Helen Webster

BLOG

  Helen Webster
  • HOME
  • BOOKS
    • Damaged
    • A Question of Intent
    • Company Wife
    • Trader's Son
    • Medical Man
  • EVENTS
  • PRESS
  • ABOUT
  • SHOP
  • BLOG

Jennie's Journal 5: Uncle John and Cousin Will

3/2/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
 Uncle John was a taller version of my pa, but not as sturdy, and his freckled skin was not weathered from outdoor work. He reminded me of a plant that had not had enough sun and had drawn up pale and weak. But, I knew he was smart and every morning he went out to the farm to do the books for the farm and for the family’s other business, a blacksmith shop in the yard behind the farmhouse. Pa works in the smithy after his morning farm chores are done. 

Uncle John and Will sat and watched me as I got their tea ready. Ma had packed cheese and fresh made biscuits and a hearty vegetable soup for this first evening. I soon had the soup simmering on the back of the stove and I was well satisfied that I had prepared a good meal for them. There was no conversation. Uncle John said the Blessing before we ate and when we finished our meal, they left me to clear away and headed off to Church for the evening. At least, Uncle John went to Church. I don’t know where Will went, and I don’t care. Uncle John did thank me, and so did Will. The men in my family were always polite. I was glad to have passed the first test. ​

When the kitchen was spotless, I set out the breakfast things and put the oatmeal on the back of the blackened coal stove to soak overnight. I turned off the coal oil lamp, lit a candle and went up the narrow stairs to my room. Tomorrow was Sunday which meant Church in the morning. Ma and Pa and my younger brothers and my baby sister would be there. I was glad I would be able to tell them that I had got a good tea for Uncle John and Will.
Picture
After Church, in the afternoon, I would have time to get myself ready for school. There was a cold joint of lamb already cooked and in the meat safe, and I would cook some of the vegetables that Ma had sent along, so their tea should not be a problem. Uncle John’s daily woman came each weekday and always left a meal ready to be warmed up when I got home from school. I hoped she would also be sure the stove was warm. This made me think about getting it hot for breakfast and I almost went back downstairs to see if there was kindling and coal for the morning. But I was just too tired and after I had used the chamber pot and readied myself for bed, I said my prayers, blew out the candle, crawled under the quilts and was soon fast asleep.

0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    May 2022
    March 2022
    November 2020
    August 2020
    October 2019
    June 2019
    April 2019
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    February 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    October 2015

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

e-mail: helenwebsterart@gmail.com

Facebook
Instagram
Art Site



​​© COPYRIGHT 2022  HELEN WEBSTER. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.


​
  • HOME
  • BOOKS
    • Damaged
    • A Question of Intent
    • Company Wife
    • Trader's Son
    • Medical Man
  • EVENTS
  • PRESS
  • ABOUT
  • SHOP
  • BLOG