Elizabeth spent extra time in prayer in front of me after she started the family Bible.  She would often pull out the ring and clasp it in her hands as she prayed.  She prayed hard for Zechariah and a woman named Sarah.  It took me longer than it should have to realize that Zechariah was courting Sarah and intended to marry her.

One night, Jedidiah sat brushing Elizabeth’s hair and he asked her, “Are you sure you want to give Zechariah your dresser?”

I strained to hear her answer.  This was the first I’ve heard of it!

Elizabeth looked sad for a moment, then answered, “Yes.  Jed, it’s so beautiful.  It has reminded me of home so many times when I have felt homesick.  It reminds me of your love and care for me.  It’s so useful!  I want to keep it for myself forever and always, but I won’t be around forever.  Already I’m starting to slow down…”

Jedidiah started to interrupt his wife to tell her how beautiful and alive she was, like any good husband would then, but Elizabeth waved her hand to cut him off.

“No, Jed.  You and I, we’re both slowing down.  We hopefully have many more years in us, but we don’t know that.  I want to gift them this precious gift while I’m alive, and at a special occasion.  I can’t think of a better time than at our oldest son’s wedding.”

Elizabeth paused and stared without seeing for a moment.  She seemed trapped in her mind.  Then she came back to herself and said, “Besides, Sarah is from the city, too.  And they are not going to start out with much.  You and I can now afford a cheaper mirror from the store.”

Jedidiah smiled a small, understanding smile, then gave his wife a hug from behind.  “You are so wise and caring, my dear.  I would be happy to build you another dresser if you would like.”

Elizabeth planted a kiss on her husband’s cheek.  “You are too good to me.  I couldn’t ask you to do that.  You strain your hand enough to tend the animals and crops.”

The hand that Elizabeth spoke of had been wrenched while Jedidiah had been trying to break a horse.  From the way he spoke, it was a strong, beautiful horse, and would have made a wonderful addition to the herd.  However, it was extremely stubborn, clinging to the ways of his ancestors the way dust clings to me.

One day, the horse bucked Jedidiah off.  In his determination to break the horse, however, Jedidiah had wrapped the reign around his wrist.  The wild horse carried Jedidiah with him for a ways while he bucked around the corral before Jedidiah could work his hand free.

The way he was muttering and growling at himself after the fact made it sound like it had been a stupid, rookie mistake, and the price he paid was high.  Jedidiah was in a lot of pain for a long time.  It was his dominant hand, so he couldn’t do as much work on the farms.  Fortunately, his sons were old enough and neighbors kind enough to step up and help.  Even still, Jedidiah did not have full use of his hand, and it was weaker than before.

“No,” Elizabeth said after some thought, “you don’t need to make me something as frivolous as a mirror.  Not that this one was – or is – frivolous.  The memories around it have brought me joy and comfort many times.  And it is so, so beautiful.  It will be hard to part with.  But I think it’s the right thing to do – to give Zechariah the mirror.”

Jedidiah stood up straight and offered Elizabeth his hand.  She took it, and together they went to bed.

The next day, Elizabeth and Jedidiah brough Zechariah into the bedroom and told him their intentions to give me to him and Sarah.  He knew how much his mother loved me, and protested.  Elizabeth remained firm, though, so finally Zechariah gave his mother a huge hug and thanked her sweetly.  “Sarah will love it, and it will always remind me of you.”

I did not get to see the wedding.  They decided that since I was so large, it was not worth carrying me there just to have me on display with the other presents.  The day of the wedding saw much activity, though.  Elizabeth was bustling into the room and out again, with frequent pauses to look at me to check her hair.  I always thought she was beautiful.

Then I got to meet Sarah.  She was also beautiful – with long dark hair, tied in a tight braid and woven around her head.  But her eyes didn’t shine with the love and wisdom that Elizabeth’s did. 

I knew that I would love Sarah, but I was going to miss my Dear Elizabeth.

A few days later, Elizabeth looked at me one last time, with tears in her eyes.  Then she turned and embraced Zechariah.  I didn’t see her let go before a blanket was lowered over me and I was lifted into a wagon.

The wagon ride was extremely bumpy.  I had more support than the last time I had been carried in a wagon, and for that I was grateful, but it was still quite an unpleasant experience.  I was thankful when the ride was over.

I was left in the wagon for a while, but the blanket was finally removed and I was hauled into a small, two-room cabin by two men that had been at the wedding.  Everything was covered in dirt.  Sarah was crying and Zechariah was trying to comfort her.

“We’ll clean it up,” he was saying, “or build a new house, or something.  We’ll make it a beautiful home.”

Sarah did not seem convinced.  Zechariah promised he was looking for a new job and that this was only temporary.

“You saw the house before we got married,” Zechariah finally said, “Why didn’t you say anything then?”

Sarah sniffled.  “I thought you’d clean it up first.  I thought you’d make it bigger.  I don’t know.”

Zechariah clenched his teeth together, and just pulled Sarah into a stiff hug.

I wondered what kind of home I had been moved into.