Grace sank down on her bed in discouragement. There had to be a way to help. This was a desperate situation. And desperate situations called for desperate measures!
CHAPTER 17
Grace Takes Action
Grace never undressed for bed that night. She crawled beneath the covers with all her clothes on, waiting for the house to grow quiet. She was determined not to fall asleep. When all was quiet, she got up and pulled on her heavy woolen cloak, first tying her muffler around her neck. Never before had she disobeyed her parents so blatantly. But she simply had to save Sadie Rose from going to the poorhouse.
With barely a sound, she made her way down the stairs and out the back door into the dark, cold night. Gas lamps were lit at every seventh house, and she found herself scurrying from lamp to lamp. It took all her courage to turn down Front Street. While she’d never been frightened there in the daylight, darkness was much different.
Ahead of her loomed the glowing windows of Dunne’s Tavern. Pulling the cloak more tightly about her, Grace hurried to the door, where she could hear the shouts and laughter coming from inside. Just as she reached out to open the door, it flew open, and a weaving, staggering man pushed past her, nearly knocking her off her feet.
Taking a breath to muster more courage, she boldly stepped inside the door. Suddenly, the noise subsided and all eyes were on Grace. Remembering Sadie Rose’s dilemma, she flung off her hood and stood as tall as she could. “Mr. Dunne?” she said.
A rotund man with bushy hair and beard came toward her. “I’m Mr. Dunne. What’re you doing here, little girl?”
“I’ve come to take the place of Sadie Rose for the evening.”
“What?” Mr. Dunne was at first surprised; then he laughed. All around him the other men joined in the laughter and hooted and jeered at her, as well.
“I can play,” she said, lifting her voice over the noise, “and I can sing. If you give me a chance, we can all help Sadie Rose.” She looked around at the men. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you? To help Sadie Rose?”
“Sadie Rose’s had a real spell of it. I suppose she does need help.” The proprietor of the tavern clawed at his chin whiskers. “Well, I guess it can’t hurt.” He waved to the piano. “Have a go of it, little girl. Let’s hear what your voice sounds like.”
Grace removed her cloak and folded it beneath her on the piano stool. It had been several months since she had learned the hymn. Would she remember?
She placed her hands on the keys and began the first few bars of “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.” When the men heard it, one called out, “Say there, this isn’t church! Play one of Sadie Rose’s songs!” But another said, “Shush your mouth. I wanna hear the hymn.”
Grace ignored them all. Once she knew she had the playing down pat, she let loose in her strong, clear voice to sing every word. When she finished the last verse, there were again hoots and hollers, but now their shouts were in appreciation. “More!” they said, clapping. “Sing it again!”
Grace reached inside her sleeve for her handkerchief. Tying the corners to make a little pouch, she held it up. “Here’s where you put the money for Sadie Rose.” As the little hankie-pouch was being passed around the room, she sang the hymn again. This time she was surprised to see several of the men weeping. Maybe she was helping more than Sadie Rose by her singing.
The next day when she told Drew what she’d done, he was shocked. “Grace, I sometimes think you can never surprise me with your actions, but I’m always wrong. Don’t you know you could have been killed down there?”
“I just remembered what Sadie Rose said about the boatmen. If you try to understand people and not act snooty, they respect you.” She felt the heavy bag bumping against her leg, where she’d fastened it securely beneath her skirts. “In fact, one of the men walked me to Second Street to make sure I was safe.”
Drew just shook his head.
That day after school, they went to the boardinghouse to pay the money to Mrs. Kingsley.
She cast a wary look in their direction when she saw the coins. Although the older woman asked nothing, Grace was sure she was wondering where two children had come up with that much money. With that payment, Sadie Rose’s rent was almost current. They hurried up to her room to tell her.
When Sadie Rose heard of Grace’s escapade, she laughed right out loud. “Grace Morgan, you are quite a girl.” Over and over, she thanked them for helping. Propped up against several pillows, Sadie Rose had a little more pink in her cheeks. “I know I’ll be better now. In fact, after drinking the tasty goat’s milk, my insides are settling down for the first time in days.”
Grace pulled a chair close to the bed. As she did, something fell to the floor. It was a length of blue flowered cloth. Picking it up, Grace felt her breath catch. “Sadie Rose, what’s this piece of cloth?”
Sadie Rose reached out to take the cloth from Grace. “That,” she said, “is a shawl. Or rather, part of a shawl.”
“Part?” Grace scooted her chair closer.
Sadie Rose stroked the cloth tenderly. “It belonged to my ma. I cut it in half when my little brother was taken from me. I kept one half and gave him the other half. Although he was only three, I put it in his tiny fist and said, ‘Patrick, don’t ever forget me. I’ll see you again one day.’”
Grace suddenly pushed the chair back and stood to her feet. “Well now, we’d really better be going. Mama’s expecting me.”
“Of course,” Sadie Rose replied, “and I’m rather tired from all this excitement.” Again she gave her thanks as they left.
“Drew Ramsey,” Grace said once they were out of the house, “are you thinking what I’m thinking?”
Drew shook his head. “It can’t be.”
“But we know that Raggy was an orphan and his adoptive parents died.”
“That’s true, but Raggy’s name isn’t Patrick.”
“Maybe the people who adopted him changed his name.” Drew thought about that. “Possibly. But what can we …?”
“Don’t worry. I have a plan.”
Drew laughed. “I’m sure you do, Grace. I’m sure you do.”
But when Grace arrived home, any plan she’d had was quickly squelched. Once again, she was greeted by a very upset and very disappointed mama. Papa was by her side, and Grace could tell from their expressions that it was not good. Papa asked her to come into the parlor, where they could talk.
“Grace Morgan,” Mama began, “I truly thought I’d heard everything. Now I’ve learned you slipped out of this house in the dead of night and went down to Front Street to the tavern. One of the most dangerous places in the city. Grace, how could you have disgraced us this way?”
Papa’s face mirrored Mama’s disappointment. It was enough to break Grace’s heart.
“Mama, Papa, I never wanted to disobey you, but I had to go to the tavern. I had to save Sadie Rose’s life. They were threatening to take her to the poorhouse.”
“Poorhouse? What are you talking about?” Papa said. “You were told not to go see this woman named Sadie Rose.”
“I wouldn’t have gone to talk to her, but I hadn’t seen her in town for two weeks. When we checked on her, we found she was ill with chills and fever.” Grace was wringing her hands and trying not to cry. “Don’t you see? I’m only doing what you’ve always taught me, and that’s to reach out and help others. Sadie Rose had no one else. The rent was past due. She even said she was hoping I’d come.”
“Whoa,” Papa said. “I think it’s time to hear this story from beginning to end.”
Grace sat down by the crackling fire and started at the beginning. She told how Sadie Rose played and sang in taverns so she could earn money to keep searching for her brother. Grace even had to tell how she went to the tavern to learn to play the piano, which made Mama wince.
When Grace finished her story, Papa looked at Mama. “If the church were more generous with their own piano, this might never have happened.”
“Thad,” Mama sai
d evenly, “we can’t blame others for our daughter’s disobedience.”
“I know I shouldn’t have gone,” Grace said. “I was trying to let patience have a perfect work. But I wanted so just to learn a song. And now I can play a hymn all the way through. When I played the hymn for the men at the tavern …”
“You played a hymn at the tavern?” Papa interrupted.
Grace nodded, and she saw Papa smile.
“When I played the hymn,” she continued, “the men were crying. I think men in a tavern need a hymn, don’t you, Papa?”
“They surely do,” he agreed.
“Thad,” Mama said in a warning tone.
“And Sadie Rose needs hymns, too,” Grace said, talking faster. “I believe if some of our church ladies would visit her rather than talking about her all the time, she might just come to church.” Grace remembered how pleased Sadie Rose had been when Grace had prayed for her. “I think she truly wants to have God’s forgiveness.”
“Well,” Mama said slowly, as though she were thinking it through, “I suppose I could take a couple of ladies with me from the church and call on Miss Sadie Rose tomorrow.”
Grace jumped up from her chair. “Oh, would you, Mama? Then I could introduce you to Sadie Rose.”
“I’ll see if I can arrange that.”
“But you, young lady, will still be punished for your disobedience,” Papa reminded her. “Not only did you disobey our direct instructions, but I’m also disappointed that you didn’t feel you could trust us enough to tell us about the situation and work with us to solve Sadie Rose’s problems. You could have been very badly hurt last night. Front Street is not a safe place for a woman, much less a young girl.”
“I’m sorry,” Grace said. “I should have told you everything from the beginning.”
In the end, Mama and Papa set up a list of jobs for Grace to do every evening after school for a week as punishment.
The next day, Grace could barely sit still in the classroom. The large clock mounted in front of the room moved at a snail’s pace. At recess she was distracted and barely listened to a word Amy was saying, even though Amy was reporting good news about her father. She said her father had been able to secure a loan from another city and was making plans to start a new business. In spite of the encouraging news, Grace could think only about Sadie Rose and Raggy. Could Raggy actually be Sadie Rose’s long-lost brother?
As soon as school let out, Grace hurried outside to meet up with Drew.
“We’ll head down to Sausage Row first,” Grace said.
“I hope you’re right about this, Grace. How will we find Emaline Stanley’s place?”
“Easy. We just ask. In Sausage Row, everybody knows everybody.”
“But what if Raggy won’t listen to us?”
“I don’t expect him to.”
“You’re not making any sense.”
“Just follow me and do what I say.”
Winter had been especially cruel to the poverty-stricken areas around the landing. The shacks seemed more dilapidated than ever. As Grace had thought, it was easy to find where the washerwoman lived. But would Raggy be there?
As they approached the small house with its little lean-to in the back, Grace saw Raggy. He was taller and more wiry-looking than ever. She’d almost forgotten how long it had been since she’d seen him. Suddenly, she wondered if her plan would work. But it was too late to back out.
“When he comes after us,” she whispered to Drew, “you go one way, and I’ll go the other. Lead him to the boardinghouse.”
“What a crazy plan,” Drew said, grinning at her.
“Hey, Raggy!” she called out. “Still carry your rag with you wherever you go?”
Raggy looked around to see where the voice came from. When he spied them, he spouted, “Why, you …”
Drew shouted out, “Rag–gee, Rag–gee! Carries his rags with him wherever he goes!”
The plan worked like a charm. Raggy was on their heels like a pup after a rabbit. Grace ran straight up Broadway, while Drew ducked down a side street. As Grace had expected, Raggy went after Drew.
When she hit the front door of the boardinghouse, Grace didn’t stop to knock. There in the front parlor sat Mama and Widow Robbins and two other ladies.
“Come on!” she called out, panting and puffing. “Let’s go meet Sadie Rose!”
“Grace …,” Mama started.
“Your daughter is a little ruffian,” Widow Robbins interrupted haughtily.
From behind her, Grace heard Mama say, “She’s just a little more energetic than most girls.”
When Sadie Rose answered her knock, Grace was pleased to see her up and dressed and sitting by the fire in her Boston rocker.
“Sadie Rose, I’ve brought company,” Grace said, waving the ladies in and then running to the window to see if Drew had arrived.
“Grace,” Mama said, “what are you doing?”
“Mama, I’d like you to meet Sadie Rose.” Grace motioned toward her mama but kept looking out the window. Just as she’d introduced all the ladies, Drew came speeding into the alleyway behind the boardinghouse.
“Sadie Rose, quick. Where’s the shawl?”
“The what?”
“The shawl. The shawl your mama left to you. Hurry.” Grace had no way of knowing how closely Raggy was following Drew.
Sadie Rose stood and walked across the room to her bed. From beneath the pillow she pulled out the cloth. “It’s here.”
Grace took it from her and flung open the window. Raggy had arrived and was squaring off with Drew, his fists upraised.
“Raggy Langler!” she called out. Raggy looked up at her.
“Langler?” Sadie Rose said. She moved to the window beside Grace. “That’s my name—Langler.”
“Russell Langler,” Grace said this time, using his real name and waving the piece of shawl. “Does this look familiar?”
Raggy stared, unable to move.
Drew, who’d had his fists in the air, backed away, looking more than a little relieved.
Slowly, Raggy reached inside his threadbare shirt, drew out the piece of faded cloth, and held it forth like a flag of surrender.
“Patrick?” Sadie Rose asked softly. “Russell Patrick Langler?”
“Sadie Rose?” came Raggy’s small voice. “Is that really you?”
Sadie Rose turned to look at Grace. “Oh, Grace! You were right! We prayed and God heard. He truly heard!” With that, she flew out the door and down the stairs into the snow, not bothering to grab a cloak.
Within moments, the ladies from church witnessed the tearful reunion of the long-separated brother and sister. And there wasn’t a dry eye or hankie among them.
CHAPTER 18
“Steamboat’s A-Comin’!”
In spite of her very grown-up-looking new dress and matching bonnet, Grace could hardly contain her excitement as she stood on the landing waiting for the Velocipede to come into view. The winter snows had melted, the spring rains had fallen, and the majestic Ohio flowed full and wide once again.
Grace looked over at Sadie Rose, and they exchanged smiles. The arrival of the new piano meant that Sadie Rose would begin giving paid piano lessons in the front parlor of the Morgan home. That had been Grace’s idea. But Mama had had the wonderful idea to hire Emaline Stanley as their servant.
Raggy would continue to live with Emaline until Sadie Rose could save enough money to care for them both and give Emaline something for her years of care. Then Raggy would finally be able to stay with Sadie Rose.
Papa and Luke had completed one of their steamboats, and the buyer was able to make a partial payment. Papa said that was agreeable because as soon as the boat was launched and in business, the owner would be able to pay the balance. Now the second boat was nearing completion.
Drew and Patrick stood off to the side, talking about steamboats. It had been hard to stop saying Raggy and to remember to say Patrick. But Grace didn’t mind taking the extra effort to learn. No
w that Patrick was clean, wore nice clothes, and had enough to eat, he didn’t look like the same boy. Since Drew understood about being an orphan, he and Patrick had become fast friends. Patrick was even helping with the piano delivery from the steamboat.
Grace and Drew had learned that Patrick was fascinated with Annabelle and wanted more than anything to learn to milk the goat. Grace marveled as she thought about it. That day at the church when he’d tried to take Annabelle, he’d only wanted to pet her.
Grace realized she’d been just as wrong about Raggy as her mama had been about Sadie Rose. They’d all learned a lesson in love.
Suddenly, someone from far up on the landing shouted, “Steam-boat’s a-comin’!” The call echoed up and down the public landing and Grace started jumping up and down in spite of herself.
Papa had rented a sturdy wagon, and it was sitting nearby. At last, the proud white boat came into view with its twin black smokestacks pointing skyward.
Presently, the boat was docked, and Captain Wharton strode down the gangplank to greet them. “It’s been a long time,” he said, laughing and shaking Papa’s hand.
“Yes, Captain. A long time,” Papa answered. “We’ve all learned how to be patient.” He glanced at Grace and winked.
Then Grace watched as the stevedores guided the crane that lifted the crate containing her piano. Slowly, slowly, it came over to where Papa lined up the wagon. Slowly, slowly, it was let down in the back of the wagon. Grace didn’t breathe until it was safely settled. Drew and Patrick climbed into the wagon to hold the crate steady. They seemed almost as excited about the arrival as Grace.
“May I ride home in the wagon with you, Papa?” Grace asked.
“Why, of course, Gracie—excuse me—I mean, why, of course, Miss Grace. May I give you a hand up?” Papa bowed and offered his hand.
As the others boarded the waiting carriage, Grace allowed Papa to assist her into the wagon seat. Papa climbed up beside her, shook the reins, and told the team, “Giddap.” Grace straightened her full skirts, adjusted her bonnet, and opened her ruffled parasol to protect her face from the bright spring sunshine.
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