by Zina Abbott
As Wilhelm laid out his tools and used a soft cloth to polish the glass on his magnifying monocle, he sensed his activities drew a crowd. The audience did not surprise him. With as little as there was to do on the two-month voyage, anything different would be of interest in comparison to watching the endless waves surge to meet the sky.
With a sinking feeling, Wilhelm suspected every passenger on the ship crowded around his little workbench. “Away you stay, please. The light I need.” He turned to Edward. “Please explain in English. I need the bright light to see what I am doing. I cannot work with too many people standing over me. I need you, Edward, to keep them from getting too close and tipping over my work area. I don’t want to lose my parts and tools, and I don’t want your glass cover on your watch to break. If I could work inside, I would, but there is not enough light.”
Edward issued orders and cajoled the reluctant to do as Wilhelm asked. The larger the circle they made around Wilhelm’s workbench, the more people could see him work.
Wilhelm focused on prying the two halves of the watch apart. He took care not to drop or scratch either the metal frame that held the glass in place or the glass itself. He became engrossed in his work to the point he lost awareness of the crowd watching his every move until the head of a child cast a shadow. He felt the work tray shift slightly.
Without thinking, Wilhelm barked a command in German. “Bleib zurück, bitte. Stand back, please.” Wilhelm jerked his head up. Upon seeing a child about the age of the youngest Ryan, he forced his face to release his scowl. Not tall enough to see what Wilhelm was doing when he stood farther back, the young boy who had jostled the tray clutched his hands behind him. His eyes wide with fright, he stumbled away.
Wilhelm softened his voice as he spoke to Edward. “Edward, tell them I need the children to go to another part of the ship for now. Tell them, after I fix your watch, you will call the children over, and I will show them some of my tools.”
Edward responded in German. “Why should you care about showing these rabble brats your tools? They’ll never amount to anything, and more than likely one or two will try to lift them from you.”
Wilhelm lowered his head and focused on the watch. “They cannot work towards something better unless they first see something worth striving for. Just tell them, Edward, and ask the parents to keep their children away. I don’t want my tools and everything on this tray to be upended.”
“Your tools! I’m more worried about the older hooligans getting ideas about my watch and chain. They’re made of gold, you know.”
“Yes, it’s a nice watch with good-quality gold. I would not flaunt it out here once I repair it. If they ask, tell them most watch parts are of steel or brass, and they are of little value to anyone but a watchmaker. Perhaps, they will think your watch is brass.”
Edward spoke to the audience, many of whom responded with groans filled with disappointment or disrespect. Several voices ordered their families about. Among them, Wilhelm picked out Thomas Ryan’s voice as he spoke to Patrick and John.
~o0o~
Patrick grumbled his disappointment when his father ordered him and John to return to their ma’s side while Bridget was allowed to stay and watch. “It be not fair, Da. She should have to go, too.”
“Nay, your sister’s almost a woman grown. We’ll be joining you shortly.”
Not wishing to draw attention to herself, Bridget kept her voice soft as she leaned towards her brothers and spoke. “Go on with you, now. Didn’t you hear the toff say after Mr. Mueller finishes with the watch, he’ll be calling you back to see his tools up close? Wouldn’t you like that? You don’t want Da to be deciding nay because you disobeyed him, now do you?”
After Patrick and John, without further verbal complaint, reluctantly left to sit with their mother, Bridget again turned towards Wilhelm, immensely interested in the process of repairing the watch. She had seen watches before, many times. However, this was the first time she saw one taken apart so she could glimpse at the tiny moving parts inside—parts so small Wilhelm needed the special eyepiece to see them clearly so he could figure out how to fix what was wrong.
How long did it take him to learn such a wondrous craft?
One time back in Manchester, her da took her to peek inside the mill so she could see all the parts that moved in order to turn cotton into thread that was then woven into cloth. Bridget found it amazing that someone figured out such a complex mechanical design able to operate automatically using great engines driven by steam. Even with the lint that filled the air and clogged the lungs of the workers, it was an impressive sight.
However, what Wilhelm did was opposite the cotton mills, at least in regards to size. What he touched was incredibly small—such tiny parts put together to move so precisely they kept accurate time. And this man knew how to make it all work.
Bridget decided to ask her da to talk to Wilhelm next time he visited and ask him how he learned such intricate skills.
Not only did she find Wilhelm’s work repairing watches fascinating, she found everything about Wilhelm interesting.
~o0o~
As the din diminished, Wilhelm glanced up to see Thomas standing off to one side. His daughter stood by his side. At the sight of Bridget, an attack of nerves caused Wilhelm’s hand to tremble. He hovered the tool he intended to use to check the inner workings of the watch over the timepiece until he settled inside. The thought crossed his mind that she would not be favorably impressed with him if he was to clumsily drop things or scatter watch parts. Forcing himself to focus, he once again resumed his work.
The ship made a slight change in course, which caused Wilhelm’s head to cast a shadow over the open watch. He twisted his tray a few degrees and repositioned the box he used for a stool until once again he worked in full sun.
Wilhelm spoke to Edward in German. “Ach. I see the problem. I will change out the offending part, and we will synchronize your watch with mine. If they keep time the same, I will know your watch is fixed.”
“How do you know your watch is accurate? Mayhap it is just as off as mine.”
Clenching his teeth at the goad, Wilhelm finished seating the new part and covered it with the back before he looked up at Edward. “I am a watchmaker. I always make sure my watch keeps accurate time. Any opportunity that presents itself, I test it. If your watch keeps time with mine, it will be right.”
Edward laughed and shook his head, his face revealing the delight he felt over getting a rise out of the serious watchmaker. “Whatever you say.”
Wilhelm finished pressing the top rim with the glass front in place, then polished the watch with the same soft cloth he used on his monocle. He handed it to Edward, who held it up and played to the audience. Most clapped and hooted their satisfaction while Wilhelm continued to secure his parts in the miniature chest with its many small drawers.
“Edward, please tell the parents, if they wish, they may bring forward their children who want to see some of my tools. However, they must stand at least two feet back from the tray and not touch anything. And no pushing. They can take turns so all can see.”
Edward sighed audibly. “I think you are making a mistake showing them what you have. Many of them have sticky fingers.”
“You will stay with me, plus most of the parents will keep an eye out. When we’re done, I’ll carry everything inside and put it all away where they have no business going.”
Reluctantly, Edward did as Wilhelm requested. He asked parents to bring their children near, but to stay close enough to see they behaved. Thomas was among the parents to corral children and see they minded their manners as they took turns stepping forward to see Wilhelm’s wonders.
Wilhelm showed them his chest with its tiny drawers, a few of his hand tools, and the monocle, which, through Edward, he explained was like the telescope the captain of the ship used to see what was across the waves. The difference was, his eyepiece allowed him see tiny metal parts up close so he could fix watches.
&
nbsp; Full of questions, the children would have liked to stay longer, but Edward grew impatient.
Wilhelm noticed as the sun moved towards the western horizon that the breeze became more pronounced. He gathered up his things. “Fixed watch is. Tools I put in cabin. Auf Wiedersehen. Goodbye, I go now.”
“’Twas a fine show, Mr. Mueller. ’Twas kind of you being mindful of the children’s curiosity. I’ll be putting your barrel back where it came from.”
“Danke—thank you.” Wilhelm looked up into the face of Thomas Ryan, who made the offer. Bridget had already left his side to shepherd her brothers back to their mother.
The expression on the Ryan patriarch’s face left Wilhelm wondering exactly what was going through the man’s mind. Was Thomas Ryan impressed with his skill? Did he respect Wilhelm’s abilities? Wilhelm hoped the man thought well of him and would welcome him to visit his family soon.
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ATLANTIC OCEAN – FEBRUARY 1850
CHAPTER 8
~o0o~
Following the afternoon Wilhelm repaired Edward’s watch, he continued to compare the time on both watches, his and Edward’s. Much to his satisfaction, the two varied by mere seconds. Wilhelm assured Edward he would check his watch again once they reached New Orleans. However, he preferred to wait until they were on solid ground without an audience before he worked on another timepiece.
Edward appeared to agree, although for a different reason. “’Twill wait. I’d rather not flash my watch before the blighters in steerage again and give them any ideas they don’t already have about relieving me of it. I tuck it in a pocket out of sight before I go out anymore.”
Wilhelm agreed that there were a few passengers who appeared on the rough side and might not be trustworthy. He decided he would decline to do any additional watch repair for strangers until he was in a shop with a proper bench and lighting equipment.
“At least my watch chain is not at risk. You’re making no progress with your Irish chit that I can see. You even got a kiss or a feel out of her yet?”
In response, Wilhelm stared hard at Edward and refused to comment. However, he did admit he was not moving very fast in declaring his intentions. According to a friendly ship’s steward, in less than two weeks, the ship’s captain planned to stop in the Bahamas to take on fresh water and food. Also, three passengers were scheduled to disembark in Nassau.
In spite of Edward’s resistance to teach him the words for court, courtship, marry, and marriage, he finally did so, rationalizing that if it was Wilhelm’s plan to lure the Irish girl into a false sense of security by convincing her his motives were honorable, it just might be what did the trick for Wilhelm getting his way with her.
In spite of it being winter in the northern hemisphere, the farther south the ship sailed, the warmer the weather grew. Wilhelm already learned leaving Britain in the winter was preferred by many emigrants. They arrived in the United States early enough in the year they could travel during the spring through autumn months to arrive at their final destinations before being snowed in on the high mountain passes to the west. It also lessened the threat of being caught on the high seas during the hurricane season between July and December. Still, Wilhelm buttoned his coat as he approached the Ryan family on a sunny, but breezy, afternoon.
After greeting the group, he turned to Thomas. “Mr. Ryan, a private word with you I ask, please.”
Thomas offered him a wary expression, but he agreed. He rose from his position, ordered his boys to stay put, and nodded to Mary Ryan as he moved with Wilhelm towards a vacant section of ship’s rail.
The two stood and stared out at the water for several seconds before Wilhelm mustered up the nerve to make his request. “Mr. Ryan. All the words I do not have. Bridget…” He swallowed. “For permission I ask…court Bridget.”
Wilhelm forced himself to meet Thomas Ryan’s stare as the man studied him.
Thomas turned back towards the ocean. “A fine man, you are, Wilhelm Mueller. Your company we’ve been enjoying these many weeks. But, my Bridget is Catholic. With you being German…”
“I am Catholic.”
Wearing a surprised expression, Thomas jerked to face him. “’Tis my understanding Germans be Lutheran.”
“Citizens of many German states in east and north…” Wilhelm pointed upward toward the sky. “Lutheran or Reformed. I am from Bayern…Bavaria—south.” Wilhelm pointed in the direction of their feet. “Most Bavarians Catholic.”
“Catholic, are you now?”
Wilhelm nodded and waited for the man’s decision. He watched Thomas as he considered this new information.
“’Twill be giving it some thought and get back to you, Mr. Mueller. I need to discuss it with Mrs. Ryan and Bridget first.”
Wilhelm knew he would get nothing more out of Bridget’s protective father that day. The two walked back towards the rest of the Ryans, aware of the curious expressions on their faces. Thomas said nothing, and Wilhelm kept quiet, knowing it was up to Mr. Ryan to bring up the subject of their discussion with his family. A look of longing directed towards Bridget, one she picked up on and responded to with a blush before she dropped her eyes and resumed working on her latest crochet design, offered the women of the family the only clue regarding the nature of his request to Thomas. Soon, the group conversed as though Wilhelm never pulled Thomas aside for a private talk.
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CARIBBEAN – EARLY MARCH 1850
CHAPTER 9
~o0o~
Wilhelm quickly finished his meal, eager to get out of the common dining saloon. The air in the closed-in space felt stifling. Now the ship was in the Caribbean, the atmosphere was warm and balmy in spite of it being barely March.
Wilhelm stepped onto the deck and inhaled deeply as he studied the brilliant blue sky above the ship. He looked in the direction where he could usually find the Ryan family. Instead of sitting with his wife and children, Thomas Ryan, his stare focused on Wilhelm, walked towards him. Wilhelm mentally braced himself, unsure if whatever Thomas wished to discuss with him was good or bad. Perhaps he decided Wilhelm could not court Bridget. Perhaps Wilhelm was no longer welcome to visit with the Ryan family.
“Mr. Mueller, A word I’ll be having with you, please.”
Wilhelm nodded and followed the man to a fairly isolated spot. Once it appeared no one paid attention to them, Thomas turned to Wilhelm, his face filled with concern. “’Tis true what I’ve been hearing that we’ll be stopping in Nassau to be dropping off some passengers?”
Wilhelm knew the three second-class passengers—a young newly married couple and her father—who planned to disembark once they reach the Bahamas. He nodded, wondering why Thomas asked. Did the man plan for his family to leave the ship and try to make a go of it on the tiny Caribbean island?
“Will there be passengers from the island coming on board to take their place, do you know?”
Wilhelm slowly shook his head. “No talk I hear. I ask.” Now it was Wilhelm’s turn to question Thomas. “Why?”
Thomas stared off in the distance for a few seconds before he turned his head so he focused on Bridget. “Are you still wanting to court our Bridget?”
Surprised at the conversation’s new direction, Wilhelm’s eyes sought out Bridget. Her needlework rested in her lap, ignored, as her intent gaze met his. She watched him talk with her father. In spite of the dingy cap that covered her hair, the bright beauty of her face caused his throat to constrict with longing for her. He swallowed and answered. “Yes. You say yes?”
“Mr. Mueller, the cabins you’re traveling in, are they private?”
Wilhelm’s forehead wrinkled in frustration. Instead of answering whether or not he could court his daughter, the man once again spoke of the cabins. Unsure why, Wilhelm answered cautiously. “Two beds—berths—each cabin. Slats in door we have for air. No one can see in or out, but sounds we hear
. Doors lock.”
“And have you enough coin to be paying for another berth from the island to New Orleans, if there be one free?”
“Yes. Who the berth needs?”
Thomas turned to once again face Wilhelm. “Mrs. Ryan and I—we’ve agreed on you marrying our Bridget. If ye can be getting a cabin for the two of you, then I’d be considering it a favor if you’d ask the captain to perform the wedding here on the ship. Sure it is you’ll be needing a proper marriage mass once we arrive in New Orleans, but a shipboard wedding ’twill do until then. Can you manage it, Mr. Mueller? Are you willing to marry my Bridget?”
“Yes. I marry Bridget.” Of course, he would marry Bridget. His objective almost from the time he first saw her was to marry her. Wilhelm inhaled and stood to his full height. “With the ship captain I will talk about cabin.” He hesitated. “If no cabin ticket to buy—if already sold…”
“Aye, all you can do is try. You can still have my Bridget’s hand in marriage, but if there’s no room for her, ’twould best we wait until New Orleans.” Thomas offered Wilhelm a sigh of resignation. “Sure it is you’re a good man, Wilhelm, but I’d be lying if I were to say you were my first choice. I’ve been hoping for a nice Irishman for my Bridget. But, you have a good trade and can provide for my Bridget and her babes. A hard decision, it’s been, allowing you to have her. But, you’re Catholic, and—she favors you.”
Wilhelm felt his chest swell. Bridget favored him. Although they have never spoken of their feelings for one another, it was gratifying to know she cared for him. Hopefully, she felt the same depth of longing towards him he experienced for her. “Danke—thank you, Mr. Ryan. I take good care…”