The Soap and Candle Shop

As Samuel continued his afternoon walk through the settlement, a clean scent unlike fresh-cut lumber or leather drifted from another newly opened shop.

He stepped inside.

The building had been divided into two busy work areas.

On one side, several women stirred large kettles where soap slowly thickened over gentle heat.

Wooden molds lined a nearby table, already filled with fresh batches cooling into neat bars.

On the opposite side of the room, another group patiently dipped long rows of cotton wicks into kettles of melted beeswax.

With each trip into the warm wax the candles grew a little thicker until neat rows of creamy tapers hung from wooden racks to cool.

The room smelled faintly of clean soap, warm beeswax, and fresh pine from the wood stove.

Samuel removed his hat.

"Good afternoon, ladies."

Smiles greeted him from every corner of the room.

Martha Beiler stepped forward, wiping her hands on her apron.

"Welcome, Samuel."

Samuel looked from one end of the shop to the other.

"So this is where clean hands and bright evenings begin."

Martha smiled.

"We hope so."

She pointed toward the cooling soap molds.

"Every family needs soap. The laundry. Rebecca's kitchen. The dairy. The creamery. Even the barber."

Sarah Fisher looked up from the candle racks.

"And every cabin needs light."

Samuel walked over to the hanging candles.

"They're beautiful."

Sarah gently touched one of the smooth tapers.

"These are made from our own beeswax. Rusty's bees are helping light the settlement one candle at a time."

Samuel nodded.

"It seems every trade depends upon another."

"Just as it should," Martha replied.

One of the younger girls carefully lifted a finished bar of soap from its wooden mold.

"It almost seems too pretty to use."

Martha laughed.

"Wait until you've worked in the garden all day. It'll look even prettier."

Just then Rebecca stepped through the doorway carrying her familiar basket and stoneware coffee jug.

"I thought this shop might smell better than the blacksmith's."

Everyone laughed.

She uncovered the basket.

Warm slices of cinnamon pie quickly disappeared onto waiting plates.

As she poured coffee, Rebecca looked from the rows of candles to the stacks of fresh soap.

"You know..."

Everyone paused.

"...this may be the cleanest pie break in the whole settlement."

Sarah laughed.

"I believe you're right."

Rebecca picked up a bar of soap with one hand and a candle with the other.

"I've decided this shop has one important job."

"And what's that?" Samuel asked.

Rebecca grinned.

"One end washes the dirt away."

She held up the candle.

"And the other lets us find where we missed."

The room burst into laughter.

Even Martha had to set down her stirring paddle.

After pie and fresh coffee, the women returned to their work.

The soap kettles bubbled gently.

The candles grew one layer at a time.

Samuel stood quietly for a moment before placing his hat back on his head.

A clean home.

A warm light.

Simple things.

Yet together they made every cabin a better place to live.

He stepped outside and continued down the lane, knowing another shop was already busy adding its own small gift to the growing settlement.