Old Sins Cast Long Shadows

The sky - river and land lay empty! Then there was movement! Two tiny wagons on the edge of the flood plain made their way up a tract above the river to claim ten acres each. Another "squatter" joined them settling halfway to the top. The three settlers were - Lewellyn Lewis from Wales - Abel Hardy from Dorset both from the 'Old Country - England and Frederick Rush native-born American.



From the back hills came exuberant, enterprising Alfie Hicks a former indentured servant from England - a Cockney born and bred - who had worked off his debt who now claimed fifty and more acres! And why not? For here was 'land for the taking!' He never dreamed that naming the town "Hicksville" would become a synonym for "backwoods"-"backwater"-"backward" in the next century!



From the 'Rush' household - there emerged Joel with the looks and demanor which would set his mother to prod him - obsessively - to being a preacher. Joel however was destined to become the leader of the survivors of a disaster: he led them into 'the Promised Land' to start a new life.



The story follows the loves - lives - sorrows and joys of the group who find it necessary to welcome "new blood" to keep "Rushburg, West Virginia" a viable town. The new arrivals are Irish whose irrepressible good humor and determination to succeed awaken sleepy Rushburg.



Most of all this story is about love in its various forms: true love yes! but love that is also 'possessive' 'oppressive' and 'corrupt." Then there is 'pure love' which is surely Divineely ordained!