Read Online Becoming Americans by Donald Batchelor - Free Book Online
Authors: Donald Batchelor
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among the servants in their rough kersy breeches and leather buff coats. Others in the back were nudging each other and pointing him out with questions on their faces. But Richard's eyes were focused on a box of pews near the front, where Mister Ware sat with his family and guests. Edward looked back to find him and smiled a greeting. But Richard's gaze was locked on the blue dress and the beautiful little girl he would make his bride.
      She would have a handsome dowry, of course, and Richard would have, somehow, earned enough to buy servants and a plantation. They would have a brick house as largeâlarger thanâMister Ware's, and they would entertain guests from all over the colony. His Uncle Edward and his cousins would visit from England and be jealous of his wealth and beautiful wife. He would be called "Mister," and be chosen to serve on the vestry of the church. He'd have horses and a boatâa large shallop. He'd let Edward borrow it sometimes, because Edward wouldn't be as rich as he.
     And then the service was over. Richard hadn't heard a word, but he'd planned the rest of his life. He could see it all.
      The chatting congregation filed outside, and Richard went to the lucky spot where Anne had approached him. He made a wish. He wished that he would always be as happy as he was today.
      "Richard! They've got horse races this afternoon and Father said we could go with Old Ned after we eat!"
      "On Sunday?" Richard told Edward that he must be wrong.
      "It's true, Richard! Things are different here. Did you notice they used the Old Prayer Book, even!"
      Horse racing on Sunday? He'd heard that in the days of King James, Sunday games were encouraged, and that Sunday had been the best day of the week until Oliver Cromwell and the Puritans had won England. Lancaster County was a long way from London.
      "I'll find you after I eat," Edward said, and went back to the area of tables reserved for the planters.
      The tables of food for the servants and slaves were as laden, and nearly as elaborate, as those for the masters. Richard had never seen so much food, and on another day he would have tried some of everything, but he was too excited to do more than chew on a turkey leg. He felt self-conscious again, as he became aware of the other servants watching him.
      "I heard Anne Biggs tell her grandmother that he comes from moneyed people in Bristol." Richard heard a servant woman talking to another. He was proud again, and even more certain, now, that Anne Biggs would grow up to be his own.
      "Richard," the voice was low, almost sad. He turned to see Francis Harper standing by his side.
      "Yes, Sir," Richard said, and held the turkey leg by his side.
      "You're to return at once with Mister Ware's, Tully. I'm most disappointed in you, Richard." Harper returned to where his hosts stood with a forlorn Edward.
      At least his master hadn't made a public scene. That was all that Richard could think of. He'd expected something; this wasn't so bad. He hated to miss the races, but there'd be others. He just had to get to the canoe without being noticed. Most of these people wouldn't knowâthey'd simply remember a handsome gallantâbut had she seen?
      He turned to find that Anne and her friends were sucking on oranges and playing with a little dog. He hurried to the waterside.
      The man, Tully, hardly spoke as he rowed downstream to the Ware plantation. Richard helped him pull the canoe ashore, then Tully went to his cabin and his ailing wife and child. Richard was alone on the huge plantation. He'd never felt so alone before. He heard a baby crying and a dog was
      She would have a handsome dowry, of course, and Richard would have, somehow, earned enough to buy servants and a plantation. They would have a brick house as largeâlarger thanâMister Ware's, and they would entertain guests from all over the colony. His Uncle Edward and his cousins would visit from England and be jealous of his wealth and beautiful wife. He would be called "Mister," and be chosen to serve on the vestry of the church. He'd have horses and a boatâa large shallop. He'd let Edward borrow it sometimes, because Edward wouldn't be as rich as he.
     And then the service was over. Richard hadn't heard a word, but he'd planned the rest of his life. He could see it all.
      The chatting congregation filed outside, and Richard went to the lucky spot where Anne had approached him. He made a wish. He wished that he would always be as happy as he was today.
      "Richard! They've got horse races this afternoon and Father said we could go with Old Ned after we eat!"
      "On Sunday?" Richard told Edward that he must be wrong.
      "It's true, Richard! Things are different here. Did you notice they used the Old Prayer Book, even!"
      Horse racing on Sunday? He'd heard that in the days of King James, Sunday games were encouraged, and that Sunday had been the best day of the week until Oliver Cromwell and the Puritans had won England. Lancaster County was a long way from London.
      "I'll find you after I eat," Edward said, and went back to the area of tables reserved for the planters.
      The tables of food for the servants and slaves were as laden, and nearly as elaborate, as those for the masters. Richard had never seen so much food, and on another day he would have tried some of everything, but he was too excited to do more than chew on a turkey leg. He felt self-conscious again, as he became aware of the other servants watching him.
      "I heard Anne Biggs tell her grandmother that he comes from moneyed people in Bristol." Richard heard a servant woman talking to another. He was proud again, and even more certain, now, that Anne Biggs would grow up to be his own.
      "Richard," the voice was low, almost sad. He turned to see Francis Harper standing by his side.
      "Yes, Sir," Richard said, and held the turkey leg by his side.
      "You're to return at once with Mister Ware's, Tully. I'm most disappointed in you, Richard." Harper returned to where his hosts stood with a forlorn Edward.
      At least his master hadn't made a public scene. That was all that Richard could think of. He'd expected something; this wasn't so bad. He hated to miss the races, but there'd be others. He just had to get to the canoe without being noticed. Most of these people wouldn't knowâthey'd simply remember a handsome gallantâbut had she seen?
      He turned to find that Anne and her friends were sucking on oranges and playing with a little dog. He hurried to the waterside.
      The man, Tully, hardly spoke as he rowed downstream to the Ware plantation. Richard helped him pull the canoe ashore, then Tully went to his cabin and his ailing wife and child. Richard was alone on the huge plantation. He'd never felt so alone before. He heard a baby crying and a dog was
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