A Story for Eliza Part 2

Progress and Change

The end of the 19th century brought about many changes to the majority of the world: Newspapers grew more robust with the invention of the typewriter. Farmers contained their animals on their ever growing farms with a new form of wire fence with barbs. People could go see a moving picture show, and most amazing of all was the ability to talk to other people at greater distances with the newly invented telephone. Yes, everywhere one looked the world was becoming a smaller place and most people were perfectly content with it that way.

Unfortunately many of those changes were reserved for the larger cities. The small town that borders Thorn Creek was notorious for rejecting change. The townspeople appreciate the slow life and old ways that often accompany these small towns. People knew each other and they were well aware of each others’ business.  Little went on without the entire town knowing within just a couple of days. The townspeople knew this to be true, and for the most part it kept them honest. Furthermore, outsiders and newcomers, for the most part, were not welcome.  They were often looked on with suspicion and a good majority were eventually pushed out of town.

One aspect that would never change in this small town were the strict fundamental religious beliefs. Services began early on Sunday morning and lasted through the better part of the afternoon. Men always sat on the right and women on the left. The belief that evil spirits sat on the left shoulder due to Eve’s original sin caused the separation of families in church. There were often revivals in the summer  that lasted the entire weekend. The sweltering heat alone could prove the dedication of the congregation who would sweat the entire weekend in canvas tents erected on the lawn of the church. Sermons of fire, brimstone, and the existence of the devil in the world today often filled the single room Church on each Sabbath day. These fundamental beliefs, coupled with fear of the outside world, eventually would be Eliza's undoing.

A Story for Eliza Part 1

The Forgotten

Near the very back of Thorn Creek Cemetery lie the graves of those long gone. No longer do families tend the markers of their loved ones. Here, the trees have grown tall, mostly overtaking the graves they were planted to give shade to. The grave stones, covered by lichens have unreadable names and are broken with age. They serve as the only reminder that this too is hallowed ground. These woods are quiet. Birds do not sing their fanciful songs, squirrels do not scavenge for food, and deer do not retreat here to escape the hot summer heat. In fact, the only semblances of animal life are thick vines that twist and curl around the trees and across the ground like giant moss covered snakes that never move. Now, in the eternal darkness of the still woods, the spirits of these graves are free to roam about without the fear of sunlight ever touching their spectral bodies.

At the wood's edge stands a testament to days gone by. Here, like the woods, have been forgotten, but there are no trees to overtake the graves, only the grass that has long gone to seed. Like a phoenix rising up out of the grass and weeds is Eliza. Unlike the Phoenix though, she will never again feel the sunshine kiss her face.