Janette Oke - The bluebird and the sparrow

The Bluebird and the Sparrow

Books by Janette Oke

Return to Harmony Another Homecoming
Tomorrows Dream

A CTS OF F AITH

The Centurions Wife The Hidden Flame The Damascus Way

C ANADIAN W EST

When Calls the Heart When Comes the Spring
When Breaks the Dawn When Hope Springs New
Beyond the Gathering Storm
When Tomorrow Comes

L OVE C OMES S OFTLY

Love Comes Softly Loves Enduring Promise
Loves Long Journey Loves Abiding Joy
Loves Unending Legacy Loves Unfolding Dream
Love Takes Wing Love Finds a Home

A P RAIRIE L EGACY

The Tender Years A Searching Heart
A Quiet Strength Like Gold Refined

S EASONS OF THE H EART

Once Upon a Summer The Winds of Autumn
Winter Is Not Forever Springs Gentle Promise

S ONG OF A CADIA

The Meeting Place The Sacred Shore The Birthright
The Distant Beacon The Beloved Land

W OMEN OF THE W EST

The Calling of Emily Evans Julias Last Hope
Roses for Mama A Woman Named Damaris
They Called Her Mrs. Doc The Measure of a Heart
A Bride for Donnigan Heart of the Wilderness
Too Long a Stranger The Bluebird and the Sparrow
A Gown of Spanish Lace Drums of Change

www.janetteoke.com

with Davis Bunn

1995 by Janette Oke

Published by Bethany House Publishers
11400 Hampshire Avenue South
Bloomington, Minnesota 55438
www.bethanyhouse.com

Bethany House Publishers is a division of
Baker Publishing Group, Grand Rapids, Michigan.

E-book edition created 2011

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwisewithout the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

ISBN 978-1-5855-8736-0

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.

With deep appreciation
to Dan Thornberg,
Bethanys talented artist
who presents my word-painted characters
visually for readers, helping them feel
that the people of the books are
folks they know.

JANETTE OKE was born in Champion, Alberta, to a Canadian prairie farmer and his wife, and she grew up in a large family full of laughter and love. She is a graduate of Mountain View Bible College in Alberta, where she met her husband, Edward, and they were married in May of 1957. After pastoring churches in Indiana and Canada, the Okes spent some years in Calgary, where Edward served in several positions on college faculties while Janette continued her writing. She has written forty-eight novels for adults and another sixteen for children, and her book sales total nearly thirty million copies.

The Okes have three sons and one daughter, all married, and are enjoying their fifteen grandchildren. Edward and Janette are active in their local church and make their home near Didsbury, Alberta.

Contents

In spite of an eerie stillness about the house, people seemed in an awful hurry whenever they passed from one room to another. Bustlingthats what Mama calls it, observed three-year-old Berta, curled up in an overstuffed chair, waiting.

Waiting.

It seemed to her that she had been waiting forever. Why was it whatever it wastaking so long?

She sighed a deep sigh, pushed back dark hair that wanted to hang in her eyes, and rearranged her sitting position.

If only if only someone would stop and tell her what was happening.

She heard quick steps in the hall again and another scurrying person entered the room. It was Mrs. Pringle, a neighbor. Berta uncurled her legs and jumped to the rug.

Wheres Mama? Berta asked before the woman could hurry on by.

Mrs. Pringle seemed to slide to a stop. She looked at the young child and her eyes softened.

Shesshes in her room. She

Doesnt she got the baby yet? asked Berta impatiently.

No. Nonot yet. Soon. The doctor says soonnow.

The answer was not what Berta wished to hear.

Why does it take so long? she asked, her voice filled with annoyance. I wanna see Mama.

Now, you just try to be patient, soothed the neighbor woman. Your mother isis quite busy at the moment.

She turned purposefully away to fulfil whatever mission she had set out to do.

Berta turned, tooback to her overstuffed chair. She crawled up on it and tucked her feet back under herself. If Mama saw her, shed scold. But Mama couldnt see her. Not from the bedroom where she had gone to get the new babyages and ages ago. Berta took a bit of satisfaction from the fact that she was alone and able to put her feet up if she wished to. Yet guilt made her spread her skirts carefully over the tips of her shoes so they would be hidden from sight.

I dont know why it takes so long, she stormed again to herself Mamas been gone all day. All day. And PapaPapa

Berta had never been deserted in such a complete fashion in all her three years. She hated to be alone. She didnt like the hushed suspense that hung around her. She didnt like the hurrying of people who didnt even stop to talk to her. And she didnt think she was going to care much for that new baby, either. Already her cozy world had been changed.

Berta curled up against the back of the chair, stuffed fists against her eyes, and began to cry.

Even after the word finally came that she had a little sister, Berta was unable to see her mother.

Not tonight, her father told her as he cuddled her close on his lap and shared the good news.

You have a baby sister. Shes strong and healthyandand beautiful. And Berta had seen tears in her fathers eyes. It was the first time she had ever seen her father close to weeping. It disturbed her. She squirmed and turned her back on the uncomfortable sight. Was the new baby making her father cry, too?

And Mama is fine. Just fine, her father went on, his voice breaking.

Berta turned to stare into his face. If Mama was fine, what was making her papas eyes water and his voice sound funny?

Why cant I see her? asked Berta.

Mama is very tired tonight. She

Why? Berta was persistent. She stared into her fathers ashen face.

Getting a new baby is very hard work, her father informed her quietly. And Mama had somesome difficulty

Then why didnt she just leave it, said Berta emphatically, her hands punctuating her words. She missed her mother.

Her fathers lips twisted with a hint of a smile. He pulled Berta back against his chest and brushed her hair away from her face.

You wait until you see your new sister, he said, and his mood seemed to lighten. Shes a beautiful little girl. Youll have so much fun. Shell be a wonderful playmate.

But I wanna see Mama.

In the morning. First thing in the morning I will take you to see Mama.

Why cant I see her now?

Because. Because shes very tired. The doctor has given her some medicine to help her sleep. She needs to rest.

But I

Dont make trouble, Berta.

Her fathers voice soundeddifferent, strained.

Are you sick? she asked quickly.

No. Nojust very, very tired, he answered. I think we all need a good sleep. He glanced up at the wall calendar and seemed to muse aloud. June sixth, eighteen ninety-fourthe longest day of my life. Its truly been a long ordeal.

Berta had no idea what an ordeal wasbut she understood that it was not a pleasant circumstance, and she linked it to the new baby.

Berta was taken to her mothers room the next morning as promised. Her father took her by the hand and led her there. It did not feel quite right to be tippy-toeing through the house as though someone was sick or sleeping. She had so hoped that by morning things would be put back to normal.