The Shoemaker

by Lisa Prysock

  Maguire, seated relatively close to the bride and groom, stood for the toast, raising his glass. “I just want to know one thing Kingley, as you know we all believe you have chosen the perfect bride. Tomorrow is Christmas, and then comes Boxing Day… so tell me my good man, are we fox hunting on Tuesday?”

  “Here, here!” Cheers burst among the men. The ladies could not help but laugh with them.

  Kingston stood up. “Wouldn’t miss it for the world, Maguire!” More cheers and forks clanging their goblets ensued.

  That evening, there were more wedding and Christmas celebrations as the Duke had arranged for the small ensemble of musicians to return. Preparations gave way to a country dance as many Glad Crown villagers and the surrounding countryside came to wish them well. She was glad it wasn’t as large as the Annual Ball the storm had nearly stolen from them, but it was a lovely country dance and a happy occasion, except for her parents and family being absent. Some of the guests at Hillbrook Hall viewed the storm with bitterness for having stowed them away for nearly three days, but it had brought so many other good things Catherine could not view it in the same way as the silly girls did who often wanted everything only for their pleasure and comfort. To her, the storm had given them time to get to know each other and gave them many enjoyable hours filled with pleasant activities. It had shown her the resilience of Northampton and Glad Crown villagers. Ultimately, it also brought her the romantic dinner in the library that she would forever cherish and the Duke’s proposal and pledge of love.

  What a joyous Christmas Eve! Their wedding breakfast and the celebration that followed were filled with music, dancing, and wedding cake for all guests along with a light buffet dinner of cold roast beef, a corn soufflé, sautéed mushrooms, roasted green beans with slivers of almonds, cinnamon roasted apples, and a variety of breads and savories. Each dish was served on elegant dishes and platters on a mahogany buffet along one wall of the Ball Room. Fresh tapers, greenery, and roses decorated Hillbrook Hall. There were bouquets and vases of hydrangea, plumeria, and jasmine. Boughs of holly, rosemary, laurel, mistletoe, ivy, and garlands of evergreen filled the house with the scent of Christmas, symbolizing eternal life. How the household staff had managed to pull off each celebration was a source of amazement to Winnie. They willingly worked longer hours and her husband rewarded them well.

  The ensemble of musicians opened with Hark the Glad Sound, followed by The Sussex Waltz. Then the musicians played Bonnie Highland Laddie, La Belle Assemblée March, and next, a country dance medley. This was followed by a Scotch Reel: Lady Mary Ramsay. The last dance was to the tune of Sir Roger de Coverley. Kingston and Winnie danced to all of them. Viscount Kinsworth danced with Lady Amiée-Jo. Ridge danced with Lady Anne-Marie. Frank Billings, Abel Johnston, Brent Atkins, Crane, and a few other gentlemen took turns dancing with the other Hillbrook Hall ladies… and more often, since several had gone home. Every lady had someone to dance with. The evening was complete when Maguire brought out the bagpipes and played Joy to the World and Hark the Herald Angels Sing.

  Christmas Day included a trip to church and a brief sermonette about the true meaning of the holiday and the birth of Christ. Oranges and apples were given to every child in attendance. Carolers sang in the streets of the village after church throughout the afternoon. They were delighted to see Jorie and her family at church, having brought a Christmas Day basket prepared by Mrs. Glenwood for the Pritchard household. Kingston and Catherine stopped to talk with them, shaking hands with Rose Pritchard, and kneeling down to meet each sibling after the service. The little one that Rose Pritchard carried, Abby, melted their hearts. Jorie struggled beneath the weight of carrying her little brother, Reese. The children were all too thin, something not lost in the observations of the newlyweds.

  “Look Mama! Dolls fer each of us… real dolls Mama, the fancy kind!” Jorie grinned with glee as she and her sisters held the toys that had been tucked in the Christmas basket they had hauled home from church given to them by His Grace, the Duke of Gladdington. A roaring fire crackled near the hearth. Everyone had changed from their Sunday best back into their only other garments. Victoria had set the table. Ginny had swept the floor. Mama had passed out the gifts that had bulged out of the basket. Adelaide, Amelia, and Abby sat on the bench near the fire admiring their dolls, their eyes wide with amazement.

  “Look Mama, a skipping rope fer Christian and a ball fer Reese!” Victoria said as the boys held their gifts.

  “Thank ye Lord for sending a turkey, jams, bread, and cheese for our Christmas Day Dinner!” Rose Pritchard sang out as she surveyed the contents of the basket. Her face glowed as she looked toward heaven, her heart full of thanksgiving. The kettle on the fire began to bubble and whistle. “That’d be the water ready for our tea.”

  “What’s this Mama? Something for ye, I think…” Jorie said as she pulled one last package from the basket and handed it to her mother. It was a fairly heavy package wrapped in brown paper.

  Rose’s hands trembled as she untied the ribbon and opened the paper to reveal enough fabric in several colors to make new dresses and shirts for each her children… perhaps even one for herself. Tears pooled in her eyes as she surveyed the smiles on the faces of her family. “God has smiled upon us, children!”

  A tree decorated with apples and ribbon bows greeted them in a corner of the Ball Room on Christmas Day, thanks to Mrs. Glenwood, Alton, and the footmen. The tree also contained bunches of sweetmeats, almonds, and raisins in papers hanging from the branches. Small wax candles lit up the branches. The dinner feast held in the Dining Room on Christmas Day included the servants. When the plum pudding was served, cheers and clapping echoed through Hillbrook Hall as it was ignited with flames. After dinner, the household gathered in the Ball Room around the tree. Kington, Winnie, Lady Anne-Marie, and Lady Amiée-Josephine passed out gifts. Guests and servants also selected fruit and nuts from the branches as additional gifts. Muslin for frocks and a fan for the female servants and guests were packaged beneath the tree along with cotton shirts and handkerchiefs and cravats for the male guests. Kingston gave Winnie an earring and necklace set. Winnie gave her husband a book of poetry. It was a delight to see the gifts everyone opened and the looks on their faces.

  “We also have a gift for each of you,” Alton said, presenting the Duke and guests with a surprise. Each lady guest received a package of colorful wool threads for embroidery. Each male guest received a copy of Letters on England by Voltaire. “The household staff went in together on this. Merry Christmas to all of you, from all of us!” This was an unexpected surprise that warmed everyone’s heart.

  Mrs. Glenwood stepped forward and presented Kingston and Catherine with a wedding gift. “This is also from all of us, on the happy occasion of your marriage.” Catherine opened the wrapping to reveal a framed canvas portrait of the happy couple sitting in the library near the fireplace. It was signed by Nathaniel, the second footman.

  “This is remarkably stunning! Thank you everyone, and Nathaniel… an excellent likeness of both of us.” Kingston remarked, looking over her shoulder at the beautiful portrait. Winnie was speechless and covered her mouth in surprise, nodding to all that the Duke said as he continued, “I don’t know how you’ve managed to finish a portrait of this beauty in such a short time. We will hang it in the library.”

  When the servants retired to the Servant’s Hall for cups of hot chocolať and the rest of the household retired to bed, Winnie wondered how they had accomplished so much in such a short time. Over the course of the coming week, the rest of their guests would depart. Viscount Maguire Stapleton and his Viscountess would return to Scotland. Earl Boggs and the Countess would return to their home in Kent; Baron Crane, to his home in Northampton. Lady Constance would return to Mayfair, sharing a carriage with Lady Julia who lived near Windsor Castle along the Thames. She lived with her family in scenic Cookham Village. She had described her home to Winnie as “a Georgian cottage filled with much love, though somewhat impoveris
hed.” Lady Myriah would return to Kent with the Boggs. She would depart with renewed hope that the Earl and Countess might introduce her to someone. She would be close enough to visit her home in Canterbury and give her Christmas gifts to family.

  Lady Elizabeth would return to Derby Shire where she lived in a market town and borough at Chesterfield with Medieval streets and an old Roman fort nearby. A carriage would arrive to escort Lady Jane to her home not too terribly far from the sea, Edinburgh County, Scotland. She would return to the Kirkland Parish near Carrington, south of Bonnyrigg. Winnie could picture her red hair whipping about in the meadows of her father’s castle on windy days. Lady Frances Tilney would depart for Cornwall where she looked forward to treks to a sunny, Cornish beach for picnics, collecting seashells, and swimming. Lady Mary Percy would return to Devon Shire where the fishing towns and seaside resorts would welcome her home. Lady Frances and Lady Mary promised to send seashells to Lady Anne-Marie and Lady Amiée-Jo.

  Catherine and Kingston sat on the Ball Room floor, looking at the Christmas tree and the snow covered meadows, barns, and stables outside the long row of French doors and windows. The fire crackled on the other side of the room. Candlelight danced shadows on the wall sconces. She thought about the wonderful gifts everyone had received as she leaned back in the warmth of Kingston’s arms, her emerald green gown spread about her like a puddle on the floor. Max snuggled next to them, his tail wagging every now and then as they reflected on all that the Lord had done for them. How was it that God had given her such a wonderful husband and new life? She was discovering an aspect of God’s character that overwhelmed her heart.

  The greatest gift she had ever received from the Lord through His Son was His act of enduring mercy on that cross that had extended to this very moment in her life. Because of His mercy, they had each other. Because of His great and enduring mercy, they had healing, salvation, and love in their hearts. Because of his great mercy and lovingkindness, they had friends, family, and purpose. Because of the mercy of the Father in sending His Son to the cross, they also had provision, blessing, understanding, and wisdom. Because of His great mercy, they possessed acceptance and the daily guidance of their precious Savior. Make us always worthy recipients of it Lord, she silently prayed, and thank you.

  “Shall we open the wedding gift from the shoemaker?” she asked.

  Kingston handed her the box wrapped in brown paper and tied with ribbon. “You open it, my Duchess.”

  “All right,” she smiled curiously. “What do you suppose is inside?”

  “I’ve no idea…” he replied. “We’ve had so many gifts.”

  She tore the paper away from the box. “Yes, we have. I am overwhelmed by the many wedding and Christmas gifts people have given us. My, it’s quite a large box.”

  She pulled the string off the box and inside, the first object she noticed was a slim book titled An Humble, Affectionate, Earnest Address to the Clergy by William Law, M.A. She opened the contents to find each page was a clipping from the press of a long and useful article written by William Law, immediately prior to his death. She turned through the pages of the little book, amazed at all that her eyes quickly read. She came to a portion of the book that spoke about God’s tender and violently fierce, passionate mercy. She read the excerpt to her husband.

  “Listen to these words of mercy: O poor sinner, whoever thou art, repent and turn to God, whilst thou hast Adam's flesh upon thee; for as long as that lasts, the kingdom of God is nigh at hand; but if thou diest without Adam's repentance, black lakes, bottomless pits, ages of a gnawing worm, and fire that never ceases to burn, will stand between thee and a kingdom of heaven afar off.’

  “To prevent all this, and make thee a child of the first resurrection, Jesus Christ, God and man, the only begotten Son of this infinite love, came into the world in the name, and under the character of infinite pity, boundless compassion, inexpressible meekness, bleeding love, nameless humility, never ending patience, long suffering, and bowels of redeeming mercy, called the Lamb of God, who with all these supernatural virtues taketh away the sins of the world.’

  “Now from this view of God's infinite love and mercy in Christ Jesus, willing nothing, seeking nothing through all the regions of his providence, but that sinners of all kinds, the boldest rebels against all his goodness, may have their proper remedy…’

  “Look Kingston, there are also new shoes for each of us. What a fine color! Burgundy boots for you, with silver buckles…” Catherine handed him the burgundy leather boots that had been buffed to shine even in the candlelight of the dimly lit room. She reached next for the burgundy heeled lady shoes with the silver buckle that matched his. “Matching shoes… and of such a fine quality!”

  Kingston looked his boots over approvingly. “These are very fine indeed! He must have gone to quite an expense of time and resources to make these.”

  “The book and these shoes remind me of how much we have to live up to. I suppose that was part of his intention,” she said, admiring the matching buckles on the shoes. “What do you think Max?”

  Max wagged his tail and they laughed.

  “I feel much the same,” Kingston agreed as he looked through the book. “This book must be nearly forty or fifty years old. ‘Tis remarkably preserved. Look at the note written inside the front cover.” Kingston read the words. “To our son, Bartholomew Wilmore--: Delight thyself in the Lord and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart. This must have been Seth’s father or grandfather. He gave us a gift of great value. Seth has given what must be counted among his greatest possessions.”

  “What else does one give a Duke? He must have felt that new shoes would not be anywhere near enough,” she responded. Reaching inside one of her new burgundy shoes she found a note. With delight written all over her face, she shared it with her new husband. “He always leaves these encouraging notes in my shoes. I can see why your mother liked this shoemaker best of all those in Northampton. May these shoes protect your feet and the Lord protect you in spirit, soul, mind, and body as you step into this new chapter in your life. May these shoes and this book be an encouraging symbol of our affection toward you. May they bring you much comfort and enjoyment as you boldly shine the light of our Lord Jesus Christ in all you do and everywhere you go. Anna and I enclose this New Testament Scripture, Philippians 4:9--: Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. Warm Regards, Seth Wilmore, the Shoemaker. What a wonderful promise!” Winnie tucked the note inside the little book. Turning to Kingston, she looked up at him and said, “Anna and Seth felt so honored to be included at our wedding breakfast. Did you see how their faces shined with happiness to be at our table, in our home?”

  ”Yes, our home! Now that’s something, my Duchess, I will never tire of hearing you say,” he said, clasping her hands to his face and brushing her hand with a kiss. “Merry Christmas, my love!”

  “Merry Christmas, my love!” She replied, blushing, happy, and melting into his embrace.

  Author Note

  Dear Readers--:

  I really enjoyed researching the way the people of Regency Era England celebrated Christmas for the writing of this short novel, The Shoemaker. Although it was a very happy time of celebration, it was not quite what it is today. Gifts were simpler and fewer, as were decorations. The Christmas tree tradition, brought to England by Queen Charlotte, was just beginning to become popular in England as it had been renounced as pagan prior to this time. The day after Christmas, or Boxing Day, was often set aside for fox hunting and boxing up gifts to give to those who had given good service during the year. St. Thomas Day and Stir It Up Sunday were also interesting traditions to incorporate into my story. The Yule log, having a Christmas goose, and the plum pudding were strong traditions. The hanging of greenery became an important tradition as a result of the Christmas tree tradition.

  Sled riding and skating were common winter pursuits. The holiday season
of the Regency Era did celebrate the birth of Christ with parties, balls, country dances, dinners, carolers, and many gatherings. When the University boys came home, there were games, more parties, and all sorts of merriment. It was true that even the worst weather was seldom a deterrent to these celebrations. Obviously, the birth of Christ meant a great deal to them.

  This book shines a spotlight on several Christian writers who wrote prior to the 1800-1820 setting of The Shoemaker whose work would have been commonly available by the time period of this story--: William Law (author of A Humble, Earnest, and Affectionate Address to the Clergy which appeared in the London press around 1761 and an early influencer of Charles Wesley), Charles Wesley (a leader of the Methodist movement), and Richard Baxter (a Puritan from the 1600’s).

  Some say one cannot possibly fall in love with or decide to marry someone after only knowing someone for fourteen days; however, there is a well-known love story in the Bible that would match the premise of this story in even fewer days. That story would be the romance of Isaac and Rebekah. Theirs was a love moved by the hand of God, as is the story of Catherine and Alexander in The Shoemaker.