Townsman, 1991-09, Page 32Child's
experiences
shine
through book
Horst, Isaac R. Until Jacob Comes.
Mount Forest, Ontario, published by
Isaac R. Horst. 168 pp., paper, illus.
ISBN 0-9691729-1-5.
REVIEWED BY
JERRY McDONNELL
Novels about pioneer life are rela-
tively plentiful and many have been
written by accomplished and famous
authors. Why then, should one pick up
the self -published work of an
unknown author? Indeed, why would
one choose to add a rich genre?
Unless an author can add something
new in the way of style, viewpoint or
material it would seem a waste of
time. If the work were good one
would expect that an established pub-
lisher would have picked up the vol-
ume.
Until Jacob Comes is the fictional
account of the migration of one Men-
nonite family from Pennsylvania to
the Waterloo County area of Ontario
in the 1830's. This was the period
when the ancestors of a majority of
the north Waterloo Mennonites or Old
Order Amish made the trek to this
new land although why they were
leaving the new country of the USA
is never made clear. When things are
not going well for this religious group
they have often pulled up stakes and
moved to a new country or area. Here
we know only that some friends and
relatives of the family have already
gone and it is decided to join them.
The story is told from the point of
view of Joseph, a young boy who
makes the move with his mother,
brother and assorted relatives and
friends. Old homes are left behind for
the use of others and a precious few
possessions and essentials, including
necessities such as stoves and a mod-
icum of furniture for new dwellings,
are packed into wagons which will be
home for the duration of the journey.
Joseph's brother has visited the new
colony and his description is enough
to convince these adventurers that a
new better way of life lies ahead and
to the north even though they will
leave much behind. Friends, relatives,
meeting houses, schools and comfort-
able homes will all be abandoned in
order to go to a country still covered
with bush and inhabited by wild ani-
mals. Land, however is available free
and opportunities arc said to be great.
Joseph has very mixed feelings
about the change as he will be leaving
his close friend, Jacob, and the school
which he dearly loves. Joseph is the
youngest in his family and likes the
settled life he knows. He has never
had a desire for major change in his
life. He still misses his dead father
and has some trouble dealing with that
trauma. Most important to him is the
fact that he is leaving behind his clos-
est friend with the knowledge that
they may never meet again.
The journey begins and the compa-
ny heads north into the wilderness
seeing civilization gradually thin out
and the trees close in as they cross the
mountains and say fairwell to those
they know along the way. There are
encounters with Indians, equipment
breakdowns and new acquaintances
along the way. One of the most strik-
ing incidents is the ferry crossing of
the Niagara River and the approach to
Niagara Falls. For a day, the travellers
can hear the thunder of the cascade
but they are astonished when it comes
into sight. There is a sense of wonder
and awe which says that they will
never forget the spectacle.
The new home is a shock and a
challenge with sites to clear, homes to
30 TOWNSMAN/SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 1991
build and crops to plant. Neighbours
are helpful if not near and the possi-
bilities of schools and meeting houses
are seen by the end of the tale. All is
not immediately happy on the reli-
gious front as the settlers are too
widespread for regular meetings and
the clergy are few and scattered.
There is nowhere to meet which is
convenient. However, as more people
come from Pennsylvania, things begin
to improve. Schools and meeting
places are planned and built and new
clergy are chosen by lot from nomi-
nated candidates as is the custom.
There is even a suggestion toward the
end that Jacob and his family may
consider joining the new settlement.
There are many typographical errors
and ambiguities which mar enjoyment
of the story but what does shine
through is the sense of the child's new
experiences. The point of view never
falters and we get a very clear sense
of what the adventure and change
must have been like for a young boy.
It is very difficult for adults to write
from this perspective for a sustained
time period and Horst is to be con-
gratulated. The story can be read for
this achievement and for the saga of
pioneers leaving a settled area to
move to almost uninhabited country
with the dream a new and better life
in a place where they can practise
their distinctive religion without hin-
drance or trouble.
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