The Lamerton Workhouse Orphanage

by S G Read

  ‘Well let the doctor have his say before we pass judgement on it. Alfred, give the chicken to Ruth and she will cook it for you.’

  Alfred held the chicken out and Ruth took it into the kitchen. Tom returned to his work and Andrew walked into the kitchen to get Ruth to make Mrs Webber a cup of tea. He had long since given her the key to the tea container, not that they drank too much tea, there never seemed to be time to sit down to drink tea together.

  Although the wait seemed endless the doctor arrived only an hour later. He was young, although slightly older than Andrew but he had new ideas.

  ‘It is broken in several places but if I set it straight and immobilise it, it should repair itself in time.’ He announced after making Mrs Webber wince several times and actually scream out in pain once. ‘I will need to give you some laudanum while I do it.’

  ‘What’s that?’ Mrs Webber asked.

  ‘I will make you sleep.’ The doctor answered. ‘Then I can do what I have to and immobilise the foot but we can not afford to let you walk on it afterwards until I think it will take it.’

  Andrew could see the way things were going and knew he was going to lose his bed again but it was in a good cause.

  ‘There is a bed in there she can use until she is able to go home.’ He said selflessly.

  ‘Good I will start then, the sooner it is done the sooner you will be able to walk properly.’ The doctor exclaimed.

  Andrew left the doctor and Ruth to it; it was no place for a man. He walked round to make sure everything was working well and that the washing was being done properly, although he was not an expert on washing: The children knew more than he did!

  Time passed and the children upstairs listening to Beth’s story now included Alfred. Eliza was looking after the babies, as well as listening to the story. That meant there were a few complaints from the children when she changed a dirty nappy near them so that she did not miss too much of the story but Beth read on.

  Finally the parlour door opened and the doctor came out rolling his sleeves back down. Andrew walked over immediately.

  ‘How did it go doctor?’

  ‘Fine but it is very swollen, I will come back in two days to adjust the bandages when it has subsided a little. She must stay off the foot completely!’

  ‘I will tie her to the bed if I have to, Ruth and Eliza will look after her until she is well enough to get about. How much do I owe you doctor?’

  ‘I have spoken to Mrs Webber and I have a lot of clothes which could do with mending in some way or other so I will settle for that. It is not every day I get the chance to do such an operation and I will see it through. I must ask though; why have you involved yourself?’

  ‘A long story really but as soon as I heard it was Lady Dymonds carriage which run over her foot I wanted her fit again and as you found out she is a good seamstress. I intend to ask my patrons if they want their washing mended, if they do, Mrs Webber will do it and earn money for it without having to go anywhere until she can.’

  ‘You are a good man Andrew McDay.’

  ‘So are you Doctor Knight.’

  ‘It seems we think the same but should Lady Dymonds fall ill, I will still feel obliged to cure her or try to, whereas I feel you may not.’

  ‘I would not- that is for sure unless I was breaking the law, then I would act. There is no loved lost between my fiancé and that evil woman, as well as between I and her.’

  ‘I have not had the call to look after her needs as yet but I have spoken to one doctor who has since left the area and he was of the same opinion of her sons, as was intimated at the trial.’

  ‘You were there?’

  ‘I was and entertaining it was as well, especially when Lady Dymonds walked out. Any other person would have been thrown into the cells!’

  ‘One law for one and one for another.’ Andrew replied.

  ‘I am glad your fiancé was freed but I would still keep out of Lady Dymonds way or she might be run over as well.’

  ‘If she did that she would feel a ball between her eyes soon after.’ Andrew declared.

  ‘And rightly so but be warned.’

  ‘Thank you Doctor.’

  Andrew saw the doctor out and then returned to his duties. When the washing was finished Alfred was carried down screaming and dumped in the long tub with all the other children for a long overdue bath. He complained all through it and for some time afterwards while his clothes were drying but there was no complaint when he was fed. The chicken had not been very big so it was shared between Mrs Webber, who was now awake, Alfred and the older children. The little children had pieces of pork, the cheapest pork Andrew could find but at least it was meat. Alfred started complaining again when he had to help with washing the dishes but he did his share. Ruth made a bed up for him in with his mother, that way if she needed something in the night, he could help her or get help but in the morning, he had to wash clothes. More complaints!

  At Andrew’s request Bill arrived and they discussed how best to get Mrs Webber working while she could still not walk about.

  ‘I will get Mrs Hodgson to ask what she wants.’ Bill declared unwilling to go into the room while she was in bed.

  Mary arrived later in Bills cart and was soon in with Mrs Webber.

  ‘Hello I am Mrs Hodgson, you can call me Mary.’ She said as she pulled up a chair next to her bed.

  ‘I am Ann Webber it is nice to have a visitor.’

  ‘Bill, Mr Hodgson wants to know what he has to make so that you can work from your bed without having to leave it.’

  ‘Well my hands and arms are alright so I can sew if they can get the clothes to me in here.’

  They discussed it at length and came up with a plan. Mary passed the plan on to Bill, who left Ann and Mary talking while he trundled home in his cart for some wood.

  Chapter 7

  The day of the wedding approached and his impetuousness at having Mrs Webber sleep in his bed came into question as Beth would have to come over from the cottage so that Andrew’s family could lodge there.

  The doctor had been back twice to look at his work and adjust the bandages which held the foot in one position, so that it could heal. She was still not allowed up on her feet which made it very awkward to move her to another room to sleep. The table which Bill had made especially was over the bed and whatever needed repairing was piled on it so that she could pull it across and make the repairs. The doctors sewing took preference and Andrews next with none of the customer’s clothes repaired, he did however take one badly torn blanket and hang it on the wall for all to see. He then invited his customers up for wine and snacks one evening. With them all there he sent the blanket in for repair. When it returned half of it was as good as new whereas the other half was still ragged and torn.

  ‘Ladies and gentlemen as you can see we can now offer a repair service of great repute. Each repair will cost a halfpenny and will be done to the standard you can see before you.’

  The blanket was passed around for inspection and then returned to Mrs Webber to finish it. When it returned there were no tears and the holes worn in it had been repaired. Andrew walked over with the folded blanket after it had been fully inspected and gave it to the owner.

  ‘This repair has been done free of charge and we will not repair anything without your agreement but you can see that a repair when it is needed will add to the life of whatever we repair and save buying new.’

  He handed out hand written forms, these were on good paper and written by Sarah who was getting better and better at writing.

  ‘If you sign this form they will be repaired if you do not they will not be repaired.’ Andrew explained. ‘The cost will be added to your account but from now on anything in the condition that the blanket was in, will not be washed, as it is likely to fall to pieces in our new machines.’

  All the inn owners signed, as it was cheaper than buying new, some who did not sign would have badly worn or torn washing returned unwashed.

&
nbsp; There were several comments about the work all summed up by one man, the owner of the very ragged blanket which had been repaired. ‘Bloody Marvellous.’ He declared as he went out of the door.

  While Ann Webber was recovering all money for repairs went into Andrew’s coffers and she had food and board. Alfred worked for his food and board but also started to learn how to read and write.

  When Andrew finally wrote out a list of names written against their number and nailed it to a door it became obvious that there was going to be a problem using some first names as there were more than one Thomas and more than one William. When they all had their names on their clothes they would have to work out what to call each on.

  The day of the wedding approached with no movement on Ann Webber’s part although she was working hard on the torn or worn washing. The doctor still insisted on her keeping off her foot and Andrew started to look at the room the children used to sleep in. All the rat holes had been filled after the rats had been killed to stop them being replaced by more and Andrew thought about putting a bed in there for her.

  ‘Bill have you a moment?’ He asked when Bill was close by.

  ‘I have for you Mr McDay.’ He stopped his cart where it stood and walked in through the gate. ‘I have finished over the road now.’

  ‘Good we will talk about your account before you go but for now I want to make this area into a usable room.’

  He walked with Bill to the old sleeping quarters.

  ‘Two rooms maybe.’ Bill answered. ‘the boys have to go through to the garden and mill so we need to put a wall with a door either side of the walk through and you have two rooms. We can put floors in them made of oak that will deter any rodents wanting warmth. If the one on our right is a bedroom the one on the left can be a sewing room.’ He knew exactly what Andrew was after. ‘I reckon I can have the wall finished and the floor done in the first room before the wedding.’

  ‘When can you start?’ Andrew asked hopefully.

  ‘After I have had my lunch.’

  ‘Good man; if you need help take any boy who wants to help.’

  He left Bill to work out what he needed and walked off to see Beth.

  ‘Bill is going to turn the out dormitory into two rooms for Mrs Webber and her son until she is fit to go home.’

  ‘She is fine where she is Andrew McDay; I will not have it on my conscience that she undid all the doctor’s good work when she was moved before she should be. I shall sleep in the new room.’

  Andrew knew not to argue but the wedding night would not live up to expectations in that room unless it had a double bed and a lock on the door! He made a mental note to mention that to Bill and left Beth teaching the children who were not working.

  For the next few days Bill worked hard to make at least on of the rooms presentable, with a wall between the passage through and the room. He put in an oak floor to make it rodent free which he polished and then sealed with wax. The day Beth needed to move out the new bed arrived, a double bed.

  Beth smiled when she saw it. ‘Thinking ahead are we, I just hope the wait was worthwhile.’ She said quietly enough for only Andrew could hear.

  ‘Who for?’ Andrew asked in the same manner.

  ‘Well for both of us of course, I have yearned for someone and not made a move because that is how it is done.’ Beth admitted. ‘Although that is only decided by older people, who are probably no longer able.’

  ‘It does look that way but I am sure when we are old and all our children have left home to work and get married them selves we will say the same.’

  ‘Children?’ Beth retorted. ‘How many did you think we might have? Or do you mean to fill up the orphanage with our own children?’

  ‘Twenty is a nice round number.’ Andrew answered.

  ‘And so is none.’ Beth replied.

  ‘Ten it is then.’ Andrew declared.

  ‘We will see Andrew McDay, if Lady Dymonds has her way I should be hanged sooner than later.’

  ‘That is only to keep the fact that her children are morons a secret and a worse kept secret I have never known.’

  The bed was carried into the room and furniture added. Beth oversaw where things went but she found the lack of a window to the outside a drawback. That night she packed her bags and Andrew carried them over to the orphanage and into the new room.

  ‘Do you want to try out the new bed?’ Andrew asked.

  ‘We will try it out together on Saturday night Mr McDay and now I would ask you to leave my room.’

  ‘At once Beth Conibear soon to be McDay.’

  The following morning the McDay family arrived with several servants and lackeys. Andrew walked over to greet them and show them over the cottage.

  ‘It is not as big as you are used to but you can all squeeze into it. We have added two rooms at the back for the maid and butler and knocked two rooms into one as your room Mother.’ He said as they greeted.

  ‘I am sure we will be fine Andrew and where is the bride to be?’

  ‘Teaching mother, she will be over directly to meet you; she said she would let you get settled in.’

  ‘We will do just that then. Bolton bring the luggage and do be careful.’

  ‘Yes milady.’

  Andrew drew a curious gaze from both his mother and the butler when he carried in one of the heavy trunks; he did it instinctively and thought nothing of it.

  ‘Life out here has changed you my boy.’ Clarence declared. ‘I would carry one myself but I know what your mother has had packed in there and I do not want a cramp.’

  ‘Very wise at your age father.’ Andrew answered with a wry smile.

  ‘Should you give yourself a cramp son I would be forced to laugh.’ Clarence answered lightly; this was a different son than the one he had known in London.

  With the luggage inside Andrew sat with his father and mother waiting for Beth to make an appearance. She walked over later and the maid let her into the parlour, her parlour.

  ‘So this is the girl who has stolen my son’s heart.’ Mrs McDay declared and stood up to greet her. She put her arms round Beth and gave her cuddle, and she meant it. ‘You seem to have made a lot of changes in his manner young lady and I approve of them all.’

  ‘Most have been forced by the orphanage Mrs McDay, I will gladly show you round when you are refreshed. I had been told that it was place to steer clear of but now you will see children smiling.’

  The fact of children smiling was wasted on Mrs McDay but not on Clarence who smiled, he had seen inside such places but had no call to do anything about conditions in there, although he might have felt he should do something. This was his something; send in Andrew to see if one could help the other.

  ‘A tour of the orphanage would be most welcome if you can find the time when you are not teaching.’

  ‘I will make time Mrs McDay.’

  ‘Call me Rosemary, Beth.’

  Beth smiled. ‘Let me know when you feel up to a walk round the orphanage Rosemary.’

  ‘I will Beth, I am looking forward to it. I also want to see you at work in your classroom.’

  ‘Well it is not much of a classroom, more a dormitory we use to teach in.’ Beth explained.

  ‘Then I will make sure Andrew makes you a proper classroom to teach in.’

  ‘I will when I have the money mother.’ Andrew argued.

  ‘You seemed to do well at cards, by now I thought you would own the orphanage.’ Rosemary retorted.

  Andrew held up his calloused hands. ‘These are no longer the hands of a gambler mother, more that of a farmer or washer woman.’

  Alice, Andrew’s sister laughed at the thought of Andrew being a washer woman.

  ‘If you were over there sister Alice you would be up ay six AM and washing clothes by half past six, you would eat at eight o’clock now and then at six Pm. Before I came they ate once before work and that was gruel a very cheap porridge.’

  ‘I can work.’ Alice replied.

  ‘You
can work along side six when you are ready, although it is a lot easier now.’

  ‘I will show them I can work.’ Alice replied.

  Rosemary turned to her daughter. ‘Are you sure you want to do that Alice?’

  ‘Why do you not think I can work mother?’

  ‘I have heard how it used to be in here from your father but you still have to move wet washing about, some of it curtains and blankets.’

  ‘They will be clean?’ Alice asked turning to Andrew.

  ‘They have to start dirty it is our task to get them clean and dried again and pressed.’

  ‘I will work on them when they are clean.’ She declared.

  ‘I feel this is going to be an eye opener for all of us.’ Rosemary declared. ‘Come Beth show me round the orphanage.’

  The two women left and Alice chose to go with them to see what it was like over there, Andrew and Clarence sat drinking the brandy which was left by the last beadle.

  ‘Peaceful now.’ Clarence declared as he lit a cigar after the women had walked away.

  ‘Very father, do you think Alice will actually work?’

  ‘I think she will think she has worked but in truth I think she will have to marry a rich man to be happy.’

  ‘Well she is pretty enough father.’

  ‘Thank heaven for small mercies; she obviously takes after her mother.’

  ‘Well mother found her rich man.’

  ‘Not so Andrew, I was up and coming when we married but your mother has washed clothes and pressed them, so she will be very interested in all you changes.’

  ‘Mother washed clothes?’

  ‘Oh yes, she did not like doing it but there was no one else at the time; as soon as we were rich enough, we employed someone to do it and as we grew richer, we took on more servants, it is a symbol of wealth to have servants.’

  ‘It is hard to picture mother up to her elbows in soapy water especially now.’

  ‘She might surprise you Andrew, so might Alice.’

  Alice, Beth and Rosemary walked across the gravel which made up the drive in front of the cottage, crossed the road, which was probably in worse condition than the drive they just walked down and into the orphanage. Tom greeted them at the gate with a bow, although it was not too easy to bow with his bad leg.