New Beginnings (New Beginnings Series)

by Doreen Winona Logeot

  Sara noticed an impressive building in the distance as soon as they stepped on to ‘The Front’. As they walked closer and closer to it Sam explained it was the prestigious Clifton House and if they came in the summer they would have stayed there. It was the hotel for the most prominent people visiting the falls. However, guests had to nearly fight to avoid Davis’ hack drivers to board the bus going from the train station to Clifton House. It was this site that boasted accommodations for four hundred guests and provided an extravagant restaurant and ballroom. In the snow Sara could see the attractive garden gracing the front of the massive building. She seemed quite taken with the fancy place. When her husband said maybe they would be back someday in the summer, she insisted where they were staying now was much more enjoyable and relaxing. But a slight glimmer of imagination shone in her eyes and he knew the thought excited her.

  As they continued their walk, Sam explained a few of the interesting tales of the area. He told her about two gentlemen, Charles Blondin and Bill Hunt, better known as Signor Farini. They drew big crowds as they displayed their prowess by tightrope acts over the river. People often crowded in to see one of them fall, but instead were entertained with many amusing feats.

  By this time they walked far enough they could view the suspension bridge crossing the river into the United States. It was quite amazing to see such a large crossing traverse a gorge without supports in the water. Two large pillars sat on each bank and the bridge was suspended in between. “That must have been almost impossible to build,” Sara said, quite surprised such a thing was attempted at all. “And I have never in my life seen a bridge with two levels, the top one for the train and the bottom for horse-drawn traffic. I can only imagine what would happen with an inexperienced horse the first time a train would thunder by overhead.”

  Sam nodded, it never crossed his mind before, even though he was a passenger in a hack when, as Sara said, a train went thundering over. He never had seen a runaway horse, but no doubt it happened.

  The sun was low in the western sky and they knew in order to be back at the boarding house for the set seven o’clock supper they must be on their way.

  “Are you getting tired?” Sam asked. “Would you like me to wave down a driver?”

  “No, I’ve so enjoyed this walk we’ve had together and these mukluks Edith loaned me are so comfortable. I feel like I could walk back to Manitoba in them.”

  “I’ll have to try a pair,” Sam admitted, “these work boots are getting uncomfortable, but they will be fine for the walk back.”

  “Are you sure?” Sara asked, concerned, “And your leg must be getting sore. Maybe we should catch a ride back.”

  “No, I’m fine,” Sam insisted. “We can stroll along and it gives me a good excuse to put my arm around you and hold you close.” He tried hard not to show the slight limp as they walked along. He knew the way Sara’s arm went behind his back, holding him tightly she also felt it in his walk.

  It was ten minutes after seven when they arrived back at the boarding house. Their hostess was quick to meet her guests at the door. “Everyone just sat down to supper.” She took their coats and placed them over the sofa arm in the sitting room. As they removed their footwear Edith presented them each with a pair of handmade moccasins, saying, “When we have guests I really like, I give them a pair of these to remember us by.”

  “They are beautiful,” Sara said, giving Edith a hug, “but you really didn’t need to. We have enjoyed ourselves here so much we won’t soon forget you. These must be expensive.”

  “I make them for the trinket shop Robert and the girls work at in the summer. ‘Genuine handmade and chewed by Indian squaws out of buffalo hide from the Northwest Territories’ …that’s what Davis told Robert to say. I can at least say they are handmade, but the leather comes from the tannery and they get it from the local abattoir. Anyway, visitors from the old countries go crazy over them.”

  “They are beautiful and comfortable,” Sam said, already wearing his. He started to pull his wallet out of his back pocket when Edith quickly stopped him.

  “I will be hurt if you pay for them. They are a gift from me.”

  Sam quickly pushed his wallet back into the pocket and said a simple, “Thank you.”

  Three people already sat at the dining room table, two energetic young ladies and a shy young man. Edith introduced them to the couple. “Sam and Sara Fielding, this is Nellie and Annie O’Hara. They have come from Ireland and work for Davis.” The girls each stood and extended their greetings. “This is Mark Down. He helps me when Robert is away by bringing in firewood and water and does any other heavy work needing to be done. He also does odd jobs for others on the street.”

  Unlike the girls, Mark remained with his head down as he stood, but quietly said, “Nice to meet you.”

  Sam and Sara answered in unison, “Nice to meet you.”

  The boy looked up and gave a slight smile.

  They all sat down to supper and after Edith said the blessing, the food was passed and the conversation started. The young man stayed quiet but the girls were quite eager to tell their stories and to ask about living in the wilds of Manitoba among the savages. They were disappointed to hear neither Sam nor his wife had stories to tell of any excitement involving the native people. Sara’s stories of how some Métis families helped her first husband and herself on their travels proved to be not interesting enough. The girls were polite enough to listen but quickly started to tell of their journey to the new land.

  The Fieldings learned the girls arrived in Boston from Ireland three years earlier. For an unknown reason their thick Irish accents identified them as being unwanted and unemployable. They found a part of the city where most of the Irish went and found work as dancehall girls in a place where men went to drink and gamble. Customers would place bets on men competing in boxing where almost no rules were followed. Some nights the men would bet against two roosters fighting. One evening the men brought in a ring for vicious dogs and the bets were placed. The girls protested the fight, Nellie being sent across the room by a hard-hit backhand. As Annie went to her sister’s aid they were both fired on the spot and ordered to leave the area, the owner of the system stating there would be no work for them anywhere and he would see to it himself. He was a powerful man and they knew he could do it.

  For months they lived in an old run-down boarding house where they paid fifty cents a week each for their room. It included an old lumpy mattress and a wooden crate in place of a dresser. A rich bloke from the fight hall often gave them his old newspapers, which they would take to the house and place on the floor to help guard against the cold. One day they found an article about Niagara Falls and this man Davis who hired pretty Irish girls to help sell trinkets and the like. The article had actually been about how people were cheated at the falls, but the part about the Irish girls always stuck in their minds. They saved every penny they could because they were determined to go by train to the place where their people were treated right.

  By the time they were fired they worked for more than a year and saved only enough for one one-way ticket. They pleaded and pleaded with the ticket agent for passage for two to Niagara Falls. Winter was well upon them for the second time since they arrived, but nonetheless they pleaded for the chance to ride in the baggage or freight car. After much commotion he finally said, “You will freeze to death in one of those box cars. Get that paint washed off of your faces and I’ll see what can be done.” When they went back after washing he gave them two children’s fares and instructed them to wait until the four o’clock train which would go straight to their destination.

  There was no work on the Front when they arrived as it was winter, but they found jobs on the American side at a factory bagging flour for shipment. It was hard work, but they stayed with it until tourist season and Davis gave them jobs at a shop selling trinkets or trying to coax customers into the museum. “The men were especially quick to buy overpriced items when you call them ‘Darlin�
� and add a wink,” Annie said, laughing slightly.

  “It turned out to be not much different than our work in Boston,” Nellie added, “but we weren’t looked down upon because of our accents.”

  “Robert found them on The Front,” Edith added, “and invited them back here to live and when winter comes they help make the moccasins they sell in the summer.”

  Everyone sat around the table rather late that night until Edith rose to take the dishes to the kitchen. Mark took it as his cue to get his coat and said, “I’ll get the firewood for the night.” His head was still down.

  “Would you like a hand with that?” Sam asked.

  Without raising his head very high the boy gave him a quick look and shrugged his shoulders. Sam took the coat he was wearing earlier and stepped out the back door following Mark.

  The women chatted as they did the dishes, mainly about how interesting the museum was. Occasionally Sara glanced out the back window and saw the men standing at the chopping block splitting the firewood. Mark came into the house with an arm full of wood and filled the containers by each fireplace and the stove. He stood a little straighter as he completed the task. As he stepped back outside this time to fetch water from the pump, Edith explained, “He must be enjoying Sam’s company. Mark gets extremely shy with only us women here.”

  They were finished with the dishes when the men stepped inside each carrying two five-gallon pails of water to fill the large crock sitting in the corner. Edith removed the wooden lid and Mark proceeded to pour each pail into the top. He looked into the crock and said, “Four more should fill it.” The men stepped outside again carrying the pails.

  “That’s the most I’ve heard him say since Mr. Day left three weeks ago,” Annie commented. Nellie nodded in agreement.

  “Maybe we’ll get a song out of him before you leave,” Edith said hopefully.

  The men came inside again carrying more water. This time the young man was talking in a steady stream. He told Sam where he came from in Toronto and how Mr. Day saw him last winter without a home and brought him here to work.

  When he paused for a breath Edith quickly asked him, “Would you sing a song for us tonight?”

  For a moment his eyes once again looked down at the floor and he became silent, but after a pause he agreed.

  With the dishes and evening chores finished they followed Edith into the sitting room. She attached the large megaphone, which usually sat on an open shelf under the gramophone, into its place.

  The girls directed the Fieldings to the settee while one sat in an easy chair and the other daintily set herself on the arm.

  Edith wound the spring in the machine, placed the needle on the foil and the music started to play. In a beautiful, strong voice Mark started to sing the words of a love song and a broken heart. The song finished just as the music ended and the Fieldings stood and applauded. Mark gave a slight bow and became quiet.

  “That was amazing,” Sara said, stepping to the boy. “You should be singing in opera houses.” She placed her hand on his shoulder but quickly he pulled away. “I had no idea that song had lyrics,” Sara looked at Edith.

  “Those are Mark’s words,” their hostess beamed. “I played the music only a couple of times. The third time he came out with those words, which seemed to be engraved in his mind. I have told him many times he could sing professionally but he claims he is too shy.”

  Mark went quiet again and excused himself for the night.

  Sam spoke up quickly. “Remember you promised you would show me where the moccasins and other things are made, tomorrow.”

  Mark’s face brightened up again. “And I always keep my word,” he said before turning to go up to the third floor.

  In turn, everyone left downstairs took this as the indication it was time to retire for the night. With unison wishes of a good night the young ladies and the Fieldings went to their own rooms while Edith took time to extinguish any lights and check the fire in the cook stove before turning in for the night.

  In the darkness Sara climbed into the bed beside her husband, placing her head upon his shoulder, as always. They were both quite ready to sleep after their busy day.

  After a moment of silence Sara whispered, “Remember when we were married you said the days would only get better? Well, I know not every day can be as grand as our wedding day, but what wonderful times you have given me since.”

  No further words needed to be spoken. Instead Sam pulled her close to him which said more than mere words ever could.

  Chapter Twenty-one

  The night passed quickly for Sara. It was the first time since the heartbreak involving Catherine she slept well. The daylight was starting to come into the room and she could hear the children downstairs being shushed so as not to wake their guests. Sam also slept soundly and continued to do so, showing no sign he was near to waking. Sara considered for a moment to rouse him, but thought better of it. This was their holiday and he also hadn’t spent a restful night for some time.

  Quietly Sara climbed out of bed, placing her feet carefully on the rug to stay as silent as possible. She dressed quickly and decided to have her morning wash in the bathroom downstairs. Pulling the door closed behind her, Sara looked back at her husband sleeping so peacefully. She smiled, realizing how lucky she was to have someone so special.

  As she stepped into the kitchen the three boys, all under the age of five, instantly bombarded her. Right away Edith scolded them for being so rambunctious and they all went quiet but still pulled on Sara’s skirts. She couldn’t help but smile down at the pack surrounding her. For the first time in years she allowed herself to look at the boys as only children and not what she felt a need for and wasn’t allowed to have. For a long time she felt envious at what others had and often took for granted.

  “Good morning,” Sara said happily to all in the room, to which the same response was given back to her from the four, including the second youngest who more or less babbled the response. Even the baby in Edith’s arms, as she sat in the rocking chair, gave a contented coo and a large toothless grin. His mother just finished buttoning her top and stood with Sammy, handing him to Sara without her approval.

  Sara responded rather stiffly at first, but when the baby took hold of her nose with a firm grip she couldn’t help but let out a slight laugh. All those years of avoiding holding an infant in her arms suddenly vanished. Sammy reminded her so much of the healthy small child Willie had been and she worked hard at remembering only those happy times.

  Edith took sausages and eggs out of the oven and placed them on the table. “You don’t mind eating in the kitchen with all these noisy boys?” she asked, although she was already sure what Sara’s answer would be.

  “Of course not,” she said as Edith took Sammy. Sara returned a gentle tweak to the little one’s nose and he erupted into a contagious laughter. As she sat down across from the children the oldest boy, Robbie, stood with his chin on the table. Joseph was tall enough only his eyes could be seen over the top. Justin’s hands had a firm grip on the edge and occasionally as he jumped, he caught sight of their guest.

  “Away with you three,” Edith said, waving her hand toward the playroom, not the slightest hint of meanness in her voice. “Let us ladies talk.” Obediently they disappeared into the other room.

  Sara gripped the coffee cup in her hands and held the hot drink under her nose, savouring the aroma. “Nothing like coffee brewed at home,” she said drawing in a breath.

  “Did you sleep well?”

  “Very well.”

  “You look more rested than when you came here. It is hard to rest on those trains.”

  Sara nodded in agreement as she took a bite of the delicious sausage. It had been some time since she felt really hungry and reached for a slice of toast from a plateful on the table.

  “Sam said you might be leaving this afternoon. I hope you will have time to come with me to where we make the moccasins and other articles we sell. Mark could watch the boys f
or us when he stops in later to stack the stove wood.”

  Sam came into the kitchen. “I can watch the children so you can go out.” He went to Sara and gave her a light good-morning kiss on the cheek.

  She responded with a smile. “Good morning … but do you really understand what you are getting yourself into?”

  “How hard can it be?” he responded as all three rushed him at once grabbing hold of his legs and almost sending him off balance.

  “How hard can it be indeed?” Edith responded with a laugh. “There’s a man who needs a taste of fatherhood.”

  “Maybe it would be too big of a bite all at once,” Sara added, slightly alarmed.

  “Sometimes a person needs to take a big bite to find out what the true taste really is,” Edith responded. “After breakfast we will take you up on it. Mark wants to show you the workshop later anyway.”

  They all agreed to the outing, although Sara was rather apprehensive. Everyone thought it was Sam’s capability worrying her, but deep down she feared he was developing the want for a family … a want she couldn’t fulfill.

  The house where they worked was next door and owned by Robert and Edith too. This was also the place where the washerwoman, Mrs. Colbert, tended to the laundry. The backyard, Sara noticed, was a network of clotheslines, which were empty these days due to the freezing temperatures. Inside they found the woman up to her elbows in a tub of steaming water, working vigorously on white sheets. She looked up at the two. “Bonjour,” she said with a smile as she continued with her work, pulling the large piece of material out of the tub. Wringing it out slightly, she put it into a tub of cold water. Sara was rather surprised to see the skin up to her elbows seemed to have a blue tinge.