by Lea Wait
“Why does she do it?”
“I don’t know. The minister says she is a fallen woman, and Dr. Theobold says if she doesn’t stop, the alcohol will kill her. She doesn’t listen.”
“Where does she get money for drink?”
“Pa gives it to her. I’ve begged him not to, but he says she’s his wife and he’s providing what she needs. Then he leaves again. He says I’m old enough to manage. If I don’t keep us together, then we’ll all end up at the poorhouse.” Nabby’s voice was bitter.
“Isn’t there anyone who could help you?”
“There’s a group of ladies in Wiscasset who help women and children in need. I went to them once when Violet was sick and I didn’t know what else to do.” Nabby’s face turned hard. “They wouldn’t help us. They said Ma’s drinking was immoral. We weren’t ‘the deserving poor.’ ”
“That’s not fair!” Jake said. He thought of his mother and father. They were struggling, but they were doing the best they could for their family. What would it be like to have parents who didn’t help themselves or their children?
“Life is not always fair, Jake. You know that.”
They walked a little farther.
“I’m glad Simon is living at your house now. I was worried about him. I heard about the fire, but Pa said Simon wasn’t in the poorhouse. Would you mind if Simon helped me with Violet and Zeke Saturday? I’d like to go and visit Granny. To make sure she’s wintering well.”
“I’m sure Simon will come. Would you wish Granny the best for me? I have plans for Saturday, but perhaps the next time you visit her I could go with you.”
“She’d like that,” said Nabby. “So would I.”
46
Bright sun reflecting off the snow made the world seem clean and full of light. Mother was better and planned to bake two apple pies to take to Dr. Theobold’s as a contribution to the Christmas Sunday dinner. She’d already gone through the barrels of clothing they’d brought from Boston, looking for clothes she could adjust so all of them, including Simon, would be both warm and festive on Christmas.
She hadn’t looked so happy and rested in a long time. Her only sorrow was that Father had still not returned. Mother didn’t mention him anymore, but sometimes she stared at the door, and Jake knew she was thinking of him.
Frankie wasn’t as strong as he’d been before his illness. He didn’t move or cry out as often, as Dr. Theobold had predicted, and he was having fewer fits. Simon had grown fond of him, and had taken over some of his care, which allowed Mother to rest. When there was free time, Jake was teaching Simon to read basic words. He had already read Simon “The Gray Champion” and “The Ambitious Guest,” his two favorite stories from Twice-Told Tales, and each day Simon asked if he would read more.
It was Saturday, December twenty-second. Simon had left for the McCords’ to watch Zeke and Violet. The next day was Christmas Sunday.
“Mother, can you manage alone if I walk to Wiscasset? We need salt and sugar and cornmeal, and it hasn’t snowed in two days. The roads are as clear as they’re going to be.”
“We could wait, and ask Simon to go Monday,” said Ma.
“I want to see the village, and the walk will do me good,” said Jake.
“I wish I could go with you,” Mother agreed as she handed him the brown leather pocket that held their money. “But I’ll see the town tomorrow. Frankie and I will be fine here, and you’ve worked hard; go and enjoy yourself Just remember to start home early so it isn’t dark by the time you return.” December nights were the longest of the year; it was dark at four every afternoon, and the rooster didn’t crow until seven in the morning.
It took Jake almost three hours to walk to Main Street. Some sections of the road were blocked by drifts. But close to the village the snow had been pushed down by heavy boards dragged by oxen, and was frozen hard. There the walking was not as difficult.
Jake hadn’t been in the village since that morning in September when they had arrived. He had forgotten how large some of the houses were. There were streets of three- or even four-storied homes with elegantly carved doorways and large windows. Main Street in Wiscasset was nothing like Boston, but it was crowded compared with the outskirts of town where the Webbers lived.
Jake purchased what he needed at Stacy’s Store, and then walked down the hill to where the Sheepscot River stretched wide and deep. Long wharves reached out to where a dozen ships, and many smaller vessels, were anchored. Pieces of ice floated on the water, but, except near the shores, the river was too deep to freeze. Jake had lived in Wiscasset for over three months, but this was the first time he’d seen the port.
Mariners of all colors, ages, and kinds of dress carried supplies back and forth from ships docked at the piers, and elegant women chatted with friends standing next to traveling bags and trunks. French, Spanish, and Portuguese were being spoken as well as English.
If he’d had more time, he would have walked down Water Street, looked into some of the shops there, and watched the ships in the harbor. But today Jake had a purpose for visiting Wiscasset that he hadn’t told his mother.
The Congregational Church and the Lincoln County Courthouse towered over the village green, which was now white with snow. He turned off Main Street and headed for the corner of Washington and Federal streets. There he saw the sign: DR. PHILIP E. THEOBOLD.
He rapped at the door. A tall, muscular woman filled the doorway, an orange kerchief wound around her head and an oversize wooden spoon in her hand. “Yes?”
“I’m looking for Dr. Theobold. I’m Jake Webber.”
“You and your ma are the ones coming for Christmas dinner,” said the enormous woman. “Thank the good Lord, the doctor is finally letting me cook something other than the baked beans and pork he eats too much of”
She didn’t move.
“Is the doctor in?”
“He is, indeed,” she said. “I’m sorry. I was just so delighting in planning the dinner. You come on in.”
The center hall led to a stairway to the second floor. The dining room was on one side of the hall; the parlor on the other.
“I’ll let the doctor know you’re here. He’s in his office with a patient, so it will be a few minutes.” She disappeared, leaving Jake standing in the center of the parlor. He removed his coat, put his packages in a corner, and went to look out one of the windows. He’d almost forgotten how bright rooms could be when they were lined with large windows. Glass windows this size were a luxury, and they let in cold drafts as well as light, so most smaller houses had few of them. And there were no curtains on these windows. He remembered once hearing, “Those who have no curtains have nothing to hide.”
Jake heard footsteps in the hall, and turned, expecting to see Dr. Theobold.
His father stood in the doorway.
“Father! What are you doing here?” Jake started to go to him, and then realized his father’s left arm was heavily bandaged and held at an odd angle. “What happened to your arm?”
“What are you doing here?” asked Father.
As the two stared at each other, Dr. Theobold entered the room. “I see you two have found one another. I had hoped to save that surprise until tomorrow.”
No one said anything. Then Jake blurted, “How long have you been here? Mother and I have missed you so much!”
“Both of you, sit down,” said Dr. Theobold. “Nathaniel’s been here a little over two weeks now.”
“I was lumbering, Jake, as I left word I would be. One of the trees fell at the wrong angle and crushed my arm. The men on my logging team brought me here, to Dr. Theobold.”
“Why didn’t you come home after that? You don’t know how we’ve worried, and how sick Mother and Frankie were!” Jake wanted to be glad to see Father, but he was angry. How could Father have left them so suddenly? And why hadn’t he come home as soon as he could?
“Dr. Theobold told me how well you were doing, and that your mother and Frankie were recovering. I didn’t wan
t you to see me as I am: a crippled failure unable to support my family in the city or the country.” Father’s voice was strained. “I couldn’t face your mother’s disappointment. Dr. Theobold said I could stay here until my arm healed.”
“How bad is your arm?”
“I was able to save it,” said Dr. Theobold. “But the arm will never be the same. Your father won’t be able to work with the saws or logs at the mill or go lumbering.”
“Can you understand why I couldn’t go home, son? How could I tell your mother she had someone else to care for? A man isn’t worth anything if he can’t support his family.”
“Mother loves you, not your arm. And you could still work in an office, couldn’t you? You can still use your right hand?” Jake didn’t want to hear excuses.
“I’ve talked to Mr. Stinson about doing bookkeeping at the mill. But I haven’t found a job yet, and I didn’t want to go home until I could feel proud to do so.”
Jake shook his head. “You were wrong. We need you and love you, whether or not you have a job.”
“I heard you were a hero at the jail.”
“I was lucky to get there at the right time. And one of the men in the prison, Simon, helped me.”
“The doctor told me how brave you were,” said Father. “And how well you’ve cared for your mother and brother.”
“They’re my family. I didn’t leave them.”
The room was silent.
“Jake, did you come here for a reason? Is everything at home all right?” asked Dr. Theobold.
Jake turned away from his father, and faced the doctor. “Everyone is well. I came to ask you another favor.” He hesitated. “Nabby McCord told me about her mother.”
Dr. Theobold sighed. “She’s a strong girl in a difficult situation. Her mother doesn’t want to change how she is, and her children suffer for it.”
“I told her you’d invited Simon and my family for Christmas. She looked so sad when she heard. Her father is at sea, and her mother would not come. But could you find space at tomorrow’s dinner for Nabby and Violet and Zeke? Nabby and I could put the little ones on our laps in the sleigh, and they wouldn’t eat very much. It would mean so much for them to be invited to church and dinner.”
“That’s an excellent plan. I would love to have all three of them, and Mrs. Seigars will be delighted to have more people to cook for.”
“Is Mrs. Seigars the woman who answered the door?”
“The very same. Thursey Seigars has worked for me for over twenty years. She makes the best soap in Wiscasset, and supplies most of the town with it. Between us, I think she makes soap because she has only me to cook for, and she has time on her hands. Women with time on their hands always find ways to fill it, and making soap is one of the better solutions, wouldn’t you say?” The doctor got up. “I’ll write an invitation right now that you can deliver to Nabby.”
Jake started to say something, but the doctor stopped him.
“I won’t tell her you talked with me. I’ll just say we’ll have empty spaces at our table without her and her brother and sister. You can stop and deliver the note on your way home.” Dr. Theobold left the room.
“The doctor hadn’t told me he’d invited all of you for Christmas dinner,” said Father. “He knew I missed you all, but I was embarrassed to admit my failure.”
Jake hesitated. “You didn’t fail, Father. You were hurt. It wasn’t your fault.”
“Thank you, son. I know I haven’t been the best father to you, or husband to your mother.”
“We’ve all had hard times,” Jake admitted. “You will be here tomorrow?”
“I will. And in the meantime I’ll do my best to think of some way to make you and Hannah proud of me,” said Father. “Please, don’t tell her you saw me. I want to explain what happened myself.”
“I won’t tell her. I wouldn’t know how to tell her anyway. But after this”—Jake stood and looked straight into his father’s eyes—“there should be no more secrets in our family.”
47
Christmas morning dawned bright and sunny, with no signs of more snow. When Dr. Theobold arrived at the Webbers’ house with his horse and sleigh, the family was dressed warmly in their best, with extra quilts to pile around their knees and feet and to cover Frankie. At the McCords’ house Nabby and Violet and Zeke joined them, giggling and snuggling under the blankets as they rode the miles to Wiscasset in style and good company.
Everyone in town seemed to be at the Congregational Church for Christmas services, and everyone in town knew Dr. Theobold. He introduced Jake and his mother to too many people for the Webbers to remember. Many of them tried to peek at Frankie, whom Mother was holding in her arms. Clearly Dr. Theobold had told at least some of them about him, and Jake saw several people shaking their heads and looking in their direction. Perhaps not everyone would accept Frankie and the Webbers. But all who were close by smiled and welcomed them.
The Holbrooks were there too. “Mr. Holbrook, I’d like you to meet my mother, and my brother Frankie,” Jake said.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” said Mr. Holbrook. “Your oldest son is a very special young man. My family will never forget how he saved my wife and girls in the fire, and he and Simon saved the prisoners’ lives as well.”
“I’m very proud of him,” Mother replied, smiling at Jake and at the Holbrooks. “And thank you for all the help you’ve given us. You found Jake a job at the jail, and guided him in his studies.”
“I look forward to working more with him in the future,” Mr. Holbrook replied. “Wherever I am, there will always be a place for Jake.”
Nabby waved at two girls she knew from school, but had her hands full keeping Violet and Zeke from racing about in their excitement at seeing so many new people and places.
Dr. Theobold had brought hot bricks to warm their feet, and they all settled into the high-backed pew and being part of the first church service they’d attended in months.
Jake tried to pay attention to the words of the sermon, but his mind was on what would happen after the service, when they got to Dr. Theobold’s house. He had kept his promise. He had not told Mother that Father was in Wiscasset.
Mrs. Seigars was standing at the door of the house when they arrived, holding it open and wishing everyone welcome.
Inside, she took their outside garments and sent all the guests into the parlor. Violet and Zeke were the first to enter the room, and Jake heard them say, “Oh . . . it’s beautiful.” When he got to the door of the room, holding Frankie, he saw what they were looking at.
A small pine tree was in the middle of a table by one of the windows. Small candles, lighting up the room with their tiny flames, were attached to the branches. Dozens of pinecones and small red bows holding pieces of hard sugar candy were hanging from the boughs.
“Decorating a forest tree to celebrate the birth of Jesus is a tradition my father brought with him from Germany,” said Dr. Theobold. “I haven’t had one in my house since my children were young, but I thought you all might enjoy it.”
“It’s beautiful!” said Nabby. “Who would have thought of bringing a tree into the house and decorating it?”
Violet tugged on Dr. Theobold’s leg. “Are the candies for eating?” she asked.
“Perhaps after dinner they will be.” He laughed, picking her up so she could see the tree better.
As they were admiring the tree and chattering, Jake realized that Mother had stopped talking. She was looking at the doorway where Father stood, smiling and watching them all.
“Nathaniel!” Mother ran over and put her arms around him. “You’re here! How? And what happened to your arm?”
They stood, looking into each other’s eyes.
“I’m back to stay,” said Father, and they embraced again. “My arm was crushed by a tree, but I’m alive, and I’m home, where I should be.”
Mother turned. “Isn’t it wonderful, Jake? Your father’s home!”
Jake nodded, and smi
led. “I’m glad you’re home, Father.”
“I am too,” said Father. He put his good arm around both of the boys.
“You must meet our friends,” said Mother, drawing him away. “This is Simon, who is living with us now, and helping with so many things. And our neighbor Nabby McCord and her brother and sister, Zeke and Violet.” She didn’t let go of father’s good arm as she proudly stood next to him. “Everyone, this is my husband, Nathaniel Webber.”
“I have some news, my dear,” Father said. “Mr. Stinson from the mill and Dr. Theobold have both recommended me for a job at the Wiscasset Custom House. My experience in Boston makes me a good candidate for it. If all goes as planned, I should be able to start work here in town in about a month, after my arm has healed.”
Mother covered her mouth with delight, and then turned to Dr. Theobold to thank him for his help.
“And I have an early New Year’s gift for you too.” Father gestured to Dr. Theobold, and they left the room for a moment. When they returned, they were carrying a large piece of mirror. “You said that when we were settled we would get another mirror.”
“Oh, Nathaniel. A mirror to fit the mahogany frame we brought from Boston!” said Mother. “It will be perfect for wherever we live.” She buried her face in Father’s chest as Dr. Theobold leaned the mirror against the wall, where it reflected all of them and the lights on the Christmas tree.
Father and Jake looked at each other.
“I’m very proud of you, Jake. Look at everything you’ve done. You’ve cared for our family, taken on a difficult job at the jail, proved your bravery and strength during a fire, and brought all of us together.”
“I didn’t do it alone,” said Jake, looking around the room at Dr. Theobold and Nabby and Simon.
“We’re lucky to have such friends,” agreed Father.
“Finest kind,” said Jake. “The very finest kind.”
