American Dream

by Colleen L. Reece

  She landed lightly, then reached up to be sure her straw bonnet was secure. Decorated with bright blue ribbons and new feathers, the made-over hat was as stylish as any in Boston. Maggie’s nanny, Hannah Pierce, said so. Hannah assured Maggie that blue was the best color to go with Maggie’s copper-colored hair. Hannah’s opinion meant a great deal to Maggie—not only was Hannah the Baldwins’ nanny, she was also the best seamstress in the city.

  The launching of a new ship provided a great deal of excitement for the city of Boston. In fact, the citizens turned the event into a holiday. Even Maggie’s older brother, Evan, was given the afternoon off from his accounting books at the countinghouse of the Souder Shipping Line.

  “Look!” Caleb called out. “It’s the governor’s carriage! Zounds! What a fancy carriage. Wish ours looked like that.”

  “Caleb,” Maggie warned, “watch your language.” She glanced about, hoping no one had heard. To her father, she said, “Good thing Mother isn’t here to hear him talk like that.”

  “If your mother were alive, Margaret,” said Dr. Baldwin, “I’m sure she’d keep a tighter rein on him than you or I.”

  Her brother was right about Governor William Shirley’s carriage. There were few carriages in all of Boston as elaborate as his. Other shipping merchants such as the Winthrops and the Chiltons also owned ornate carriages that were shipped over from England. And their uncle Reuben drove about town in the stylish carriage left to him by his late father, Josiah Souder.

  Her father offered his arm, and Maggie hooked her gloved hand in the crook of it as they strolled through the bustling crowd. “It appears as though all of Boston has turned out for this launch,” her father said as he gently guided her along.

  Suddenly, Caleb’s attention was turned in a new direction. “There’s Evan!” he exclaimed, pointing down the wharf to where the new ship, Thetis, stood tall and proud. “And Uncle Reuben is with him.” Without waiting for his father’s permission, Caleb sprinted through the crowd toward his older brother and uncle. “I hope he doesn’t injure anyone,” Maggie quipped.

  Her father chuckled. “One would think he hadn’t seen Evan at breakfast this very morning.”

  As they talked, Maggie glanced about to see if her friends, Adelaide Chilton and Celia Winthrop, had yet arrived. Following the launch, she would be a guest for high tea at the Chilton home, and Celia would be there, as well. Maggie was looking forward to the gaiety of the afternoon more than the launch.

  The towering ship stood silently waiting, resting in its giant cradle made of wooden stocks. Workers were busy greasing the timbers that ran in back of the ship into the water. This would allow the ship to glide out easily from the stocks.

  The air was filled with the aroma of fresh-cut pine. Stacks of honey-colored lumber lay about the area ready to be used to finish the interior cabinet work on this ship or to be part of Uncle Reuben’s next project. Maggie’s industrious uncle, who was a stepbrother to her father, was always busy in some new venture. In spite of the pockmarks on his face, caused from a bout of smallpox, he was quite handsome. He cut an imposing figure as he stood greeting the citizens of Boston and awaiting the magic moment of the launch.

  “Good day, Maggie, Reidan,” he called to them as they approached. “Didn’t I tell you this one would be in the water before 1740 was out?”

  “That you did, Reuben, that you did,” Maggie’s father agreed. “But it’s not under sail quite yet.” He wet his finger and put it up to the wind. “This cool wind tells me we’ll have an early winter. Perhaps you’ll be iced in before she’s fully loaded.”

  Maggie knew her father was joking. The breeze off Boston Harbor was quite balmy for late September.

  Uncle Reuben knew it was a joke, as well. “Not much you’d know about launching weather or sailing weather, either, Dr. Baldwin,” he said with a smile. “A ship would be in great peril with you at the helm.”

  “The very reason I leave all this frivolity to you, Reuben,” Father said with a wave of his hand. That wave indicated not only the Souder shipyards, but also the nearby Souder Shipping Line offices and extensive warehouses on Long Wharf. Maggie’s uncle owned them all.

  Caleb was leaning back, gazing up at the ship. “It’s so big!” he said.

  “But not my biggest,” Uncle Reuben retorted.

  “The biggest is the Stamitos, which is on a return trip from Barbados just now,” fourteen-year-old Evan told them.

  Uncle Reuben gave Evan a smile and slapped his shoulder playfully. “That’s right, Evan.” To Maggie’s father, he said, “This boy’s a natural as a ship merchant. I’ll wager he knows where nearly every Souder ship is just now and when it’s due to return.”

  Maggie was proud of her brother, who looked striking in his russet greatcoat with the swirls of gold braid and decorative brass buttons down the front. The same gold braid was repeated on his cocked tricorn hat. Large sleeves folded back revealed crisp ruffles at his wrists. Although Evan cared little about his fancy wardrobe, Uncle Reuben required that Evan dress like a dandy for work each day.

  “He’s a bright boy all right,” her father was saying in agreement. “Much better in the shipping business than I.”

  “Most anyone would be better in the shipping business than you, Reidan,” Uncle Reuben teased.

  “But who calls me when they’re sick?” her father retorted.

  The two of them teased one another mercilessly. Hearing it so much, Maggie had grown used to it. “Where’s Aunt Lucille?” Maggie wanted to know.

  “Feeling poorly,” her uncle replied. “We felt it was best for her to rest.”

  Maggie wasn’t surprised. Aunt Lucille was a small, pale lady who seemed sad much of the time. Over the past few years, she’d given birth to four babies, all of whom had died. The heartbreak and grief had been too much for her.

  Just then a rumble of wheels sounded from behind them. They whirled around to see a carriage coming right down the wharf. People scattered out of the way.

  “Only Lucas Chilton would ride through the crowd to be seen by all,” Evan quipped. “And take a look at his new calash.”

  Maggie admired the new low-slung carriage with low wheels and a collapsible top. Not even Governor Shirley had one like this. As the carriage came to a halt midway down the wharf, the liveried footman stepped down to open the door for the Chilton family.

  “May I go see Adelaide?” Maggie asked her father.

  “Of course,” he answered, releasing her arm. “You go on.”

  Not only did the Chilton family have a new carriage, but Adelaide was arrayed in a lavish plum-colored silk dress piped in dark velvet. A stunning matching hat topped out the ensemble. Amid such finery, Maggie felt a trifle awkward. Thankfully, the feeling lasted only a moment, for Adelaide had spotted her.

  “Maggie! There you are, Maggie. Isn’t this all so exciting? I love celebrations, don’t you?” Adelaide allowed the footman to assist her to the ground. “You are still coming to high tea this afternoon, are you not?” She smoothed her skirts with her white kid gloves as she glanced about. “Is Celia here yet? Oh, we’re going to have such a delightful time together.”

  Maggie laughed at her friend’s chatter. “In answer to all your questions: I love celebrations, I’m still coming, and Celia’s not arrived.”

  “Good day, Margaret,” Adelaide’s mother said as she swept gracefully from the carriage step to the ground. “Adelaide does chatter like a little squirrel, doesn’t she?” Pert Chilton carefully adjusted the full skirts of her gown, which was every bit as lovely as her daughter’s. “I dare say, I wonder how you put up with her.”

  Before Maggie could comment, Mrs. Chilton continued, “Your uncle seems to have commandeered the attention of every citizen in Boston. I’m amazed at this crowd.”

  Adelaide grabbed Maggie’s arm. “Come, Maggie. Let’s hurry down to where your uncle and father are. We don’t want to miss a thing! Oh, and there’s Evan.”

  Maggie noticed Adelaide’s
voice always rose a bit when she was anywhere near Evan, which didn’t happen very often. Maggie knew that Evan viewed the Chilton business as competition in the shipping industry, but it was more than that. He appeared to try to avoid Adelaide altogether. “Come, Mother,” Adelaide said over her shoulder. Lucas Chilton was already down the wharf at the launch site involved in animated conversation with Uncle Reuben. Maggie was astonished that he would leave his wife’s side, forcing her to walk alone. Her father would never have done that to her mother. Although Maggie was only four when her mother had died, she remembered many details about the red-haired, Irish immigrant, Fiona Baldwin.

  The workers had finished greasing the ramp, and it was nearly time for the launch. The girls hurried to join the group clustered nearest the ship. Polite greetings were made all around; and true to form, as soon as Evan had given Adelaide a polite hello, he moved some distance away.

  Just before time for the launch, petite Celia Winthrop came tripping toward them. Maggie waved. “Celia, thank goodness you’ve arrived. They’re preparing to knock out the forms.”

  “I’m so glad we didn’t miss anything,” she told them, quite out of breath. “The new baby was fussing, and Mother couldn’t decide whether to bring him along or leave him with the nurse.”

  Eleanor Winthrop with her husband, Andrew, soon joined the group, and Mrs. Winthrop did indeed hold the baby in her arms.

  Just then, Adelaide leaned over to Maggie. “What’s that in your brother’s hand?” she asked.

  Thinking Adelaide meant Evan, Maggie looked in his direction. “Nothing that I see.”

  “No, no. Your younger brother.”

  “Oh, Caleb? That’s his garden snake, Beagan.”

  Adelaide released a loud gasp. “A live snake?”

  “Beagan?” Celia said. “He named a snake?”

  “It means little one in Irish,” Maggie told them. “Caleb takes him most everywhere.”

  Hearing his name, Caleb skipped over to them. “You wanted to see Beagan?” He proudly held up the wriggling little creature,

  and Adelaide and Celia both jumped back.

  “Ugh! Get that nasty thing away from me!” Adelaide protested. She spread her fan and put it to her face as though to protect herself.

  “It’s only a little garden snake,” Caleb said, stepping closer. “If you look real close, you can see all the pretty designs.”

  Celia squealed and jumped behind Maggie.

  “I guess you’d better put him back in your pocket for now,” Maggie told him. She’d often played with garden snakes—and toads, as well—when she was younger. It had never occurred to her to be frightened.

  At the sound of the commotion, Dr. Baldwin turned around. Seeing the problem, he motioned for Caleb to come back to his side.

  “All safe,” Maggie told them.

  “Thank goodness,” Adelaide said with a sigh.

  Uncle Reuben provided a blessed interruption as he climbed up on a section of scaffolding and called out for the people’s attention. He prayed a short prayer over the Thetis, asking God to watch over her and protect her while she was under sail. The governor gave a short speech, followed by another speech by one of the magistrates. At last, Reuben Souder called out, “Release the supports!”

  Hammers banged as the forms were knocked out of the way. Other workers stood at the sides to push, giving the heavy bulk the boost it needed to commence sliding. Wild cheers went up as the ship picked up momentum and slid down quickly and easily, ending with a monstrous splash into Boston Harbor. Seagulls shrieked and wheeled about overhead, joining in the noisy event.

  Maggie gasped and clung to her friends as the men scurried about to pull ropes and bring the now-launched ship firmly into the dock before it could float away. She felt she couldn’t breathe until the vessel was secured on the far side of the dock. The Boston selectmen and magistrates formally shook Uncle Reuben’s hand and congratulated him on the successful launch. There was much bustling about and what Maggie’s father called “hobnobbing.”

  “Ships are so thrilling,” Adelaide was saying. “They can take a person to exciting far-off lands. Of course, when we came over from England, I suffered terribly from seasickness, but I’m sure one would get used to it eventually. I believe the sailors call it getting your ‘sea legs.’ Funny saying, isn’t it? Sea legs?”

  The girls giggled as they walked along. The crowd began to thin out as people slowly strolled back to their carriages.

  “I have an idea,” Adelaide said, pulling them to a halt. “Let’s ask if you two can ride back to our house in our carriage.”

  “That would be great fun,” Maggie agreed.

  Celia nodded. “Let’s ask.”

  Maggie turned about to see her father and Caleb still talking with Evan and Uncle Reuben. She hurried back to his side. “Father!” she called out excitedly. “May I ride to the Chiltons’ home in their new carriage?”

  Father smiled at her. “I see no reason why not. We’ll see you there.”

  She tiptoed to reach up and kiss her father’s cheek. “Oh, thank you, Father.”

  “I want to go in the new carriage,” Caleb piped up. “Let me go, too.”

  “No, Caleb,” her father said. “This is just for Maggie and her friends.”

  “Not fair!” Caleb stuck his lower lip out in a pout.

  “Come on, Caleb,” Evan said, “you can ride with me and Uncle Reuben in his carriage.”

  While Caleb’s attention was diverted, Maggie turned to rejoin her friends.

  “Celia can come with us,” Adelaide called out to Maggie. “Can you?”

  “Yes,” Maggie called back. “Father says it’s fine.”

  As she hurried back toward her friends, a young girl emerged from the crowd. Her hair was disheveled beneath a soiled mobcap, and her drab, threadbare dress hung limply to her ankles. Maggie judged her to be a year or so older than Caleb. The girl gazed wide-eyed as though she were soaking in the beauty and finery about her. Then she spied Maggie, and Maggie could feel the girl admiring the ruffles and lace of her best Sunday dress. As Maggie drew nearer, the girl stood as though transfixed.

  Suddenly, Maggie felt a yank on her arm. Adelaide had grabbed her. “Don’t touch that girl,” she said in a loud whisper, as she dragged Maggie out around the young girl. “Don’t you know? Her mother keeps company!”

  Maggie knew that meant the mother had men come into her home. But what did that have to do with this little girl? As Maggie was assisted up into the fine calash, she gave one glance back, and her eyes locked with the sad eyes of the forlorn girl.

  CHAPTER 2

  High Tea

  There was plenty of room in the calash for all three girls and Adelaide’s parents. The ride to the Chilton home at the edge of Boston Common was a delight with the open top and the breeze blowing on them. Adelaide and her mother held up face masks to protect their skin from the sun and wind. The girls chattered and giggled the entire way.

  The stately three-story Chilton house was surrounded by dozens of carriages. Many guests had already arrived for high tea. Clusters of footmen, dressed in smartly tailored liveries, gathered about, visiting together beneath a large shade tree in the yard.

  “You girls may have your tea served in the upstairs nursery if you like,” Pert Chilton said as the carriage stopped. “I’ll have the servants serve you there.”

  “How wonderful, Mother,” said Adelaide. She turned to Maggie and Celia. “Our own private tea party. What fun!”

  The double parlors of the Chilton home had been opened by pushing back moving partitions. The guests milled about,

  laughing and visiting, as the Chiltons’ servants brought them their tea on silver trays. A servant at the door took the girls’ cloaks.

  Governor Shirley and all the magistrates were there, arrayed in curled, powdered wigs and brightly colored greatcoats. Lilting melodies filled the room as a gentleman played the spinet at the far end of the room.

  If this were an
evening party rather than a tea, Maggie was certain the guests would be dancing. She’d heard that the Chiltons entertained often with evening dances, and it made her wish she knew how to dance.

  Lucas and Pert Chilton were courteous hosts and insisted that Adelaide greet as many guests as possible before going to the nursery. Maggie watched as Adelaide graciously mingled and chatted, giving little curtseys and extending her hand to the gentlemen.

  Maggie wasn’t sure she’d be able to do all that if it were required of her. Anyway, she couldn’t imagine her father giving such a large party. First of all, their house wouldn’t hold such a crowd, but second, Dr. Baldwin didn’t think much of Boston’s growing social scene. Even now, he was sitting off in a corner alone. Maggie realized he’d probably agreed to come only because of her. If Mother had not died, if Father had his lovely Fiona by his side, Maggie knew everything might be different.

  Just then, Adelaide appeared and began ushering both Maggie and Celia up the wide curving stairs. “Hurry, before Mother thinks of something else.” Adelaide giggled as she lifted her skirts and hurried up the steps with Maggie and Celia in her wake. They scurried down the long hall into an alcove,

  which opened into the spacious, sunny nursery.

  Maggie had been in the Chilton home on one other occasion and was quite taken with its enormous size. The family often had friends from Salem—other shipping merchants—visit, and during those visits, parties occurred almost nightly. Hannah Pierce often quipped, “There was no hoity-toity in Boston until the Chiltons arrived!”

  In the Baldwin house, the nursery looked like a nursery, but Adelaide’s nursery looked like a sitting room. Maggie wondered what Adelaide would think of Caleb’s blocks, tops, and toy soldiers being stacked on the shelves and his large rocking horse sitting right in the middle of the room.

  Adelaide arranged three delicately cushioned chairs in a circle around a small Pembroke table spread with a plaid cloth. “I’m overjoyed to have my very own company today,” she told them. “Now that Clark and Oliver have left for Harvard, the house is so dreadfully dull. You’ve not met my brothers yet, have you? They’re such great fun. Here, please sit down, and I’ll ring for our tea.” She tugged at a tasseled bellpull near the door as Maggie and Celia sat down, arranging their hoops carefully.