Boston, September 6th 1692 - evening
It is extremely dark outside now so I assume it is close to midnight, I am writing by the light from the small fireplace, the room has no proper lighting not even a candle so I must rely on the warmth and light provided from the small dying fire. I sorely misjudged this accommodation when I arrived as it is no where near worth the price the disgusting pig of an innkeeper charged. The room lacks any extra blankets and no heating besides the fire and not even a pillow, this has forced me to fold my best dress into something that somewhat resembles a pillow. The window has no shutters so the sounds from the docks are always audible but the occasional curses and cargo being shipped and transported in no way compares to the crass noises of the inn itself. The profanities and threats of the drunkards, swaying of the sickly, cursing sailors and cackling whores seem to be singing into my ear through the cracks in the floorboards in an attempt to keep me from ever being able to slumber peacefully!
After resting my adjusting sea legs I ventured out onto the streets of Boston in search of a baker. I ate all my rations of food that I prepared on the last night of my travels and by this point my stomach growled like a starving hound whose master had abandoned it, food became my only priority. Before leaving I dressed in a proper manner for the cold autumn weather, my pale pink dress made of cotton, stockings, white woollen shawl, white bonnet, leather shoes and my thick cloak draped over my shoulders.
When I exited the inn the streets had become very crowded! In just a few moments I had easily seen the most number of people than I had seen with my own eyes in my entire lifetime! Not only people but carriages, carts, hounds, horses, donkeys, houses, stores and to my dismay, rats. The amount of waste on the street had grown with the people and life around it I spent most of my time watching the paths for the disgusting rubbish that has accumulated with the business of the stores and workers and animals on the streets. Wondering around the streets lead to no signs of a baker so I was forced to ask directions. I hesitated on several occasions and watched my targets keep strolling down the street, which when I look back at it is not very characteristic of me I have never been timid even when I was a child. Eventually I encountered a man whom I assumed was a blacksmith or labourer of some sort as he was covered in dirt and soot, no matter he appeared rather friendly in comparison to the workers at the dockyards and he recently seemed as if he came to the city recently, his voice carried the weight of a strong British accent. He kindly gave me directions to a nearby bakery which was not only close by but cheap, I thanked the man and continued on my way.
The streets smelled of flour as I neared my destination and the amount of people on the streets increased. I entered the bakery and was in awe of the size of the store! The crowd was bustling in a surprisingly organised fashion with people quickly entering, paying and exiting the building and going on their way. It didn't take long for myself to get caught in this crowd and completing my task, though I wish I stayed longer as the smell from the bakery was a welcome to me with my current appetite. The loaves of bread were fairly priced and came in small proportions and the tasted of low quality flour, but filled my hunger nonetheless and appeared to contain no sawdust as some bakers add to their goods. As I headed back I unfortunately lost my way and walked a street to far the the east mistaking it for the street where the inn resided.
The street got quieter but I couldn't help but notice all the people wore similar clothes, Each one wore clothes that were plain and smelt foul as they exited a building nearby which also omitted that odour, many of the men exiting also carried boxes in and out in a rush. One of these foul people walked straight in my way and I was knocked to the ground by the force from the crate, thank goodness the street was only a dirt path otherwise the fall may have caused an injury. As I went to stand I noticed I had been covered in slime and scales and several foul fish! The worker then went as far to cursed at me for my stupidity and accused me of attempting to sabotage his work! The nerve of this man was no match for my temper as I met his claims by retorting, "I was merely passing through this street on way home and your lack of care while completing your job has caused me to lose my dignity and possibly lose your job by failing a simple task as you have spilt the contents of your crate all over me sir!" The man seemed shocked by my answer but soon his face morphed to a cocky expression and replied "Only a fool would stroll down a street filled with workers carrying crates and be as stupid as to accuse the owner of the largest fishmongers in Boston of failing at a "simple task" of transporting fish from his own workhouse."
I was no position to be defensive at this point and apologised, but unfortunately this was not good enough for this fishmonger who demanded I repay him for his 'lost goods'. He introduced himself properly as Mr. Johnston and threatened to charge me with theft unless I worked the damages off in his workhouse. As there were no witnesses to prove my innocence the police would surely take Mr. Johnston's side, as of tomorrow I will be working at that damned fishmongers until the debt is payed.
I must arrive at sunrise so I must rest as much as humanly possible in these few hours. I have now one clean dress, the other is now defiled with no chance of it being washed in the near future and it is soaked in fish guts which for all I know carries disease. I shall speak to the innkeeper about the possibly of attaining a wash bucket. In my earlier ramblings I forgot to mention the fact that I also lost my bread as it was crushed among the waste of the streets leaving me once again hungry, meaning more spending of my already dwindling coin.
