The Pacing Goose by Jessamyn West
"The Pacing Goose" by Jessamyn West is a narrative that explores themes of familial relationships, conflict, and the intersection of nature and human life. Set in a rural community, the story centers on Farmer Jess Birdwell's struggles with the seasonal transition from winter to spring, reflecting on the cyclic nature of life and the challenges it brings. Jess's concerns primarily revolve around the geese that his wife Eliza raises, which he views as destructive to their crops, while Eliza sees beauty and value in them, particularly in the potential of their offspring.
The plot thickens when Eliza secretly acquires goose eggs, leading to a conflict between her affection for the geese and Jess’s worries about their impact on the farm. Tensions escalate when Eliza’s beloved goose, Samantha, becomes the subject of a dispute with their neighbors, the Overbys, culminating in a legal battle that highlights Eliza's strong character and beliefs as a devout Quaker. The story ultimately conveys lessons about understanding differing perspectives, the importance of communication, and the nuances of marital dynamics, while also showcasing the resilience of love and commitment within a farming family.
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The Pacing Goose by Jessamyn West
First published: 1945
Type of plot: Fable
Time of work: The mid-twentieth century
Locale: Vernon, Indiana
Principal Characters:
Jess Birdwell , a nurseryman and farmerEliza Birdwell , his wifeEnoch , the Birdwells' hired manSamantha , the pacing goose
The Story
Winter is making its hasty retreat, and spring is making its entry. Farmer Jess Birdwell smells melting snow and wants to hasten winter's exit. He is in the mood to celebrate the rites of spring. Unhappily, he finds nothing new to celebrate either in nature or in his family; maybe there is nothing new under the sun, he reflects.
Jess is particularly worried about the geese that Eliza raises every spring. They are destructive: They mow down sprouting corn and level off rows of pie plants, and fences do not make good neighbors as far as the geese are concerned. The only good thing about geese is that they make good roast for the table. On the other hand, Eliza loves the geese. According to her, they are beautiful, lordly creatures who are far more productive than they are destructive; there is no better food than a fried goose egg for breakfast, according to Eliza's father. In fact, Eliza has already purchased eight goose eggs, without Jess's knowledge, from the Overby farm and has set them under a hen.
Jess is worried about his corn. Knowing that Eliza, as steady as a pump bolt, is determined to have her way, he decides to use devious means to scuttle Eliza's project. He hatches a plot by enlisting the help of Enoch, his hired man. He instructs Enoch to puncture all the eggs with a darning needle. Unwillingly, Enoch agrees, even though he is convinced that most of the eggs are bad.
On the thirtieth day, when the geese are expected to break their shells, Eliza finds that only one egg has hatched. She is happy and relieved. She is happy that she can have the new gray-gold goose for a pet; she is relieved that she does not have to raise geese for the table. She gives the gosling the name Samantha; she will call it Sam if the gosling turns out to be a gander, she announces.
The goose grows up well-rounded, as a pet, in the Birdwell household. She eats and drinks—especially tea—off the family table, to the joy of the Birdwell children. Though Samantha is a joy to behold, she is a sore sight to Jess, especially because she eats the pansies that he has planted at the base of the Juneberry tree.
One evening, Jess is happy and relieved to hear that Samantha has flown away to be with her goose clan at the Overby coop. Immediately, Eliza goes to the Overbys to claim her Samantha. The Overbys refuse to let Samantha go because Eliza has insulted them; Eliza has accused the Overbys of selling her seven bad goose eggs. The Overbys simply swear that they have only their forty geese and no more. Eliza loses her temper; Milt Overby is as stubborn as ever.
Jess can no longer bear to see Eliza and the children unhappy over Samantha. He decides to hire a lawyer to argue Eliza's case in the court of law—something Quakers abhor doing; they would rather settle disagreements amicably out of court. No sooner than he is hired, the lawyer secures a restraining order on the Overbys so that they cannot sell or kill the goose Eliza said was Samantha.
In mid-December, the trial is held. Eliza is ready for the day of reckoning. She wears her best clothes and is in the best of moods. A devout Quaker, Eliza refuses to take oaths or to address the judge as "Your Honor." However, she will affirm and address the judge as Friend Pomeroy. The young circuit judge is favorably impressed by the urbane civility and good manners of Eliza. The defendant, Milt Overby, is overbearing and frowns on the judge because the judge has asked him some naïve, elementary questions concerning the habits of geese. When the judge puts Eliza on the stand, she answers politely, sincerely, and truthfully the questions that the judge asks her. She can easily identify her goose from the Overby geese because Samantha is the only pacing goose in the flock. Judge Pomeroy is convinced: He knows the difference between geese that pace and that do not pace. Without much ado, the judge awards custody of Samantha to Eliza and dismisses the case.
As soon as the trial is over, the Birdwells and Enoch return home, with Samantha in the crate, in the horse buggy. During the ride home that winter evening, Jess has learned his lessons well: Eliza is always right; there is at least one pacing goose among all the walking geese of the world.