Three Round Towers (6 page)

The overseer of the workhouse was a regular tyrant and I avoided the place when he was in his cups. Alice, his woman was nearly as bad and many's the nipper I knew to have suffered at their hands or more'n likely feet. It was one such day when I thought to avoid such a punishment by disappearing. I had told Miss Esther that I lived all over but in truth it was mainly the workhouse, or when I was really pushed and the weather fine I would settle under a haystack even on occasion moving in with the pigs at Miss Wardle's place. She was a funny one, she cared more for her poultry and sows than ever she did people. If she knew that I was nestled in with her prize beasts she never let on but I would occasionally find a few scraps of good bread and ham in with their feed. I loved Sally best – she were a fine piggy, she never tried to bite me and many's the time we cuddled up together. I was always a bit careful when she had a litter as she became a bit ornery then but generally we mucked in good.

Anyway, on this day I washed myself under the water pipe down in t'Cliffe. I wanted to look spruce for a trip I had planned to Coad Farm upstream at Hamsey. I walked along the river leaping the streams and boggy bits. I made a meal of some watercress plundered from still water off the main river. I had a few scrumped apples and felt myself to be well set up for the day. I knew Miss Esther to be innocent of all that was being laid at her door but I also knew that unless she had some help she would fall under the weight of stronger folks be they good or bad. Seemed to me that a little exploring round Hamsey might turn up some help.

I waited below the hamlet for any delivery carts and afore long one such came by.

I volunteered myself to the carter in exchange for a drink of ale to help unload his delivery of chalk to Coad Farm. We fell into talking and he told me that he regularly delivered to Coad, bringing his load from Piddinghoe way down river and near the sea. I have never seen the sea and we got right pally with all my questions and his pride in knowing stuff.

The entrance to Coad Farm was guarded by some mean looking dogs
setting up 'nuf noise to wake the dead in the nearby churchyard. A young lad came and pulled aside the hurdles that were barring our way into their yard. I guessed him to be one of the sons by his surly but belonging look. The carter got down off the cart to stretch his legs and take a draught from his flask. I stayed put behind the horse; I could see and hear plenty. Old man Coad appeared a few minutes later and I knew him for a mean ole son of a bitch just by his swagger. He seemed to know the carter well and offered him a morsel in the kitchen as refreshment so I rushed round and tagged myself to their ankles. A big buxom woman who must 'ave been Missus Coad was in the kitchen sweating over a big pot of stew. It smelled good and I was hopeful I might get some but not a bit of it – we were given a crust of yesterday's bread with a smear of dripping lathered over it. A young lass came into the room carrying a pot nearly as big as 'erself. She plonked it down on the table and proceeded to chop turnips and carrots into it. I moved near to her as the old-uns grumbled to each other about too much rain, too little rain and the price of barley.

The lass were called Mary and she had been at the farm for just a couple of days but already she was a bit disheartened by the sourness of the place. No one ever spoke to her except to issue orders or threats; the missus was a real hard taskmaster and seemed very edgy anytime the master came in. ‘See that bruise on her face?' she whispered to me. ‘She got that when he came in t'other night and she raised her voice at 'im – he swiped her one.'

The carter broke into our talk. ‘Hey lad, time to set-to.' I whispered to the girl to stay out of everyone's way, specially the old man and the sons. She nodded, as if knowing why. I didna think any young maid would be safe at that place even tho' Mary was awful plain, but I had to leave and pulling on some leathers that the carter gave me I began a long labour unloading. Truth t'tell I quite enjoyed doing summat physical and the carter gave me a drink and an offer of work anytimes he was up this way. We made our way slowly back to Lewes and though I hadn't seen much I had got the feel of the place and I had been able to warn young Mary. One thing I did notice was that all the sacks and carriers I saw in the barn were marked by the brand C. Fm. Most farmers used branding tools for their animals and I s'pose it were a simple job to mark the sacks and leather carriers as well. Next time I went to South Farm to see Cilla in the kitchen I would see if they branded their stuff as well.

I were mortal tired that night and joined Sally in her sty. It were getting a mite cold and she was always warm if a bit wriggly. The carter had given me a few pennies and I was able to feast on a hot pie from the baker in Market Street and a pot of small ale.

My next trip out on Esther's cause was to Dr Grieve. He were the coroner as well as the physician and although I didna really know what a coroner did it were clearly important and it seemed sensible to find out. I knew the potboy in his kitchen and it were a small matter to invite myself in. Pot were a real carrot top and didn't really get know'd by his given name, everyone just called him Pot. He were blowing a fire up and puttin' some jars in boiling water when I arrived.

‘'Lo Pot, what yer doin' that for?'

‘Mrs Jenkins be doing her bottlin' and she wants clean jars. If they have even a speck of dirt in them the food goes bad and missus will bellyache and then I'll get a tannin'.'

‘Got anything to eat then?'

‘Go see Judith, she'll find you summat.'

Later, we sat in friendly silence as we munched on cake washed down with a drop of ale. Good it were.

I decided to ask direct. ‘D'you know if his nibs has found out about young Becca yet?'

‘Dunno, but Missus Jenkins said he was planning on visiting Farmer Coad today. Quietly, like.'

‘What's that mean, quietly, like?'

‘Dunno, Missus Jenkins said he wouldn't be making accusations without some good reason.'

‘Do 'ee know what caused the hole in 'er head?'

‘Dunno, Missus Jenkins says 'twere a piece of wood wi' a sharp end.'

‘Ow'd 'ee know that?'

‘Dunno, Missus Jenkins don't know neither but says that's 'is job to know.'

‘Ta, Pot… Sees ya.'

It was still early in the day so I ventured round to the workhouse to see the lie of the land. I needn't 'ave bovvered, they was all spark out and the place stank of brandy. I reckoned the tub-runners had been around. There was plenty of day left so I went down to Southover and made me way to South Farm. Cilla was alone in the kitchen and I settled down for a natter. She seemed glad to see me but then was all fingers and thumbs and cross. I told her what I had found out and she went to check the door was shut before whispering that Mrs Fisher was badmouthing Esther to anyone who'd listen. They'd been to market and she told everyone they met that Esther was a bad-un. She also said that Cecilia would keep Beth for her own.

‘She can't do that.'

‘It's better than the parish workhouse ain't it?'

‘Aye, put like that, I s'pose it is but Esther will be free soon and she'll come and get Beth. Cilla, will you do summat for me?'

‘Depends, what?'

‘Can you look at Esther's things and see if there be a purse with letters stamped on it?' I drew the outlines of what I had seen at Coad Farm on the table with a bit of chalk.

‘I dunno, s'pose I get caught?'

‘Just say Esther needed some money and that I'm going to take it to her.'

‘They won't believe that. Why would Esther ask you to bring her money when Missus Elwood has been visiting her in Lewes?'

‘Well, just try, ta. Is there anything to eat?'

I left South Farm without seeing anyone else and with a parcel of leftovers that I shared with Sally that night.

Next day I was hauled back to the workhouse to run some errands so I couldn't see Esther and little Beth but a young lad called round to give me a message from Cilla.

‘She said to tell you that there be a purse with lettering on it but she don't know what it do say and Mrs Fisher rubbed the letters off the table.'

‘Stop that yakking Billy, you'm s'posed to be swabbing down the floor, not yakking, get on with ye.' The overseer kicked out but I was too nimble for the lazy owld sot.

‘Ta, mate – obliged to 'ee. Here, have an apple. I gave him one from my pocket, scrumped from a nearby garden.

To Cure Rheumatism

Take cucumbers, when full grown and put them into a pot with a little salt; then put the pot over a slow fire, where it should remain for about an hour; then take the cucumbers and press them, the juice from which must be put into bottles, corked up tight, and placed in the cellar, where they should remain for about a week; then wet a flannel or rag with the liquid and apply it to the parts affected.

MacKenzie's Five Thousand Receipts in All the Useful and Domestic Arts