A Lantern in Her Hand

Grandma Deal shows Isabelle the large sum of money she intends to give Abbie when Grandma Deal dies. Not long after this, Grandma Deal dies, and Abbie returns to her childhood home in Iowa to bury her. After many decades of being away, Abbie doesn’t find herself at home in Iowa and misses the prairie. She meets Ed’s wife and recognizes that she is well beyond thinking about her past.

Abbie travels to Emma to help her through the birth of her son. John graduates from law school and moves to Iowa. Isabelle studies piano and voice at a music academy.

With all her children doing well, Abbie decides to finally try writing. At 49 years old, “Abbie was finding her first opportunity to take time from duties which had always confronted her, to carry out this old ambition” (187). Abbie finds writing difficult at first, even though she has so much to say. She is disappointed that her writing doesn’t fully capture the nuances and beauty of her life experiences.

When the Spanish-American War of 1898 begins, John joins the National Guard. Isabelle elopes, but shortly after her secret wedding, her husband Harrison joins the military too. Both men survive the war. When they return, John moves to his own new frontier in Alaska. Harrison and Isabelle move to Chicago. Abbie has always worried more about John than her other children, but she’s not sure why. With John so far away in Alaska, Abbie is anxious about his well-being. Abbie is shocked when Isabelle tells her that she and Harrison are choosing never to have children.

John moves back to Cedartown and sets up a legal practice there. He marries a teacher he met in Iowa named Eloise. Abbie sells the majority of her farmland, keeping only the land with her house, barn, and orchard. This means less work for Abbie and also gives her some funds to help her youngest child Grace go to university to become a teacher. When Grace prepares to leave home for school, Abbie’s children encourage her to sell the rest of her land and big house. Abbie considers it, but she likes that there is one home that all her children and grandchildren can return to: “An old home ought always to stand like a mother with open arms. It ought to be here waiting for the children to come to it,—like homing pigeons” (207).

Eloise and John welcome a baby boy, followed by another child from Mack and Emma. Mack buys an automobile, impressing and shocking Cedartown.

In 1909, Grace graduates from university and becomes a teacher. She tells her mother she’s not sure if she ever wants to be married. Abbie finds Grace to be disrespectful about the original pioneers in Cedartown, such as Christine, who helped save Grace’s life in childbirth but whom Grace judges as not being good enough to be part of high society.

Now 66 years old, Abbie finds contentment with the other original pioneer women of the town, Sarah and Christine. Abbie has six grandchildren, and her entire family is doing well.

By 1915, the society around Abbie, now 70, has changed. Her children and grandchildren bring up the possibility of her moving again because they’re worried the large house is too much work and stress for her. Abbie refuses to move.

When John’s wife gives birth to another baby, Abbie brings their four-year-old daughter Laura to live with her to help John and his wife. Abbie “was happy almost to the point of excitement. No, Abbie Deal would never get over being a mother” (222).

When the United States enters World War I, Abbie’s two eldest grandsons enlist in the military. Abbie continues to worry that Grace doesn’t want to get married. John is elected to the state legislature. Mack is promoted to vice president of a bank. The years go on, and Abbie is proud of her family’s success. Grace wants to take Abbie abroad to see the world, but Abbie thinks she is too old to go. Abbie is satisfied with not having seen the world because she has been a witness to history.

Abbie is 78 years old and happy to spend time with her family. Her children increase their success. Abbie is closest with her granddaughter Laura, who writes verses that she shares with Abbie. Abbie tells Laura the story of Ed’s proposal but realizes that, with all the decades gone by, she’s forgotten some details.