no doctor in theisvillage. We used to live just down the street from Uncle Lawrence’s family, and Emma, Edmund and I were very close. I am only three days younger than they are, and I miss them both. Emma & I write to each other each month and that helps. Edmund doesn’t write, though sometimes he will send a message to me. Almost two years ago, Papa needed a rest, so he took our whole family to visit Uncle Lawrence. We found out after we arrived, that Uncle Lawrence wanted Papa to be with them when cousin Rosalie was born. It was a wonderful time!
