The bountiful years
The children were attending school in the neighboring island. Vance McPherson had decided to send both his sons and daughters, even though educating the females in the family was not the social norm. Vance believed that having some education would increase the marrying prospects of his girls.
Verity had received a brand new sewing machine as a present from Vance after he returned from one of his trips to the continent. It was wonderful! She was able to make lovely patterns for the house and the children. Even if money was not as scarce as in their earlier years, Vance believed in not wasting or spending too much. It was very convenient, too, since Verity had given birth to yet another baby girl, Velvet. The baby needed a quilt, and other things that Verity could sew in her machine.
Vance was careful in spending his money even on things he liked. For example, he could have bought a large phonograph, but instead opted for getting a small music box for the family. They had the joy of music, even if a one tune at a time.
The only things that he would buy without hesitation about the cost were paintings. He had a fascination with landscape paintings, so he tried to buy one each long trip he took tot he big city.
The family was large; there were eight children in total by the year 1903. Vance could not be happier with the situation. For him, the more children, the better. He just wanted the boys to grow up already, he had need of them in the farm.
The following year Verity got with child one more time. This pregnancy had given her a few scares, though. Verity was not that young when she started giving Mr. McPherson children, and now, at her two and thirty years of age, she was getting old.
It had not helped that during that time, Vernon had taken ill and had been on the verge of death. The boy had given his mother a good fright, since the doctor believed for a time that he was as good as gone, but fortunately, the medicine took, and Vernon recovered. He had been a late bloomer because of his illness, but now, at almost fifteen years, he was almost as tall as his father.
In fact, Father was pleased that Vernon had finally grown. He planned to train the boy into the finest farmer of the island. Vance wanted to make sure that their farm would continue being the most productive of the land, and that his business partners in the continent would not find better produce to buy. Indeed, what Vernon felt about his plans did not really matter much to Mr. McPherson.
