Betsy-Tacy Sites in Mankato, Part II

The Train Station



     "The speed of the train swallowed up the prairie. In no time at all the river came into sight. They passed a waterfall she recognized; then the train descended along the side of a bluff.
     The brakeman called, 'Deep Valley!' and at once the car was in confusion. Hats were pinned on; small bonnets tied; all traces of banana wiped away. Valises and suit cases were dragged down from the rack. The train slowed to a stop.
     Holding her valise in one hand and the package from Willard's Emporium in the other, Betsy found Mr. Thumbler's hack.
     'Good afternoon Mr. Thumbler,' she said. '333 Hill Street, please.'"
(From Maud Hart Lovelace, Heaven to Betsy.)


Carney Sibley's House and Side Lawn





"It was to develop later that the younger high school crowd had the most indoor fun at the Ray house and the most outdoor fun at the Sibleys ... on the wide, trampled side lawn, and the porch running across the front and around the side of the house. The porch was unscreened and shaded by vines, now turning red. It was broad enough to hold a hammock and some chairs and a table, but nothing too good, nothing rain would hurt."
(From Maud Hart Lovelace, Heaven to Betsy.)


Christian Endeavor



     "The Presbyterian Church stood on a corner of Broad Street. It was built of white stone with a pointed steeple and a round stained glass window on one side. But no colored light flowed from this window in the early Sunday evening when Cab, Herbert and Betsy approached to attend Christian Endeavor.
     'Christian Endeavor’s held in the Sunday School room,' Cab explained, heading for the side door."
(From Maud Hart Lovelace, Heaven to Betsy.)


Murmuring Lake



"... she loved this trip to Murmuring Lake. They took it in all seasons; the Inn was a favourite vacation ground. But the October anniversary trip was the nicest. [...] The Inn with its flock of cottages looked like a hen surrounded by chicks, and there was an excellent dinner in which a real hen was served with dumplings. For dessert there were two kinds of pie, ice cream and cake. You could have all four if you wished; and after they had eaten to contentment and beyond, and Mr. Ray had smoked a cigar and Old Mag had had a chance to eat and rest, they drove around the lake to Mrs. Ray's old home."
(From Maud Hart Lovelace, Heaven to Betsy.)


The Bay Window



"'This is the bay window where we stood when we were married,' Mrs. Ray said as usual. 'There never was a happier marriage made.'"
(From Maud Hart Lovelace, Heaven to Betsy.)


The Oak Tree Under Which Mr. Ray Proposed



"'This is the oak tree she hooked me under,' Mr. Ray said, leading the way across the lawn, ankle deep in leaves, to an oak with leaves the color of Mrs. Ray’s hair."
(From Maud Hart Lovelace, Heaven to Betsy.)


Mrs. Ray's Brass Bowl



     "It was joyful, as always, to walk with locked arms along a snowy Front Street, gay with its decorations of evergreen and holly boughs, and the merry jingle of sleigh bells. Betsy drew Tacy to a stop before Dodd and Storer's window.
     'Mamma has her heart set on that brass bowl,' she said.
     'It looks just like Mrs.Ray,' said Tacy.
     'That's what she says,' answered Betsy. 'I don't believe Papa's going to buy it for her though. He hasn't told us, but I believe he's bought the mink fur piece she was teasing for before she saw the bowl.'"
(From Maud Hart Lovelace, Heaven to Betsy.)


The Rays' Baptist Church


     "'Bettina,' she said. 'I love the Episcopal Church. I want to be an Episcopalian.'
     'Julia!' cried Betsy, hardly believing her ears.
     'I don't think I was ever cut out to be a Baptist,' Julia said.
     Betsy was genuinely shocked. It had not occurred to her that one could change one's church any more than one could change one's skin. She was silent, and Julia went on:
     'Just because Papa and Mamma are Baptists is no reason I should be a Baptist. People are different. I'm myself.'"
(From Maud Hart Lovelace, Heaven to Betsy.)


The Coffee Pot



"'Now,' said Mr. Ray. 'I'd better go put the coffee pot on.' For that was what the family always did in moments of stress. Margaret didn't drink coffee, of course, and Betsy's Sunday cup was mostly cream and sugar. Yet they understood what their father meant when he moved with a competent tread toward the kitchen."
(From Maud Hart Lovelace, Heaven to Betsy.)