The Preacher's Path

By Charlotte Lewis

The Good Book says to honor thy father and mother. What is a not-yet 9-year old supposed to do when his father is dead and his mother has abandoned him? His older siblings were sent to relatives. He is alone. The Crash of 1929 had nothing to do with his story; and yet, it was everything. On Hiram Carter's 18th birthday he set out to find his family. Once reunited they learn what really happened a decade earlier. Deceit, fraud, greed, betrayal, murder.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Nov 9, 2021
• ISBN: 9781664198807

Charlotte Lewis

Charlotte Lewis, a retired accountant, lives in Southeast Kansas. Charlotte graduated from University of Southern California with a major in elementary education and a minor in music. Since retirement, she has self-published several novels and has published in Reminisce Magazine, Chicken Soup for the Soul, Hackathon Short Stories, Readers Digest Online, and Mused – an online journal. There's more to learn at charlottelewisonline.com

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

Hiram William Carter was born in Southern Indiana to a fairly well-to-do family. He had older siblings, a brother and a sister, Harold Wilcox Carter and Harriet Winona Carter. His father was a professional man; his mother a homemaker. For the first eight years of his life Hiram enjoyed being a child; life was good. Then, the stock market crashed and his world was turned upside down.

Hiram never really understood what it was that his father did. He just knew that he left the house every morning in a suit, starched white shirt, and a drab tie. His father carried a briefcase to work. The Chief of Police reported that on the morning of October 30, 1929, his father was found dead - an apparent suicide. Hiram’s mother had never been responsible for the finances of the household and was at a loss as where to begin. Within days she discovered that rather than being ‘well fixed’ financially, she was destitute. She was told her husband had invested nearly every dollar in the stock market. She doubted that. Her husband often made rude comments about the stock market. But the bank said there was no money.

Even if there had been money in the checking account, she could not access it. There were several legal reasons, supposedly, as her husband had committed suicide. But the primary reason was that, as a wife in the twenties, she was not a signer on any of the family accounts. She had no claim to any of her husband’s assets, including the very house she lived in. It took the bank less than sixty days to post an eviction notice on her front door. She was unaware of a mortgage. It had never been discussed and her husband discussed things with her.

Harold was sent to Uncle Hector. Then Harriet was sent to an Aunt somewhere in Pennsylvania. Hiram knew where Pennsylvania was from geography lessons but that did not tell him where Harriet was. Hiram’s mother found a position as maid and laundress for a well-known woman in town. Hiram was not welcome there. His mother sent him away. Hiram had no one; any sense of security was gone. He was abandoned by his mother.

Hiram was a good student and could read, write, and cipher. But, he was just a boy and no one wanted to hire him. He was taller than most his age so many people thought he was older, and stronger. He could fake the older but he couldn’t fake strong. He helped in gardens, pulling weeds. He helped in households, scrubbing stairs and walkways. He helped anywhere someone would hire a tall, lanky, young boy. Most often he would work for just a meal. He slept under the stairs of buildings and, sometimes, houses until the householder would catch him and send him on his way.

One day when he was scrounging near the grocer’s garbage, the grocer asked if he was looking for work. Yes, he was. He worked daily for the grocer for quite some time at ten cents a day. He would sleep at night between the sacks of flour in the store room. Then the grocer discovered that Hiram could add and subtract. He had a new position in the store. He was now a clerk. He was nearly eleven years old but looked much older. He was paid a dollar a week.

As time passed, the grocer led Hiram into religion. Well, not really religion but the idea of a god and the Bible. This was new to Hiram. His family had had no church and no religion. He read and reread the Bible until he could quote nearly any verse from any book if asked for it.

Hiram couldn’t afford a college education but learned he could afford one class, three times a week. He saved his money until he had enough to enroll in a Divinity Class. While he may have done better taking a general course of education, he felt compelled to learn more about the religion his employer thought was the way to a good and honest life.

Hiram came to believe that the biggest problem with the world was a lack of faith. Not faith in a god but in each other. He wasn’t sure there was a god. And so, he determined he would become an itinerant preacher going from place to place to preach brotherly love. He had saved some money but believed that the New Testament proved an itinerant preacher could sustain himself through the charity of others. Hiram also felt he was capable of picking up odd jobs if money became an issue.

It was 1939. Much of Southern Indiana and Northern Kentucky was still recovering from the Great Depression that displaced his family. Hiram was neither impressive nor imposing but he did have an aura about him that many people felt. He wasn’t preaching hellfire and brimstone; nor was he preaching salvation. He was preaching brotherly love. That had to be enough.

Deceit. Fraud. Greed. Grief. Betrayal... Friendship, Family, Reunion, Gratification. Murder?

Oh, and a dog.

This is Hiram’s story.

CHAPTER TWO

Hiram never really understood much about money. He knew you came by it by working and you kept it by not spending it. But he was not wise in the use of it. He just knew that when he was a young lad, suddenly, his father was dead and there wasn’t any money. His mother was in such a state of mind that she wept for days. His brother and sister were of little help to Hiram. They were dazed also and ignored him. Hiram scavenged what there was to eat at home and then went to a neighbor. The neighbor, while very sorry for the boy, did not understand that all he wanted was something to eat. A pat on the head and a few insincere there-theres were all the neighbor offered. Hiram was hungry. He was hungry much of the time that first year.

Finally, Hiram’s mother pulled herself together enough to go to the bank to see what was available for her and her children. The bank was unable to help her. She was not a party to any of the accounts. She had no means to repay a loan so one was not given. She was told the house had been mortgaged to satisfy her husband’s love with the stock market. She disagreed vehemently. Her husband had never been interested in the stock market. He used to throw down the newspaper in disgust when the market first began to wobble. People are ignorant to entrust their money to people who seem to have no sense of a dollar.

No, her husband had not invested in the stock market. Of that, she was absolutely sure. But a wife’s assurances make no impact with the bank. He was an accountant by trade and often told her the market was sketchy business. The bank suggested she plan to vacate the premises immediately. None of this made any sense to Hilda Carter; there had been money the day before his death. How could there be absolutely none now?

In panic, she sent her oldest son to his Uncle. Her brother Hector Marsh had a large farm in Eastern Ohio and was grateful to have another pair of hands to help work it. Hector had never married and had no children. Hiram’s mother had hoped she could sustain herself and her other two children but, alas, they were constantly asking for food. She sent her daughter to Hilda’s only sister, in Pennsylvania. Honore Marsh had a factory and could always use an unpaid worker. While Hilda and Honore were not on especially good terms, they were sisters.

Hiram’s mother was sure that her oldest two children would be cared for and loved. Family connections would surely earn her children a place at the table. She was not certain of that but one grasps straws when one is drowning - rather literally or figuratively. For some reason, she never thought of sending Hiram anywhere. It was as if he wasn’t there; or wasn’t important. She seemed to have forgotten him.

Eventually Hilda was convinced to move from the house where she had lived for all her married life. She took little, closed the front door, and stood on the sidewalk in a daze. Hiram asked her what they were going to do now. She thought she would be able to find some nature of employment that would allow her to survive. She was known in the community. But, alas, her husband did commit suicide. It was a rude awakening; people were not kind. She had not been trained for any position other than wife of a well-to-do-man. She had hired help to run her household most of the years she was married. That allowed her to be totally ignorant of even the basic necessities required to run a household. She had very basic skills. Girls were considered unteachable, or some such rot, when she was growing up. She had schooling through grade three and could read somewhat. Her lack of learning and basic knowledge created a barrier to gainful employment.

Hiram’s mother didn’t even know how to beg. She was a pathetic beggar. Oft times it was Hiram that obtained enough food to feed them for a day or two. At last, a former friend lowered her standards so that Hiram’s mother could fit into her household staff. Former friend as she did not hobnob with poor people. When she learned that Hiram expected to stay with his mother, she was distraught. She agreed to a trial but soon found it bothersome to feed two mouths that didn’t contribute a great deal to the household. Hiram was, most likely, capable of doing many chores but he had never been taught and the former friend had no imagination. Nor the inclination to provide instruction. Nor sense enough to assign a task and hope for the best.

The day came when Hiram’s mother was told that she could remain employed only if her son was not with her. Hiram’s mother talked to him for a long time without saying much. In the end, he understood that, although he was just nine, he was on his own. His mother didn’t want him. He was sure of that – in all her words, she never mentioned she loved him or was concerned for him. All she said, that he understood, was that he had to leave immediately as Miss Tuttle believed he ate more than his share. She did not seem upset at the thought he would be on his own and only nine.

Hiram had been an outstanding student and could read, write and cipher. He was a tall boy for his age and presented as older. Undernourished and young - he was not a strong child but he attempted any job offered to him if he was fed at the end of the day. He slept under the staircases of the homes in his former neighborhood. Occasionally someone would offer him food. But often no offer came. He began to scavenge around the market area. Food was not plentiful but it is surprising that often what is thrown away as not good enough to sale is good enough to eat.

One evening the grocer came out the back door of his shop. He had seen Hiram at times but did not know him. He hadn’t seen him often enough to consider him a pest. He asked Hiram if he was looking for work. Yes, yes, he was.

The grocer handed him a broom. The front door had been locked and the store had to be swept clean for the next day. Hiram had never used a broom but had seen one used and so he began at the front of the store and swept to the back door. He had picked up dirt and debris along the way and when he finished, the floor was very clean. The grocer was impressed and offered him a nickel. Hiram asked if he could have something to eat instead. The grocer gathered together fruits, cheese and bread from his shelves.

While he was eating, Hiram listened to the grocer talk about general things. It appeared he never expected a response and so Hiram just ate until everything he’d been given was gone. The grocer asked where he lived and Hiram had to admit he lived nowhere. The grocer was distressed and asked how old he was. Hiram had never learned to lie and answered that he was verging on ten years. The grocer asked about his family and Hiram, in his childish manner, told him everything he knew. Admittedly, it was not much. In dismay, the grocer asked if he would care to sleep in the store room that night. Yes, he would. It was quite cold under the stairs at night. There is one condition; you will have to tolerate the dog. The dog was named Rolf and came and went as he pleased during the day. But, at night, he guarded the store. Hiram admitted he could tolerate a dog if the dog would tolerate him. The grocer introduced the two.

And so began a friendship such as Hiram had never known. A friendship of caring and brotherly love.

Rolf seemed to sense that Hiram was a child. He may be tall but he had a caring, loving, childish manner about him that put Rolf at ease. The grocer informed Rolf that the boy would be sleeping in the stock room and he should allow him to rest. It was a chilly night and, after he had made his rounds through the grocery, Rolf came back to sleep with the boy. Twice during the night he got up to check the grocery again but each time he returned to cuddle the boy. The next morning, the grocer showed Hiram where to wash up and take care of his morning toilet. He asked if he had slept well. Hiram said the best in many nights. Did the dog bother him? No, the dog tolerated me very well.

The grocer was Marvin Vanners. He was married but had no children. His wife was an unhappy little woman who believed she deserved better than she got. Which made her sad as she had gotten the best available at her time of getting. Under different circumstances, Mr. Vanners would have taken Hiram home. But he knew that his wife would be very unhappy and set about complaining about her station in life. That didn’t keep him from considering to help not-yet-ten Hiram. Over the next few days, he rearranged the stock room and put up a little screen to shield the cot he prepared for Hiram. He showed Hiram where to bathe and wash his clothes. He took two blankets off the shelf to keep Hiram warm at night. Each morning he brought Hiram part of his own breakfast. He had told Mrs. Vanners he needed to eat a bit more to keep going. The store was hard work. She would never understand, or accept, an almost ten-year old who was tall for his age.

Hiram, of course, shared the blankets with Rolf. And when he bathed, so did Rolf. Hiram had never had a dog and he was delighted with the antics of the dog. When Mr. Vanners gave Hiram food, he offered a share to Rolf if he was in the grocery at the time. But the dog did come and go.

As the days wore on, Mr. Vanners discovered that Hiram could add, subtract, and multiply as well as read and write. Every night, Hiram thoroughly swept the floor. Every morning he helped customers. He could read the scale and tell them how much their potatoes would cost...little things like that. By the time Hiram was ten, he was the primary cashier; weighing produce, calculating the cost, accepting money and giving change. His wages were one dollar a week, room and board, so to speak.

Mr. Vanners took Hiram to one bin in the store. The sign said Yesterday’s. He said that very few people were interested in yesterday’s produce even though it was half price. There were red baskets to put your yesterday’s purchases in to take to the cashier. Mr. Vanners told him there were two young mothers who came in regularly. Mrs. Bannock came on Monday as soon as the store opened. She only bought from the yesterday’s bin. Her aged parents lived with her and she had two small children. Mrs. Akrami came in on Friday mornings as soon as the store opened. She too only bought from the yesterday’s bin. She also supported her parents and young children. So on these two mornings, Hiram should add a few of today’s produce to that bin. And, when it came time to pay, he should weigh their produce as always, give them the discount and then, if possible, add a few things to their order without being seen. He did not want to embarrass them but felt that a few potatoes or carrots would not kill his profit.

Hiram understood these things were done with compassion and caring. There were rude customers who received no special treatment at the grocery. Hiram soon understood there were good people and people who cared more for themselves.

During the evenings, Hiram read. Mr. Vanners provided him with several books. Some were text books enabling Hiram to further his education. One was a Bible. Hiram knew what the Bible was; it was a sacred book that lay on the coffee table in the parlor. He had never seen it opened and believed it was not to be read. Mr. Vanners said it told many stories. In the first half of the book some of the stories were very frightening. The God of the first part was a vindictive God. Read, but know that many of the stories may have been told to frighten people into submission. Mr. Vanners also told him that after God had a son, his temper evened out and the second half of the book was really the most important. He urged him to read the whole book but to concentrate on the second part. It told of brotherly love and compassion.

The years passed and Hiram and Mr. Vanners talked as equals, more and more. Mr. Vanners was a grocer but he taught brotherly love. He urged Hiram to live it. Hiram became more responsible and saved money. When he turned fourteen, he had an excellent reputation for being an honest business man. Mr. Vanners helped him find a room, a real room, to rent. He continued working and saving his money. He wanted to go back to school but the local schools couldn’t place him. He knew too much to enter the public education program.

Hiram knew the Bible backward and forward and wanted to learn more about what was outside the Bible that made people what they are. Mr. Vanners urged him to find a job in the city and enroll in the Bible College there. Hiram knew he would need more money than he had to do this. He also felt he could not do it alone. He never asked for more than his just pay from Mr. Vanners. Though the grocer would have given him anything he wanted. Many nights Hiram sat and talked with Rolf before going to his rented room a few blocks away. On Hiram’s day off, Rolf spent the day with him. The boy and the grocer’s dog were a familiar sight. On days that Hiram worked, Rolf spent much time inside the grocery laying at the feet of his friend as he worked the register.

Hiram saved his money until he had enough to enroll in a Divinity Class. He couldn’t afford a full college education but he could afford one class, three times a week. He had a fine reference from Mr. Vanners. He could afford to dress better. He owned only one pair of shoes but he had work pants and Sunday pants and four shirts. Hiram considered himself quite wealthy. The single class became two. And by the time he was nineteen, he had enough credits that the School granted him a degree in Biblical and Theological Studies.

It had been an informal, formal education. Hiram reveled in the gold-edged certificate he had earned. It was the only thing he had with his own name on it. Hiram William Carter has earned an Associate of Arts degree in Biblical and Theological Studies. Hiram was ready to do great things. He knew that he was capable and now he had a paper that certified his knowledge. He went to Mr. Vanner’s grocery in triumph after the certificate had been presented to him.

Mr. Vanner and Rolf were equally happy for him Hiram told Mr. Vanner that he wanted to travel from place to place and talk about brotherly love. Mr. Vanner thought perhaps he could find a church in the area that needed a preacher. Hiram said, But then I would reach only the same people every Sunday. I would like to be like Jesus, the Christ, and travel from town to town.

The argument against that was that he had no transportation; not a car or even a bicycle. Hiram countered that neither did Jesus. He, Hiram, would walk. He’d carry some clothes and his Bible in a backpack and go from town to town or even house to house. Realizing he was fighting a battle he could not win, Mr. Vanner gave Hiram a special belt to wear, a place to put his money. There are evil people on the road, Hiram. They will want your money. Keep coins in your pocket to give them. Hiram argued that Jesus didn’t do that. Mr. Vanner reminded him that Jesus walked with friends, several friends. Only an idiot would attempt to rob that many people. Mr. Vanner won the argument. And then he said, If you insist on being an itinerant preacher, take Rolf with you. No man should walk alone.

And so, in 1939, on the day that Hiram William Carter turned eightteen, he put his few clothes and books in a backpack. He and his friend Rolf left Mr. Vanner’s grocery to preach brotherly love.

Prior to his leaving, Hiram bought a new pair of shoes. Mr. Vanner advised it. Wear the new shoes in the morning every day. He wore them every day before starting his journey, as the shoes were rather stiff. Mr. Vanner packed a small bag of food for Hiram which he fit into the backpack. It is better to conserve your money until you absolutely need it. While Hiram had learned a lot about money, Mr. Vanner was older and wiser and he heeded the man’s advice.

Hiram and Rolf walked for several hours. They stopped once for water as they crossed over Little’s Creek. He was conserving his water also. Packed at Mr. Vanner’s advice. Hiram was thinking of stopping again soon to have something to eat when an older sedan passed him, kicking up dust on the road. There were three young men, maybe Hiram’s age, in the car. The sedan backed up and the boy in the passenger seat asked if he would care for a ride. They were going as far as Louisville. Hiram thought that might be a fine idea; he wouldn’t have to walk the bridge over the Ohio River. Before he could accept, however, Rolf pulled at his trouser leg. He looked at the dog to see what was the problem. Rolf did not look happy. Indeed, he seemed to be scowling. Hiram and Rolf were so close that Hiram realized Rolf didn’t want to get in the car. He thanked the three boys and said he wasn’t going too far. But thank you for the offer. They all cajoled him ‘oh come on, why walk when you can ride’ type remarks. Rolf growled. Hiram again said, thank you but no thank you. Finally the sedan sped away, back tires spinning, stirring up great clouds of dust.

Rolf looked relieved. Hiram couldn’t imagine what had come over the dog but if Rolf wasn’t happy, neither was Hiram. They continued walking. About a mile later they came to an apple orchard. One tree branch laden with fruit hung over the fence line. If we had taken a ride, we would have missed the apples, Rolf. Good dog. He picked three and put them in his backpack. Apples keep a long while. He might need them someday.

The shoulder of the road was grassy and Rolf laid down. Hiram took that as time to eat. He had food for both man and beast packed at the top of his gear. A bit of water in a dish for Rolf and a swallow for himself before they continued on. He changed to his old shoes, as Mr. Vanner had suggested. New shoes in the morning; old shoes the rest of the day.

An hour later, it was late afternoon, an old pickup slowed down as it came upon the pair. The young lady in the passenger seat asked if he and his dog needed a lift. There were two very little children in the back of the truck, a harness type device kept them from crawling or falling out of the truck. The driver, Hiram figured him mid-thirties, leaned across and said, We’re going almost to Louisville. If you would like a ride across the river, we’d be happy to accommodate you. Before Hiram could answer, Rolf jumped into the back of the truck with the children. The driver laughed, Your dog must be tired. Jump in. Hiram got in with his dog and the two babies.

The babies were enthralled with Rolf. They scratched his ears, petted and hugged him. Hiram said He is an old shepherd dog named Rolf. I’ve had him since I was about ten. The children hugged Rolf and Rolf seemed to enjoy every minute.

The river bridge was busy and Hiram was pleased he did not have to walk it. There is a pedestrian walkway but it seemed very narrow to Hiram. A mile or so after crossing the Ohio River, the driver pulled over and said, Where are you going? Perhaps we can give you a longer rest.

Hiram explained to the man and his wife that he had no definite destination. It was his birthday this very day and he decided to strike out and try to make the world a better place by preaching brotherly love. They both thought that was splendid. The wife said, If you have no destination, and it is your birthday, come home with us and have supper. You can always save the world tomorrow. The husband agreed. Why not do that? Hiram could even spend the night if he didn’t mind sleeping on the floor. Hiram said he had slept on many a floor in his time; a friendly one would be a pleasant change.

They reached a small cabin in a short time. The couple was Oliver and Beth Hastings. Their children were Betsy and Billy. Oliver excused himself saying he had to get more wood chopped. They had been gone all day and he was behind. Hiram acknowledged he knew nothing about chopping wood but could certainly learn, or at least stack, or do something useful. As with so many things, Hiram seemed to have a knack for chopping wood. He and Oliver worked for more than an hour before Beth announced supper was ready. She apologized there was no cake, but she did make biscuits. Hiram thought biscuits to be an excellent substitute.

After a meager but filling meal, the three grownups sat at the table and talked. Hiram asked how they came to be here. Had they always lived here?

Oliver said, "Back in 1929, I was fifteen and Beth was fourteen. We wanted to get married and I was more than willing to drop out of school to be able to support her and hopefully a family.