Free The Reluctant Bridegroom by Gilbert Morris

this place makes of kids! They learn to be thieves and grow up to be drunks. I’m thinking maybe it would be different in Oregon. I—I’d be a good wife to a man if I had the chance.”
    Rebekah shook her head. “But to marry a man you don’t even know! Why, Mary, I couldn’t do it!”
    “I’m surprised you’ve still got them romantic notions left, Becky,” Mary said soberly. “I don’t—had those knocked out of me long ago. All I want is a place for my son, and I’d work my fingers to the bone—and never look at another man—if I could find somebody who’d be decent to me and Timmy!”
    Rebekah sat there, trying to fit the pieces together in her mind, but try as she might, she could not reconcile it with her ideas of marriage. “You’re serious, Mary?”
    Mary moved her finger down the page and said, “Listen to this, Becky. Here’s another notice about a group that’s going to Oregon next month:
    “ ‘A group of responsible bachelors in the Willamette Valley of Oregon have formed an association to promote the institution of marriage in the area. Due to the scarcity of unmarried women in Oregon, the association will provide free transportation to Oregon City for any woman who qualifies. There are some positions open as schoolteachers and musicteachers, but the primary purpose of the program is to bring marriageable women into the territory.
    “ ‘Any woman who is healthy, unmarried, and who will consider marriage to one of our citizens may qualify. The virtue of all women who engage in this enterprise will be carefully guarded, and there will be a minister of the gospel to serve as a chaplain on the journey. There will be no pressure on any lady to marry any individual. Any lady who does not wish to remain in Oregon Territory will have her passage paid back to New York.
    “ ‘Any woman interested in this venture can apply in person on March 15, 1839, to a representative of the association at the State Hotel in New York City. Space is limited, so membership in the association will be selected on a first come, first serve basis. Applicants should ask for Mr. Winslow.’ ”
    Rebekah brushed the idea aside. “I couldn’t do it, Mary.”
    Mary didn’t argue. “We better hurry and eat. I don’t want to be late to the meeting.” She could see that the idea disturbed Rebekah, but her own mind was made up. As they walked toward the church, both of them were quiet. Finally, Rebekah spoke up. “I’d miss you, Mary—and Timmy; why, he’s almost like my own!”
    Mary smiled. “Best not to worry about it—Mr. Finney used to say we spend so much time worrying about what might happen tomorrow that we don’t have the strength to bear our trials for today! I don’t really expect it’ll work out—but I’m going to meet that Winslow man! Anything that’ll get my boy a daddy and a home—I’ll do it!”

CHAPTER SIX
    SPECTER IN THE CITY
    Just as the rigors of winter passed away from the city, a far more critical problem struck. Cholera in its most virulent form descended and struck without warning; young and old, rich and poor were equally defenseless against its onslaught. At first there were only a few isolated cases, like scattered drops of rain before a deluge, but by the first of March every block in the city knew the undertaker’s carriage and had heard the agonized weeping of the survivors.
    The rich took refuge in the country, but Mary and Rebekah had nowhere to go. Mary’s meager earnings were scarcely enough to keep them going from one day to the next, so like the vast army of the poor, they remained in the city. Two families in their little cluster of houses were ravaged by the disease; despite the danger of infection, Mary insisted on going to help prepare the bodies. She had been adamantly against Rebekah’s accompanying her, however, saying, “One of us has to be well to take care of Timmy.”
    The attendance at church grew as the plague claimed more and more lives. “It’s a