Ethan was now twenty-one years old, quite tall, somewhat lanky, careless about his appearance, with his blond hair pulled back and hanging long down his back, tied in a pigtail with a leather thong. People’s eyes were frequently attracted to his strong hands and extremely long fingers, with which he made small gestures when he spoke. He was slow to laugh aloud, but smiled often and usually had a pleasant expression on his face. His size and appearance were inclined to arouse a sense of jealousy or competitiveness among men, but his modest demeanor and reticence usually assuaged these attitudes after a few minutes in his presence. He was soft-spoken, primarily motivated to mind his own business, to be alone, and to develop his farm and property well. Ethan was at ease with himself, not threatened by others or obsessed with obtaining what they had.

Ethan had a natural affinity for tools, guns, knives, and almost any kind of equipment. As a skilled shoemaker, woodworker, and blacksmith, he was always willing to provide advice or assistance to any of their neighbors, most of whom were members of the Society of Friends. He demurred politely when asked to participate in their religious or social gatherings.

Epsey was taller than most women, and her body was strong and graceful. She appeared to be solemn and thoughtful, but she was not an unhappy woman nor did she have a tendency to be critical of others. Her movements seemed slow and methodical, but she was efficient and could accomplish tasks with surprising ease and swiftness. Like Ethan, she was very sure of herself as she dealt with the challenges of a frontier life.

During their first months together, Epsey observed Ethan quietly but with great attention. She came to understand and respect him, despite some early disappointment when she realized that he was strong-willed, rarely revealed his own thoughts or opinions, and obviously relished the times when he could be alone. He considered matters carefully, listened to her opinions when she offered them, and then made the final decisions for the family. As a couple, they were compatible and rarely had serious personal discussions or an argument of any kind. She and Ethan found it natural to divide their responsibilities neatly into three categories: hers, his, and those things that required them to work together. She looked forward to the hours during the day when she could be alone with her garden and housework. Epsey respected Ethan’s gentle ways, his ability to accomplish almost any task, and his meticulous attention to obeying the law and doing what he believed to be right and proper. In fact, she and Ethan were surprisingly alike in many ways.