by S G Read
‘No all, well not at once.’ Tom answered.
‘I hope the washing is done?’
‘I believe they washed some twice to keep working while he was here, that was Martin’s idea.’ Tom answered.
‘He is a bright lad.’
Andrew went back inside to see the children filing up stairs to go to their classes. A few remained to tidy up and Martin had laid the whip behind one of the tubs.
‘Keep the whip handy Martin he is coming back so we will have to keep up appearances for the next two days or so until he has been and is on his way back to London.’
‘Yes Mr McDay. They used to hit us with something like that at Tavistock and I understand why now. It does something to you to hold the whip and have everyone at your mercy. Especially if you can whip them as much as you want to.’
‘Yes it does Martin and what is more if the whip is not seen to be whipping, even if all is running smoothly then he might worry about not being needed and whip children for the sake of it.’
‘I’m glad I came back.’
‘I am glad you think so Martin, now you have lessons to go to.’
Martin grumbled but went upstairs to his lesson.
Andrew walked back into the parlour and sat in an armchair. He was soon fast asleep.
When he awoke it was morning and he was still in the chair but now covered in a blanket. He stood up carefully and stretched to help get rid of the stiffness before walking to the table where his breakfast stood covered buy a cloth.
Three days later Easterbrook returned, it was early morning and Andrew was grateful that he did not stop to eat a full meal.
‘I have spoken to Netherton and he is not a happy man, you are taking his customers and he is not making any money.’ Easterbrook declared as he ate a snack.
‘We are efficient here and we do wash the clothes well, as well as supplying a repair service for a small price.’ Andrew replied. ‘Are you suggesting I become less efficient again and ask for the rest of the money?’
‘Not at all Andrew but he is threatening to send up more children as I refused to give him more than his stipend.’ Easterbrook answered between snacks. ‘I did ask him to let you know before hand this time though and he gave me this letter for you.’
Easterbrook handed Andrew the letter and Andrew read it.
‘It appears I am going to receive another twenty children and I am sure it is the children who do no work and just cost money to feed.’
Easterbrook dislodged himself from the chair; he wanted to be on his way, in case Andrew asked for more money. Andrew saw him into the carriage and watched them until they were out of sight.
‘Leave it unlocked for now Tom but we might have to lock it for a while when the children arrive from Tavistock.’
‘More of them?’
‘Yes more of them.’
‘What are we supposed to do with them?’ Tom asked in dismay.
‘We have to find somewhere for them to sleep and find enough food to feed them. I will ask Mr Doble when he can come up and build some extra rooms.’
Andrew walked back inside and up to where Beth was teaching. He did not stop but looked in each room to see how many more he could sleep but there was no more room. The hatch which led into the attic was above him. He had never looked up there but that was just about to change. He took the ladder which lay outside and carried it through the washroom with Henry’s help. The carried it upstairs and used it to open the hatch then poked it into the half open hatch.
‘Do you want me to look in there Mr McDay?’ Henry asked.
Andrew looked up at the hatch. ‘The only thing I will worry about is getting dusty but we can soon cure that.’ He answered and climbed up the ladder.
When he threw the hatch open he found he could see up there as light was coming through the gaps in the tiles on the roof. There was plenty of room but it was cold up there with the wind blowing through the gaps in the tiles as well.
‘Needs a bit of work up here but we can soon make it work Henry, can you send a rider to Mr Hodgson and get him to call?’
‘Right away Mr McDay.’ Henry answered but he did not move as he was holding the ladder steady. Instead he whistled and Martin came running up the stairs. ‘We need a rider to fetch Mr Hodgson, Martin.’
‘I’ll send someone, who knows where he lives?’
‘Edward knows but you will have to take over from him.’ Henry answered.
‘No problem.’ Martin replied and left Henry holding the ladder.
Andrew climbed up into the loft and Henry relaxed but still kept his hands on the ladder. Andrew walked about carefully up there to assess the room for hammocks but when he neared the far wall where the chimney breast was he felt the heat of the blazing fire below in the bricks. He walked back to the hatch and climbed back down the ladder to await Bill’s arrival. At the bottom he dusted himself down to try to get rid of the cobwebs and the layers of dust he had disturbed. The ladder was left where it stood for Bill to investigate when he arrived and Henry was set the task of arranging to get the hammocks out of the mill and up near to where they would needed. He looked about for somewhere to put them and decided to store them under the other hammocks where there was room.
Andrew walked down the stairs dusting him self off more, as the cobwebs were sticking to his clothes more than he wanted them to. He found Ruth in the kitchen cooking more food, this time for the children.
‘He ate more than all the children do.’ She complained.
‘He does like his food Mrs Fearon and we have been warned that there are more on their way from Tavistock.’
‘What am I supposed to feed them on and where are they going to sleep?’ She asked turning to face him. ‘What happened to you Mr McDay?’
‘I went into the attic.’
‘Surely you are not proposing to sleep people up there?’ She asked.
‘There is a lot of space and until I can get Mr Doble to build me more rooms it is the only space left apart from where they used to sleep and I think the attic is better than what is left of that room!’
‘I agree with that but how will they get up there?’
‘I will have stairs fitted Mrs Fearon, where I do not know I am no builder or carpenter but Mr Hodgson will tell me.’ Andrew explained.
‘I hope so but that doesn’t help the food situation.’ Ruth declared.
‘No it does not. You will have to send someone to buy more food in the cart, choose who you will and send them to me.’
‘Yes Mr McDay.’
Andrew walked into the parlour and counted out five pounds in varying coins. There was a knock at the door.
‘Come in.’
Martin walked in, Ruth had obviously chosen him.
‘We need food Martin as Tavistock is sending us more mouths to feed. Hear is five pounds to buy some I am sure Mrs Fearon has given you a list but try to spend as little as you can and still get all she wants.’
‘I’ll try Mr McDay.’ Martin replied but stood staring at the money.
‘You do know how to count out the money by now?’ Andrew asked.
‘Yes Mr McDay. That is a florin, that is a half crown and these are pennies.’ Martin answered.
‘Good. Now with five pounds in your pocket and riding a cart it would be the ideal time to run away again.’ Andrew said carefully.
‘But now I would be running away from somewhere I like being and besides it would mean the others going hungry, and we’ve been hungry before. I will make sure they charge the lowest prices ever.’ Martin replied. He scooped up the money, carefully counting it to make sure there was indeed five pounds there and put it into the pouch next to it, as his clothes did not have pockets in them.
‘Good luck Martin.’
‘Thank you Mr McDay.’
Martin walked out to where the cart was waiting and climbed aboard.
‘Good luck Martin I’ll see you when you get back.’ Tom said as he opened the gate.
Martin let the horse walk at its
own pace as it went out of the gate and down the road. This was only the second time he had been allowed to take it on his own. He had his list of things they needed and the money which made him feel important.
Two miles down the road he came to a cart with one of the back wheels laying on the ground and the axle seemingly floating in mid air. The driver stood next to it and he did not look happy.
‘Do you want some help?’ Martin asked not thinking whether it was wise or not.
‘You aren’t very big to be helping.’ The man answered. ‘I have tried to get the wheel back on the axle but I have too much on it. If I unload it the axle will drop onto the road and I still won’t be able to lift it.’
‘What have you got in the cart?’
‘I was taking my goods from the farm to the market in Exeter.’ The man asked who was obviously a farmer and Martin suddenly had more interest. He thought back to one lesson Beth had taught. Number 41, Sarah had lifted something much heavier than she was by using a long wooden pole and some bricks to use as a pivot. He could see bricks loose from the wall near the cart and a long pole to use as a lever. Beth had called it a fulcrum or something but Martin could see it working here.
‘If you don’t get to market then you will have to sell your goods to whoever will buy them, is that right?’ He asked.
‘Yes; why?’ The farmer answered.
‘Will you sell me some cheap if I help you get the wheel back on?’
‘I will give you two baskets from the back if you do.’ The farmer Answered.
‘Even better.’ Martin replied and jumped out of his cart. ‘You lift the wheel and when I lift the cart you slip it on.’
The farmer watched with interest as Martin carried rock after rock from the wall and made a stack. Then he carried the long pole and slid it between the rocks and the axle.
‘Ready then?’ Martin asked.
The farmer heard a confidence in Martin’s voice, which made him pick up the wheel ready to slide it on the axle when it was lifted high enough.
Martin climbed on his cart and drove it over to the end of the log, climbed into the back and then onto the log. The axle lifted but it was still just too low for the farmer to slide the wheel on but now he had confidence.
‘If you bounce a bit.’ He suggested. ‘I might be able to force it on.’
Martin bounced and on the third bounce the wheel went on to the axle. Not all the way but enough to stay there.
‘Now if I lean on the pole do you think you can slip it home?’ The farmer asked.
‘I’ll give it a try!’ Martin answered and they changed positions.
The farmer, who was not a slim man, applied his weight and the axle rose. Martin pushed with all his might and the wheel slid right on. The farmer pulled the pole out and threw it over the wall, before making sure the axle pin was in place. They both returned the bricks to the wall and the farmer picked up two baskets of his wares one at a time and put them on Martin’s cart.
‘I hope you enjoy them cabbages, you certainly deserved them.’ He said gratefully.
‘The children at Lamerton orphanage thank you kindly.’ Martin answered.
‘I heard good things about that place lately; do you come from there then?’
‘I do, I have money in my purse but I will be going back with as much food as I can.’
The farmer picked up another basket.
‘These are turnips and you can have them as well.’ He declared and slid it on to the cart. ‘Good day to you.’
Martin watched him drive off and checked his list. Reading was not his strong point yet but he found cabbages and turnips and crossed them off with a smile. He climbed into the cart and continued on his way, his first port of call was for some eggs but the woman who ran the chickens had bad news; they had stopped laying. Her rooster was long dead so there was little hope for more eggs.
‘I’ll buy the chickens then we need something to eat.’ Martin exclaimed but she was not selling her chickens, she was going to eat them, she also had to eat.
‘Get me a rooster and I’ll give you two chickens.’ She exclaimed and Martin left empty handed.
His next port of call was for some pork and he used his charms and who it was for, until he bought a whole pig for a pound some cabbages and three large turnips. He thought that was good deal but it had to be taken back straight away so he returned to the orphanage long enough for the cart to be unloaded of all but one basket of cabbages and a few turnips; in case he needed them to bargain with some more.
‘How you doing Martin?’ Alfred asked when he came round the stable from the garden.
‘I need a rooster bad.’ Martin answered as a joke.
‘Why have you stopped laying eggs then?’ Alfred asked with a wide grin.
‘No but I know some chickens what have.’
‘I know where there is a rooster running free; I tried to catch it for dinner but couldn’t.’ Alfred declared.
‘Why not?’ Tom asked.
‘It was too fast.’
‘Can you find it again?’ Martin asked seriously this time.
‘Of course; why?’
‘I can get two chickens with it and some eggs later cheap.’
Alfred climbed on the cart. ‘What we waiting for then?’
‘We are waiting for you to ask Mr McDay if you can go with Martin.’ Tom answered.
Alfred climbed down, disappeared inside then came out running. ‘He said I could.’
‘So if I go and ask him he will say that then?’ Martin asked stepping down from the cart.
‘Alright! I’ll ask him!’ Alfred cried and stomped back inside but this time with Tom and Martin watching.
Alfred knocked at the parlour door, went inside and came out a few seconds later.
‘Satisfied now?’ He asked as he walked past them.
Martin followed him and they both climbed on the cart.
‘Go out the gate and turn that way.’ Alfred ordered.
‘That is left.’ Martin replied.
‘I always get that wrong.’ Alfred admitted.
Martin followed Alfred’s instructions until they came to an abandoned farm where a rooster strutted about without a care in the world. Try as they would they could not catch it.
‘We need a chicken.’ Martin exclaimed.
‘Why?’ Alfred asked.
‘You’ll know one day Alfred.’ Martin answered and they drove away leaving the rooster still strutting about.
Martin drove to the small farm where they usually bought the eggs and the woman came out to greet him.
‘Back again?’ She asked.
‘I need one of your chickens in a cage and a bigger cage to put that cage in and you’ll get your rooster.’ Martin answered.
She looked at him and came to a decision. ‘I can manage that.’ She answered.
When they drove away they had the chicken in a small cage and that was in a bigger cage which filled the cart so the cabbages and turnips were left at the egg farm waiting for them to return.
They parked the cart, walked away and made sure they were out of sight. The rooster moved closer and closer until he finally walked into the bigger cage. Alfred pulled a rope, the door dropped and the rooster was theirs. The woman at the egg farm was very happy to see a healthy rooster and they left with their two chickens as promised but after the rooster had been with them for an hour.
‘Do we have to kill them Martin?’ Alfred asked as the chickens were in a woven basket.
‘No we are going to get eggs from them to save buying them.’
‘I thought they weren’t laying eggs?’
‘No they weren’t and I asked her why. She said that is why she wanted the rooster, so I asked her why again and she told me. The rooster has been in with these chickens before we left so they should lay eggs now.’
‘Why?’
‘Don’t you know anything?’
Alfred shook his head.
‘But you did know where the rooster was and that
is something.’ Martin argued.
‘It was wasn’t it; but it was lucky I didn’t catch it or we would have eaten it already.’
Martin drove the cart away from the little farm to try to find some eggs. They went to several places before someone was willing to sell him some eggs and by then it was late. He turned onto a little road which was a more direct route back to the orphanage but halfway along it he met a farmer trying to get his sheep back into a field through a hole in the wall where the dry laid bricks had fallen down. Martin stopped the cart and they both joined in, it made sense as they could not get through with the sheep in the way. Any which passed them where grabbed by the back legs and pulled back in the direction they should have been going in. Slowly the milling mass of sheep squeezed through the hole in the wall and into the field again.
‘Thank you boys that was hard going with no dog. She is poorly at home and the puppy is not ready to do this yet.’ The farmer said gratefully.
‘We were glad we could help mister.’ Martin replied. ‘We are on our way back to the orphanage at Lamerton to take back what little food we could get for the few pennies I was allowed.’
The ploy worked and the farmer sold them some of his mutton for a low price and gave them some more eggs for their help.
It was dark when they turned into the orphanage and Alfred had to jump down and open the gate as there was no sign of Tom.
Tom appeared from the stable when Martin turned into the courtyard.
‘You took your time.’ He complained.
‘We were busy getting food.’ Alfred retorted.
‘Well get it unloaded sharpish and get inside so that we can all eat!’ Tom replied.
Alfred looked at Martin after Tom had gone back into the stable. ‘They are waiting for us.’
Martin smiled. ‘So I heard, let’s get it into the kitchen a bit quick.’
The unloaded the food and the chickens but left the latter in the stable then hurried inside. Martin walked straight to the parlour door and knocked.
‘Come in.’ Beth called through the door and Martin opened it. ‘Ah the wanderer returns.’ She said when she saw him.
Andrew was sitting at his desk and Martin walked over to him.
‘I got all I was supposed to and a bit extra and here is the change.’ He counted out three pounds.