A Fragile Design

by Tracie Peterson

  Bella nodded and said, ‘‘This is my friend Daughtie.’’

  ‘‘Hello, Daughtie. Goodness, where are my manners? You girls come in and let me take your cloaks.’’

  The room was small and sparsely appointed yet somehow appeared cluttered. The walls were sorely in need of whitewash, and the wood floors lacked care. A tiny potted plant sat drooping on the windowsill, a testament of those who lived within. Bella scanned the room, seeking a place for Daughtie and her to sit down. Ida appeared to follow her gaze and hastened to remove drying clothes from the two straight-backed wooden chairs.

  ‘‘Sit here,’’ she offered, gathering the laundry into a bundle and placing it on a narrow cot. ‘‘I’d make some tea, but I’m fresh out,’’ she apologized.

  Bella reached into her satchel and withdrew a small cloth bag. ‘‘We can use this, Aunt Ida,’’ she offered. ‘‘I brought tea with me for just such an occasion as this.’’

  A tentative smile appeared on Ida’s lips. ‘‘Thank you, dear. You’re as sweet as your mother. I want to hear all about her. How is she faring among the Shakers? I never thought she’d stay there. Polly was the one who always wanted a family with lots of children. Guess folks change, though,’’ she remarked, setting a pot to boil in the tiny corner that served as a kitchen. Seating herself on the cot, she leaned back against the bundle of laundry and rubbed her hands together. ‘‘Now! Tell me everything.’’

  Bella hesitated a moment. ‘‘I’m not sure how to tell you this. I don’t suppose there’s any way to soften what I have to say, Aunt Ida, but Mother died of consumption not long after we arrived at Canterbury. I was certain that Father had written.’’

  Ida was silent for several moments. ‘‘He may have written, but we left this place for nearly two years. Arthur was sure he could do better in the South. He had a strong inclination to live where it was warm. Unfortunately, we didn’t make it any farther than Pennsylvania. He decided if he was going to be poor and cold, he had a greater fondness for New Hampshire than Pennsylvania. We returned the following year and made our way back to this same place. Just our luck that it was still unrented.’’

  Bella looked around, unconvinced that landing back here was a stroke of luck.

  ‘‘Times have been hard, but Arthur says it’s only a matter of time before he finds a better paying job.’’ Her voice was filled with a sorrow that belied the upward curve of her lips.

  ‘‘I’m sure things will take a turn for the better,’’ Bella encouraged.

  Ida jumped up from the cot and took the few steps to her makeshift kitchen. ‘‘Just listen to me! Here you’ve made a long journey with sad news and I’m heaping my problems upon you the minute you walk in the door. Let me pour you girls some tea.’’

  ‘‘We’ll be leaving as soon as we finish our tea, Aunt Ida,’’ Bella said as she took the chipped cup her aunt offered. ‘‘We’ve a long ways to go.’’

  ‘‘And where are you off to?’’

  ‘‘Daughtie and I have decided we’ll go to Lowell. We plan to seek employment in the mills,’’ Bella replied, giving her friend a sidelong glance.

  ‘‘I’ve heard tell there’s good wages being paid down there. But you girls had best spend the night with me. Arthur’s gone to Boston on a delivery with his employer. We can make do, just the three of us.’’

  ‘‘That certainly makes more sense than sleeping along the roadside,’’ Daughtie whispered as Ida returned to pour herself a cup of tea.

  ‘‘I suppose we could stay, Aunt Ida,’’ Bella said. ‘‘If you’re sure it won’t be an inconvenience,’’ she quickly added.

  Ida beamed. ‘‘It will be fun. Just the three of us—we can visit, and you can tell me all about life in the settlement. I’m surprised Franklin gave you permission to leave the Shakers. It’s out of character for him to be so agreeable.’’

  ‘‘I didn’t seek his permission. Daughtie and I ran away.’’

  ‘‘Oh my!’’ Ida placed a hand on each cheek and stared wideeyedat the two girls.

  CHAPTER 3

  An early spring storm refused to let up, and Bella and Daughtie soon found their shoes weighed down with the muck and mire of the roadway and their woolen cloaks heavy with rainwater. Bella grabbed Daughtie’s hand and pulled, hoping they could avoid the splattering mud from a passing coach. But her feet wouldn’t take hold in the slippery mud, and they both were showered with flying sludge before the coach finally came to a halt a short distance down the road.

  ‘‘Would you want a ride? I’ve space available,’’ the driver called down from his perch.

  ‘‘Yes!’’ Daughtie shouted.

  Bella stepped in front of her friend. ‘‘We’ve no money to pay.’’

  ‘‘I wasn’t expecting any—ride or walk, it’s up to you.’’

  There was no stopping Daughtie. She had opened the carriage door and climbed inside before Bella could reply. ‘‘It appears we’ll take your offer.’’

  ‘‘Good enough. Get in. I need to keep moving.’’

  Bella seated herself beside Daughtie and pushed back the hood of her cloak. ‘‘Hello,’’ she said to the other passengers.

  Two girls who appeared to be near her age stared back. ‘‘Hello,’’ one of them ventured.

  The greeting was tentative, and Bella was careful to keep her muddy shoes and wet clothing away from the clean, dry passengers. ‘‘I’m Arabella Newberry—everyone calls me Bella. This is my friend Daughtie Winfield. We were caught in the storm.’’

  ‘‘That much is obvious,’’ one of the girls said.

  ‘‘No need to be rude, Sally. I’m Ruth Wilson and this is Sally Nelson. We’re going to Lowell—to work in the mills,’’ she added. ‘‘I’m from Maine. My family has a small farm where we raise sheep, and Sally’s home is in Vermont. Where are you and Daughtie going?’’

  ‘‘From their appearance, they’ve lost their way. You’re Shakers, aren’t you?’’ Sally questioned with a tone of condemnation.

  ‘‘We’ve left the Society. We’re going to Lowell, also,’’ Bella replied with as much decorum as her drenched appearance would permit.

  ‘‘Do you suppose the driver will permit us to ride all the way to Lowell?’’ Daughtie asked, obviously pleased to be out of the rain.

  ‘‘I wouldn’t know why not. So long as you sign a paper saying you’re seeking work in the mills, he’ll provide you a seat in the coach and pay for your room and board when we stop for the night.’’

  ‘‘Really?’’ both girls cried in unison. Bella couldn’t believe their good fortune. She hesitated for a moment. ‘‘But why would he do such a thing?’’

  Sally gave her a look of disdain. ‘‘It’s his job. He travels throughout all of New England seeking farm girls who are willing to sign on for work at the mills. The Corporation pays the cost of transporting us to Lowell.’’

  ‘‘I see,’’ Bella replied. This sudden blessing seemed like affirmation from God that she’d done the right thing.

  Sally looked down and made a purposeful show of pulling her feet away from Bella’s shoes. ‘‘Let’s hope it’s soon. I’d like to arrive in Lowell without mud on my shoes.’’

  When they stopped at the inn later that afternoon, both Daughtie and Bella were chilled, and the breeze did little to warm them as they descended the coach. At least it had ceased raining.

  ‘‘You two willing to sign on to work in Lowell?’’ the driver called out as he handed Ruth her bandbox and Sally her leather satchel.

  Bella and Daughtie nodded.

  ‘‘Good! Only need to locate three or four more girls and we can return to Lowell. Grab your belongings, and I’ll arrange for a room with the innkeeper.’’

  ‘‘That means four of us will be sharing a room instead of two,’’ Sally muttered.

  ‘‘Don’t mind her. She didn’t want to leave home, but her folks forced her to come along. That pride is all a show. Her parents stand to lose their farm if she doesn’t go to work and send
her earnings home,’’ Ruth confided.

  ‘‘And what of you? Why are you going to Lowell?’’ Daughtie inquired.

  Ruth smiled. ‘‘I’m going to send most of my money home for my brother’s education. He wants to attend college.’’

  ‘‘But what of your education, Ruth? Once your brother has finished college and found a position, will he then pay for your schooling?’’ Bella inquired.

  Ruth giggled. ‘‘Why on earth would he do such a thing?’’ she asked as she grabbed her bandbox and entered the inn. It was obvious she didn’t expect an answer.

  Bella hastened to reach Ruth’s side. ‘‘Because you’re worthy of an education, also. Men and women are of equal value.’’ Both Sally and Ruth stared at Bella as though she’d gone mad. Sally wagged her head back and forth, then said, ‘‘I don’t know where you ever got such a notion, but you’d best readjust your thinking if you plan to live in the real world. Short of finishing school, there’s really very little available for women. And if you’re of a lower class, there’s no need to even consider finishing school.’’ Her words were spoken with a harsh tone that suggested Sally had a bit of history with this topic. ‘‘Come on, follow me.’’ Several coarse-looking men leered in their direction as the girls wended their way through the inn and up a narrow stairway to one of the rooms above the dining area.

  The room was small, dirty, and they suspected even liceinfested, but the girls were weary. Daughtie and Bella quickly removed their clothing and began spreading the garments out to dry.

  ‘‘As soon as you’ve changed, come downstairs and we’ll have supper. Once we have something warm in our stomach, we’ll be so sleepy that we won’t notice how awful the room is,’’ Ruth said.

  Although the food wasn’t flavorful or appetizing, it was hot. By the time they made their way back upstairs, all four girls were longing for sleep. The men in the dining room below, however, were still drinking their ale, with their drunken voices growing louder as they continued to imbibe.

  ‘‘I miss the quiet of home,’’ Daughtie said. ‘‘I fear we’ve made a mistake, Bella.’’

  Ruth patted Daughtie’s shoulder. ‘‘Don’t make a decision just yet. Lowell is a wonderful place to live. The boardinghouses are clean and the food is good. You’ll soon find that working in the mills provides girls with a good opportunity to be independent.’’

  ‘‘So you’ve lived in Lowell?’’ Bella inquired.

  Ruth nodded. ‘‘Yes. I worked there for three months last year but had to return home to care for my ailing mother and help out at home. My prayers were answered and she’s better now, so I’m off to the mills again and hoping I’ll not have difficulty being rehired.’’

  ‘‘Why would you have difficulty being hired? The coachman said they needed workers, didn’t he?’’ Bella questioned.

  ‘‘They do need workers, but each girl is required to sign a contract before commencing work. Among other things, the contract says you agree to stay one year in your position. If you don’t give proper notice and gain approval before leaving, they place a mark beside your name and then share that information with the other agents so that none of them will hire you. You’re blackballed as a bad employee,’’ Ruth explained.

  Daughtie shook her head back and forth. ‘‘No wonder you’re fearful.’’

  ‘‘It’s not as bad as it sounds. Most of the time the agents are so much in need of girls that they don’t care if you’ve left without approval. They’re pleased to have an experienced worker return. I witnessed them taking back several of the girls who had left without warning, so I’m hopeful for my situation. At least my supervisor knew the condition of my departure. He knew it wasn’t for some nonsensical matter. Besides, the coachman said they’ve opened another mill since my departure, so I’m fairly certain we’ll all find employment.’’

  ‘‘Tell us about the boardinghouses,’’ Daughtie entreated. ‘‘I hope it’s not a room such as this that we’ll be living in.’’

  Ruth smiled. ‘‘You’ll be crowded. Two or three girls to a bed and not much storage room, that’s for certain. But you’ll not spend much time in your bedroom, anyway. We’re awakened early and off to work by five o’clock in the morning. We return to the boardinghouse two hours later for a half-hour breakfast, then back to work until noon when we have three quarters of an hour for dinner. Supper is waiting when we return home at seven o’clock in the evening, and we have free time until ten o’clock. That’s curfew, and if you’re not back in the boardinghouse by then, the keeper will lock you out. The rules are all set out in your contract, so you’ll know what’s expected before you agree to work for the Corporation.’’

  Daughtie appeared overwhelmed by the concept. ‘‘Free time to do as you please every evening? You’re not required to attend Union Meeting?’’

  ‘‘They don’t have Union Meeting, Daughtie,’’ Bella whispered.

  Sally sniggered. ‘‘No, we don’t have Union Meetings, but I’m told the contract requires church attendance. But from what I’ve heard about the Shakers, I doubt you’ll find a place to attend that will suit your fancy.’’

  Bella held her temper in check. ‘‘I don’t know what you’ve heard about the Shakers or their worship, Sally, but I hope we’ll be able to find believers among the world’s people who are more open-minded than you appear to be.’’

  Sally glared across the room at Bella. ‘‘The world’s people? Is that what we are, the world’s people? Well, you’re one of us now, Bella, so you’ll have to adjust to our life. And believe me, you’d best spend your first pay on some clothes! I’m told many of the mill girls dress as well as society ladies do. You’ll be outcasts in those clothes. You can’t begin to imagine how the world’s people clothe themselves.’’

  ‘‘We know how they dress, Sally. There were some of the world’s people at our settlement every Sunday to watch us worship. Some of the most prominent people from all over the country—even Europe—have been there. The finery will come as no surprise.’’

  Ruth moved closer to Bella. ‘‘Why did they come to watch you worship—if you don’t mind my asking?’’

  ‘‘We dance during our worship. I assume they find it entertaining or amusing. Perhaps both. They come to satisfy their curiosity about a people they don’t understand. Unfortunately, they leave with little more wisdom than they arrive with, but they go back into the world and tell others, who come to see for themselves.’’

  Sally swung around on the bed. ‘‘Dance? I thought Shaker men and women were forbidden such familiarity. Then you and Daughtie should be well prepared for the dances in Lowell.’’

  ‘‘Our dances are not the type of which you speak. They are a part of worship, and the men and women don’t touch in the manner of the world’s dances,’’ Bella replied.

  Voices of bellowing liquored men sounded loudly through the floorboards and were followed by what sounded like crashing furniture and then the frightening roar of a gun being discharged. The girls squealed and huddled together on the bed.

  A knock sounded at their door. ‘‘You girls all right?’’ the coach driver called from the other side of the door.

  ‘‘Yes, but what’s happening down there?’’ Ruth timidly inquired.

  ‘‘Just a bit of an argument between a couple of men. I think things should quiet down now. You girls get to sleep. We’ve an early start in the morning.’’

  ‘‘Yes, sir,’’ Ruth replied.

  Bella blew out the candle and burrowed under the covers. ‘‘Everything is going to be just fine, Daughtie,’’ she whispered, hoping the words she spoke were true.

  CHAPTER 4

  After eight days of crisscrossing New Hampshire, Vermont, and Rhode Island, the horses lumbered up a small rise pulling the damsel-filled carriage as their heavy hooves churned the dusty roadway.

  ‘‘There’s Lowell,’’ the driver called. He snapped the reins, urging the horses onward.

  Bella sighed as she shifted her weight to
her right hip. ‘‘Finally!’’

  Daughtie nodded her agreement. ‘‘I seem to remember the driver saying he was going to seek only two more girls.’’

  Ruth wiggled in her seat. ‘‘I think he wanted us to be as uncomfortable as he was.’’

  ‘‘If that was his intention, he certainly succeeded,’’ Sally snarled. ‘‘But I think he’s greedy. The more girls he delivers, the more money he makes.’’

  Priscilla, the newest passenger to board the coach, scooted forward on the seat, her gaze riveted on Sally. ‘‘How do you know that?’’ she asked in an awe-filled voice.

  Sally looked down her nose at the girl. ‘‘It’s an obvious conclusion.’’

  Bella watched as Priscilla shriveled back in her seat. ‘‘Don’t be upset by Sally’s manner,’’ she whispered. ‘‘She treats all of us with the same disdain.’’

  ‘‘Look, Bella,’’ Daughtie said. ‘‘Those brick buildings must be the mills.’’

  Sally leveled a look of contempt toward Daughtie. ‘‘You and Priscilla should become fast friends. You seem to be endowed with the same level of intelligence,’’ she remarked as the coach came to a halt in front of the Appleton Mill.

  The driver pulled open the door. ‘‘Here we are, ladies. I’ll escort you inside. As soon as Mr. Gault assigns you to your boardinghouses, I’ll deliver your baggage.’’

  The girls dutifully followed behind as the driver pulled a rope hanging over the iron gate. A bell rang and a portly gentleman strode toward them. ‘‘Morning, Luther,’’ he greeted.

  ‘‘Mornin’, Mr. Gault. Got a surprise for you. Eight girls when you was only expectin’ four or five—all good workers.’’

  ‘‘And how would you know?’’ Sally asked, directing her annoyance at the driver as they squeezed into Mr. Gault’s small office.

  Mr. Gault took a draw on his pipe. ‘‘And how are you able to make such an assertion, sir?’’ he asked the driver, exhaling a puff of smoke that circled and then floated upward.