American Challenge

by Susan Martins Miller

  At the boatworks, the skeletal frames of the two new steamboats were taking shape. Nearby stood a large building where Luke oversaw the work on the steam engines. Luke was standing outside, talking to the men who were working on the boat frames.

  When they called out to him, he turned. Running to lift her up and swing her around, he said, “Gracie! What are you doing at the landing? This is a school morning.”

  Once he’d set her down, Grace explained about the order for her brand-new piano.

  “Ah, so you’re finally getting your piano? Papa’s little pet,” he teased. “I suppose if you wanted the scepter from the king of Prussia, he’d get that for you, too.”

  “Oh, Luke, that’s not true. When I learn to play, the piano will be for all the family. You can come and listen.”

  Luke screwed up his face and stuck his fingers in his ears. “And listen to you play sour notes? Not on your life.”

  She started to smack him but couldn’t get her arm out of her cloak before he jumped, laughing, out of her reach.

  Papa had been talking to his workers, but now he turned to tell Grace and Drew to get on their way. “You’ll have to hurry now.”

  “Yes, Papa.” Grace turned to see Drew picking up scrap pieces of wood and slipping them into his pocket. Drew was handy with his penknife. She’d seen the whistles and tops he’d carved for Matthew and Adah.

  “Come on, Drew!” she hollered to him. “I’ll race you up the hill!”

  If Drew really tried, Grace was sure he could easily win the race. But he gave the race only a halfhearted try. By the time they reached the schoolhouse, huffing and puffing, the gray clouds had broken apart and the warm sun was out.

  Later that morning at recess, Grace told Amy about the incident the day before with Raggy.

  “How I wish you walked home the same direction as Jason and me,” Amy said. “With Jason around, Raggy would never bother you or Drew.”

  Grace knew that was true. Even though Raggy Langler was big for his age, Jason was bigger. How nice it would be to have a guardian nearby like Jason Coppock.

  Amy leaned toward Grace and confided, “Mama says that when Raggy was younger, he helped deliver wash for Emaline Stanley. Now all he does is run loose all over town and cause mischief.”

  Emaline was the washerwoman for Amy’s family, so Amy would know. Grace shook her head at the thought of dirty, lazy Raggy. “And helping Emaline with the deliveries is the least he could do for being allowed to live in the lean-to behind her shack.”

  Tired of talking about Raggy Langler, they turned their conversation to the school program and the pretty new dresses they would wear.

  “If I had to stand before the entire city to sing, I’d be petrified,” Amy said.

  “I’m excited and a little nervous,” Grace said, “but I’m not afraid.” It was difficult to explain just how much she loved singing in front of people.

  Suddenly, loud shouts sounded from a far corner of the playground. Looking that direction, Grace felt her heart sink. Raggy, Wesley, and Karl had Drew cornered near the fence and were taunting him. Other boys stood around laughing. Grace hated the onlookers for not helping Drew.

  “Come on, Amy,” she said. “Drew needs our help.”

  “You go,” Amy said. “I have an idea.”

  Without a look back, Grace ran quickly toward Drew, yelling at the boys to get away and leave him alone.

  Raggy stopped and glared at her. “Fellows, this little wildcatgal’s the one that smacked me on the legs.”

  “Yes, and I’d do it again as quick as you can draw a breath, Raggy Langler,” Grace told him.

  With attention shifted away from him, Drew tried to make a break, but Karl and Wesley blocked his escape. “Oh, no you don’t, dapper-boy,” Karl mocked.

  Raggy gave a raspy laugh and spit a stream of “‘baccy juice,” as he called it. “Our fancy boy here needs a little gal to come rescue him. Tsk, tsk,” he said through his teeth. “Ain’t that a sight?”

  Just as Grace despaired that nothing but the recess bell could save Drew, a shout sounded behind her. “Get on out of here, you no-good scalawags!”

  Jason Coppock was striding forcefully toward Raggy, and following him was Amy, sporting a wide grin!

  CHAPTER 5

  Yost’s Mercantile

  At the sight of the taller, stronger boy coming toward them, Wesley and Karl fled. Raggy stood his ground for a moment, calling after his pals not to run, but it was no use. They were gone.

  “Go on,” Jason said to Raggy. “Slither out of here like your two snaky friends. And in the future, pick on someone your own size.”

  “Just you wait.” Raggy shook his fist at Drew, whose face was as white as a bedsheet. “I’ll get you when you ain’t got no little gal to hide behind.” With that, he ran off to another part of the schoolyard.

  “Well, what’re you looking at?” Jason said sternly to the other boys standing about. Suddenly the crowd melted away.

  Once Drew could find his voice, he thanked Jason.

  “Think nothing of it,” Jason said smiling.

  “I don’t know why those boys dislike me so,” Drew said, his voice still shaky. “I’ve done nothing to harm them.”

  Jason laughed. “That has nothing to do with it, my friend. Ruffians like that are always looking for fresh prey. You just happen to be it.”

  Drew shook his head as though he couldn’t believe it.

  “You’re from Boston, as I remember it.” Jason had his arm about Drew’s shoulder and was leading him to a shade tree where they sat down on the grass. “Surely you had Raggy’s kind in Boston.”

  “Not where I lived,” Drew said quietly.

  “Well, let me tell you about boys like Raggy. All you have to do is stand your ground, and they’ll hightail it. Every time.”

  While Drew politely thanked Jason for the advice, Grace could see he wasn’t truly convinced. It was just like when she told him that a smart smack on a pig’s snout would send it running. He simply didn’t believe her.

  The clanging of the bell broke into the conversation, and soon they were standing in their straight lines, ready to march to their classrooms. Grace gave Amy a wink and a grin as they saw Raggy trailing at the end of the line. With a friend like Jason Coppock, Grace reasoned, perhaps Drew would learn to laugh and have some fun.

  Saturday was Grace’s favorite day of the week. No school meant she could go to the market with Mama. The busy marketplace was filled with wagonloads of meat and produce from the outlying farms. Grace loved the sights and sounds and the hustle and bustle. Often she’d asked for permission to do the market shopping alone. “I can do it, Mama,” she’d say. “I’ve watched you, and I know how to find the firmest heads of cabbage and the plumpest plucked hens.”

  But Mama always said no. “You’re too little to shop alone. Some of the merchants in the market can’t be trusted.”

  But earlier this week, Grace had tried a new approach. She had asked that Drew go along and that Mama allow the two of them to do the shopping. “Perhaps Drew can make purchases for Deanna,” Grace had suggested. Once Grace saw she had Mama’s full attention, she added, “Deanna would surely welcome such help.”

  When at last Mama gave in and reluctantly gave permission, Grace realized she’d not even asked Drew. When she did ask him, he seemed willing enough. At least Grace was right about Deanna.

  “What a relief it will be not to have to make my way through the crowds with two little ones in tow,” she said.

  So it was settled. Before dawn on Saturday morning, Drew was at the Morgans’ back door with Deanna’s list in his hand and a basket on his arm. Mama instructed Grace several times about how to dicker for the best prices.

  “When you’ve finished at the market,” she added, “please stop at Yost’s Mercantile for a paper of pins and a yard of sprigged muslin.”

  To the store, as well! Grace could hardly believe her good fortune. This made her feel more grown-up than ever. />
  The sky behind the hills to the west of the city showed barely a smudge of pink as Drew and Grace walked toward the lower market. A broad roof covered most of the area between Main and Sycamore and was supported by triple rows of brick pillars. But the sides were all open.

  Since Drew had never before seen an open-air market, Grace showed him around and introduced him to the merchants she knew. Many of the farmers drove their wagons through the dark of night to vie for prime positions at the market. Feeling quite important, Grace taught Drew how to squeeze the cabbages to be sure they were not rotten in the center.

  “Wait until summer, when the grapes come in,” she told him as she chose a fat hen hanging from the racks. “There will be great baskets full of them, and you eat until you cannot eat any more.” Talking about the juicy grapes made her mouth water.

  “I’m not sure Deanna’s budget could purchase that many grapes,” Drew commented.

  Grace wanted to say that Carter could earn fine wages at the boatworks, but she held her tongue. After all, Drew wasn’t responsible for Carter’s actions.

  At Mr. Koenig’s wagon, she found the firmest cabbages, and at Mr. Frey’s wagon, she purchased the eggs. In her basket was a linen towel in which she was to wrap the eggs. Just as they were walking back through the rows of jammed-in wagons, Grace whispered, “Look there, Drew. It’s Raggy Langler.”

  Raggy was slinking about the edges of the market area. As they watched, he slipped up to the back end of a wagon, reached in to grab a large white turnip, and then fled.

  Grace gave a loud whoop and pushed through the crowd in that direction. “Stop that boy! He’s a thief!” But no one was quick enough, and Raggy was long gone.

  Leaving the market, they walked up Main toward Fourth Street and Yost’s Mercantile. Muttering under his breath, Drew said, “It must be awful to have to steal for food.”

  Grace looked over at Drew in surprise. He sounded almost as though he felt sorry for Raggy. She knew she’d never steal, no matter how little she had. Wanting to change the subject, she said, “Mama gave me enough extra for each of us to have a stick of peppermint. You like peppermint, don’t you?”

  “Who wouldn’t like peppermint?” he answered dully.

  Grace was convinced nothing could ever excite Drew.

  The heavy door of the mercantile was propped open, but the fresh spring air couldn’t soften the strong mixtures of aromas inside the store. Here one could find everything from ax heads and kegs of nails to buggy whips and bolts of cloth. The store was fairly bristling with business.

  Once inside, Grace was surprised to see Jason Coppock with a broom in his hands, sweeping the wooden floor. When he greeted them with a smile and a wave, Grace noticed that Drew brightened some.

  “Amy never told me you worked for the Yosts,” Grace said.

  “I just started today.” Jason waved his hand at all the merchandise and added, “Until I learn where everything is, I’m doing odd jobs. But soon I’ll be a clerk.” There was a note of pride in his voice. “Hey, Mr. Yost,” he called over to a scar-faced man behind the counter. “We have a couple of customers here.”

  “Hi, Grace, Drew,” Zachariah Yost greeted them cheerily. “What can I do for you today?” In spite of his terribly scarred face, Mr. Yost was a kind man and a good friend of Grace’s brother, Luke.

  Grace pulled out her list. “Mama needs a paper of pins and a yard of sprigged muslin.”

  “Pins and muslin, coming right up,” he said. Pulling down the bolt of cloth and laying it on the counter, Mr. Yost asked, “How’s your brother Luke doing these days? I don’t see him much anymore.”

  “He and Papa are working hard to finish the two steamboats as soon as possible. Mama says they barely take time to breathe,” Grace answered.

  Mr. Yost chuckled at her comment. Carefully he measured and cut the muslin, folding the piece and returning the bolt to the shelf. “Now just tell me what those big old boats are gonna float on?” he asked. “From the looks of things, the river’ll be down to a trickle in a few more weeks.”

  Grace didn’t want to hear those words. True, there still hadn’t been any hard spring rains, but they would come. She was sure of it. “Papa says the spring rains are just late,” she told him.

  “Late, huh? Well, I guess the snows were late, too. Don’t forget, Gracie, there was very little snow all winter. Maybe the snows will come in June to raise the river level,” he joked.

  Grace quickly changed the subject. “Drew and I would each like a peppermint stick, as well, please.”

  “Two peppermint sticks.” He added the items to the list, then took the wide-mouth jar from a shelf and brought it down to the counter where they could choose their own.

  After Grace paid Mr. Yost, Drew suggested they put the cloth and pins in his basket since it wasn’t as full as hers.

  “Good idea,” Grace agreed. “Now let’s get on home and show Mama what a good job we’ve done.”

  As they moved toward the door, Jason called out, “Has Raggy Langler bothered you anymore?”

  Grace answered by telling him they’d seen Raggy swiping vegetables at the market earlier.

  Jason nodded. “I’d suspect no less of the ruffian.” Giving the broom a couple more swipes, he added, “Remember now, Drew, what I told you about the likes of Raggy.”

  Drew nodded. “Yes, Jason. Thank you.”

  Grace was anxious to get home to see the pleased look on Mama’s face. Regina could not have done as well. Perhaps now Mama would no longer call her Gracie.

  As they walked down the hill, Grace asked Drew what he thought of the market, but his comments were vague. Sometimes Grace wished she could do things and go places with fun-loving Amy rather than glum Drew. Amy and she would have giggled and laughed throughout the entire morning.

  Just as they were ready to turn the corner at Fourth and Main, she heard Drew give a groan. “Oh no,” he said. “Not again.”

  Raggy Langler was coming toward them with a menacing scowl on his face.

  “I heard you calling me a thief at the market awhile ago,” Raggy said.

  “I called you a thief because you are a thief,” Grace returned. “Don’t make him any madder,” Drew muttered, stopping in his tracks.

  “So the Boston dandy goes to market with his little basket on his arm,” Raggy taunted as he drew nearer. “Let’s see what dapper-boy buys at the market.” Bumping into Grace, Raggy grabbed at Drew’s basket, yanking out the piece of muslin.

  Unbalanced, Grace nearly fell, but righted herself just in time. She could only hope no eggs were broken. Raggy whipped out the cloth and draped it over his dirty hair. In a singsong voice, he said, “Oh look, I’m dressed like the dandy from Boston.”

  “Give that back,” Grace demanded. “That’s my mama’s cloth. I’ll call the watchman on you.”

  Raggy was dancing about, raising a cloud of dust beneath his feet and having a great time with his own jesting. “Now there’s no big boy to save you,” he taunted, waving the cloth in the air.

  Grace knew the watchman who held this area was a tall, friendly man named Mr. Gedney. If only …

  Suddenly, at the top of her voice, she began to scream as though she were dying. “Help, help, Mr. Gedney! We’re being robbed!”

  “Quit that caterwauling,” Raggy demanded.

  But Grace wouldn’t stop. She screamed and hollered and yelled and stamped her feet. “Give me back that muslin!” she yelled. “You terrible, no-good thief!” Curtains rustled at windows as people peered out. Mr. Gedney came running up the hill toward them with his large rattle stick in his hand. As soon as Raggy spied him, he threw the sprigged muslin in the dirt and ran down a side street as fast as he could go.

  “I’m sorry, Grace,” Drew said as he picked up the cloth and shook out the dust.

  “What’s going on here?” Mr. Gedney demanded. He was panting heavily from his uphill sprint. “Oh, it’s you, Grace Morgan. How are you, young lady?”

  “Not ve
ry well, Mr. Gedney. That mean old boy tried to take our things we bought at the market.”

  “Come on,” Drew said to Grace. “There’s nothing he can do now.”

  “Who?” Mr. Gedney wanted to know. “What boy?”

  “Raggy Langler is his name,” Grace told him.

  Mr. Gedney nodded. “I know him. He’s the boy who lives with Mrs. Stanley.”

  “That’s the one,” Grace said. Drew was beginning to walk on down the hill. “Drew, wait for me!” she called out.

  “All the watchmen from here down to the public landing have chased that boy at one time or another,” Mr. Gedney told her. “But I’ll keep my eye out.”

  “Well, he didn’t really take anything, Mr. Gedney. I mean”—she tried to explain as she started walking after Drew—”he did take something, but he gave it back again.”

  Mr. Gedney nodded. “I’ll keep an eye out just the same.”

  “Thank you, Mr. Gedney!” Grace called back as she ran to catch up with Drew. When she was beside him again, she asked, “Why’d you say you were sorry awhile ago? You didn’t do anything.”

  “I know,” Drew said, his eyes sad. “That’s why I apologized. I didn’t do anything.”

  CHAPTER 6

  Last Day of School

  Drew said good-bye to Grace at the front gate and politely thanked her for inviting him to go along. “I really did enjoy the market,” he told her, “and the peppermint stick.”

  “You’re welcome, Drew. See you tomorrow at church.” He nodded and went on his way.

  When Grace presented to Mama the basket containing one cracked egg and a yard of dirty sprigged muslin, Regina said to Mama, “I knew you should never have let her go to the market alone. She’s just too little.”

  Grace glared at the hired girl. “I am not too little. There’s a boy named Raggy Langler who torments Drew terribly. He tried to take Drew’s basket, and he pushed me. We saw him stealing turnips in the market.”