Chapter 4
Tatter Delight
Thick billowing cloud rolled in quickly and began to darken the entire afternoon sky. Lighting could be seen in the far distance as the winds began to pick up speed. The rain began to beat down on the Gamgees as they ran for their wagon. The cutting of the corn silage was only half finished when the storm suddenly hit. Gaffer and his sons helped the women folk into the wagon. Mrs. Gamgee held her daughters tightly to her and tried to shield them from the downpour of the rain. May begun crying when the fear seized hold of her. Daisy held her sister tighter to comfort her.
The Gaffer grabbed the reins of the ponies tightly in his fits at the base of the ponies halter. He pulled shouting through the cracking of the lighting for his sons to board the wagon and help keep the horses in line. The horses tried to rear, but the gaffer held on tighter. He kept moving them forward. His cloak floated almost as if it wanted to fly as the winds increased in strength. The ponies wanted to run and pawed the ground where they stood. Hamson gripped the length of the reins and fought to keep the ponies in place. Without warning the ponies lurched forward and the Gaffer quickly jumped in between them holding on to both their necks. The ponies raced forward a few paces screaming in fear. Hamson braced his feet against the foothold of the wagon and pulling back with all his might to control the ponies. Halfred held on to Hamson in fear his brother would fall. The ponies slowed as the front of the storm quickly past them overhead and the rain began to pour straight down as if the clouds dumping buckets directly over their heads.
The Gaffer jumped back down from his hold of the ponies and began pulling them forward. On and on they went in the drenching rain until finally the rain began to ease and the gaffer could see the clouds over head beginning to part. He climbed aboard the wagon and took the reins from his son. He was relieved that the storm ended quickly as it started. It was not long until they crossed the overflowing creek and were almost home.
~*~
Sam sat in the kitchen and watched the storm and he could only hope all was well with his family. He had been in a few storms with the Gaffer during fieldwork and he knew they would be safe with him. Then since the storm blew over quickly he had expected them home shortly. He kept his eye on the road looking over Bagshot Row. He gave a sigh of relief when he saw the ponies pulling the wagon into their yards.
Sam ran outside to greet them and help them anyway that he could. He was more than happy to take the ponies to the corral and unhitch them. His sisters were glad that they were finally home and they rushed to their bedrooms for dry clothing. His mother did also.
The Gaffer poured himself a strong cup of tea as his hands shook trying to take a sip of it. Mrs. Gamgee came out of her bedroom with a thick robe wrapped around her and a towel tightly bound her hair. She scolder her husband for not changing he clothing promptly. "My kitchen floor has puddles everywhere from all the dripping of wet clothing. Off with now before you catch your death. I'll keep your tea piping hot and waiting for you."
"Bell, we made it through another storm together and fared well after it," said the Gaffer, teasing her.
"Thank the heavens you are all safe. Those were some strong winds that hit Bagshot Row," Sam commented toward his father.
"You should have seen it from where we all stood," the Gaffer teased.
"No thankee, I have weathered a few storms in my past, ones I'll not likely to forget," Sam added.
"That we have my son. That we have," The Gaffer laughed patting Sam on the back as he past him heading for his bedroom and dry clothing.
"I'll start a fire to dry out these wet things," said Mrs. Gamgee.
"Mother, I will do that for you, please sit yourself down and rest," said Sam as he smiled at his mother.
"You're a good one, my boy. Dear to my heart," Mrs. Gamgee kissed the top of Sam's head and then sank into her comfy soft chair.
Within minutes Sam had a nice fire burning in the hearth. Sam grabbed the clothes railing that the Gaffer made for his wife. Sam gathered all the wet clothing and began hanging them on the railing next to the fire.
Mrs. Gamgee finished making supper and they all sat at the table. With so much excitement going on the pass couple of days, talk at the table was endless, all except coming from Sam. Who just sat back and listened. His thoughts kept wandering back to Rosie and Wee Billy. His guilt at causing Rosie so much worry bothered him. Sam's heart felt broken and so did his spirit. He could barely handle the idea that Rosie might hate him. It weighed heavy on his mind.
"Sam you have hardly touched your supper and you have barely spoken a word. Are you feeling all right? You are not ill, are you?" Mrs. Gamgee asked.
"I am all right. I was just listening to every ones talk, is all. But if you do not mind, I will be turning in now"
"Just what I was a thinkin'. We still have to finish with the corn silage. You boys will have your work cut out for you tomorrow. Off with the lot of you and get some rest. Will be starting early in the morning," the Gaffer told them.
The boys grew silent and looked at each other. Standing, they all began heading to their bedrooms.
~*~
The next morning, The Gaffer was waking everyone up early. The sun had still not risen in the eastern sky. Their bedrooms were dark as night. Only the candle that the Gaffer held in his hand was the only light they had. The Gaffer began lighting all the candles in the holders. "Up with you now, boys. We have work to be doing."
When Sam and his brothers were dressed they walked into the kitchen. Their mother and sisters were packing baskets of food to be taken into the fields. The Gaffer brought the team of ponies and hitched them to the wagon as the sun just began to break the sky. Each boy grabbed a basket and helped their mother load the wagon.
Halfred stretched and yawn as he sat next to Sam, who only sat quietly looking out at the countryside. When they reached the corn fields the Gaffer barked out orders of where the boys should start cutting the stalks, while he would crank the grinder. The women folk would carry the ground silage to the wagon.
Just when they had began their chores the Cotton boys rode up in their wagon to help the Gamgees with their work. Sam looked about to see if Rosie was with them, but he could see no sign of her anywhere. He wondered if she was back at Bagshot Row. However, he was not about to ask.
"Hullo!" the Cotton boys shouted as the Gaffer walked towards them to greet them.
"'Tis good to see the likes of you boys. We sure could use the help with the cutting," said the Gaffer.
"Da is back at Bagshot Row with Rosie. They are bringing Wee Billy home again. Da will pay you top dollar for the corn silage. For the trouble that Wee Billy has caused you, we will be bringing you a wagon of cut corn this fall after it has dried down. What say you, Gaffer?" asked Tom Cotton.
"'Tis a fair deal in deed," said the Gaffer as they both shook hands on it.
The boys grabbed their blades and began cutting the stalks down and carried them over to the Gaffer.
Mrs. Gamgee went to take the baskets of food from their wagon to begin serving the boys their lunch. She turned quickly to hand down a larger basket to Daisy when she caught her leg on an old rusty nail that protruded from the side wooden panel of the wagon. It cut a wide gash in her leg and began bleeding. Mrs. Gamgee let out a loud yelp when she felt the rusty nail hit her leg. She sat down directly to examine her leg. Everyone ran to see what had happened.
"Off with you, it is only a bit of a cut. Noting to fret yourselves with," said Mrs. Gamgee.
She torn off a piece of her petticoat and wrapped it tightly. The Gaffer watched his wife carefully, but soon dismissed his worry as she was back preparing their noon luncheon.
The Gaffer took his hammer out and tried to pull the old nail from the wooden panel. But the nail was so rusty it broke off in half. He tossed the nail over the side and pounded in the remaining part of the nail. Small rusty fragments lay at the bottom bed of the wagon.
They all gathered to eat and listen to the tales of the storm last night as it caused some damages to the crops in the field near Bywater. Even the tatters were exposed from the dirt as the pouring rain washing so much soil from the garden. The Gaffer did not like to hear about this and began to worry about his own tatters. He would check on them as soon as the silage was finished.
On and on they worked late into the afternoon. The summer sun beat down on them. Mrs. Gamgee wiped the sweat from her forehead as it poured down her face. She felt warm and weaker than usual.
By the time they had all finished, Mrs. Gamgee's skirt and that of her daughters were filthy with mud caked half way up from their hem. Sam and the other boy's feet were also caked with thick mud and their hands to their elbows were also.
They bid their farewells to the Cottons and thanked them for all their help. They all sat quietly on the long road home.
~*~
Sam and the boys were exhausted. Thinking about unhitching the ponies and brushing them down was too much work for their aching bodies to take. Their eyes were heavy and their backs sore, however they dare not make a mention of it to the Gaffer.
Just before they turned to entered Bagshot Row. The Gaffer stopped the wagon and handed the reins to Hamson. "Take the wagon home and unhitch it. I'll be back directly."
The Gaffer walked into his tatter garden and saw that the soil had washed away enough soil to expose the tatters. Row after row looked the same and his shoulder sunk in despair. He knew their work this day was not over yet. All those tatter would have to be pulled by the evening. He turned to get his boys and his shovels.
~*~
"No Gaffer!" shouted Mrs. Gamgee. "Those boys had enough work for today. It will have to wait until tomorrow."
Sam, Hamson and Halfred looked as if they would collapse from exhaustion and anger grew in their eyes as they listened to their parents argue about the tatter fields.
"It'll not wait. The hot summer sun has beat down on the tatters all day and the leaves have gone to wiltin'. The tatters will be no good to us if not taken out by tonight. We won't have anything to fill our bellies by the time of the first snowflake falls. We either pull them by tonight or go hungry all winter," argued the Gaffer in a loud firm voice. "Get your shovels boys and off to the tatter fields with you now!"
Mrs. Gamgee placed her hands on her hips and glared at the Gaffer. She turned sharply, going inside her house and slammed the door shut.
Sam lowered his eyes and he forced his feet to move to get his shovel.
The Gaffer loaded his cart and pushed it into the tatter fields. It was close to midnight as the boys finally loaded the last basket of tatters on the shelf in the cool, darken cellar.
Mrs. Gamgee had a hot tub of water sitting next to the hearth for them to bath. The Gaffer had his bath first and from the oldest to the youngest, meaning Sam was last. The water was cool and filthy by the time he gotten his bath.
~*~
Mrs. Gamgee allowed her boys to sleep in until the noon luncheon. She prepared a large meal to make up for all the meals that they missed since last night.
She greeted them warmly, especially Sam who had seemed so sad of late. She watched her boys shoveling the food in their mouths and it put a smile on her face that they had faired through all their hardships with the work they did last night. She would make sure that they had a holiday this day, no matter what the Gaffer had to say about it.
Mrs. Gamgee narrowed her eyes when the Gaffer came into the kitchen and filled his own plate. She waited for him to bark out another order before she would put her two cents in.
"You look no worse for wear," the Gaffer commented as he eyeballed his three sons. "The barn's roof lost some shingles during the storm, so we will all have to fix it."
"Boys, I want you to gather your things right now and go have a holiday. Take your sisters with you. I want you all to have a day full of fun. Listen to your mother and go now! I want to talk to the Gaffer."
"What are you saying, Bell? I need the boys to help me today!" shouted the Gaffer.
"You listen to me Gaffer. They had enough! I did not bear them into this world to be work hands for Bagshot Row. They are our children," Mrs. Gamgee spoke clear and confidently.
The boys closed the door behind them and Hamson grabbed the Gaffer's weeding shears. He walked over to the flowerbed just below the kitchen window.
"What are you doing Hamson? Mother told us to have a holiday and she did not want us to work," said Sam a bit confused.
"Shhh! I am listening to what they are talking about. I took the shears just incase I get caught and I can tell them I was just trimming ferns." Hamson told him.
"What are they saying?" Sam asked.
"If you will be quiet you can hear them." Hamson told him.
"You all can listen if you want, but we are heading out to have our fun. Come Daisy and May." Halfred told them as he turned and walked away.
"As I always say, a days work to earn a days pay. That is what feeds the family," the Gaffer argued.
"In Bagshot Row, 'tis all work! There children, Gaffer! They need to laugh and play. They need to believe that their world is safe." Mrs. Gamgee shouted back.
"Take the holiday, if need be. But mind you, Bell. That roof still needs mending," the Gaffer commented and went back to eating his lunch.
"Eat your tatter delight, Gaffer. And I hope it sits well in your stomach," said Mrs. Gamgee as she slammed the door shut behind her and stood on the porch to collect her thoughts.
"That does it Sam, I had enough. I am telling mother I am leaving. The Roper has ask me months ago if I wanted to work for him. Seeing that things are never going to get any better here, maybe the getting is what I should be doing," Hamson told Sam. He patted Sam on the top of his head and then hugged him tightly. "Take care of yourself Sam and don't stay too long here. The Gaffer will make you an old hobbit out of you way before your time. As soon as you're old enough Sam, leave Bagshot Row and never come back."
Tatter Delight
Thick billowing cloud rolled in quickly and began to darken the entire afternoon sky. Lighting could be seen in the far distance as the winds began to pick up speed. The rain began to beat down on the Gamgees as they ran for their wagon. The cutting of the corn silage was only half finished when the storm suddenly hit. Gaffer and his sons helped the women folk into the wagon. Mrs. Gamgee held her daughters tightly to her and tried to shield them from the downpour of the rain. May begun crying when the fear seized hold of her. Daisy held her sister tighter to comfort her.
The Gaffer grabbed the reins of the ponies tightly in his fits at the base of the ponies halter. He pulled shouting through the cracking of the lighting for his sons to board the wagon and help keep the horses in line. The horses tried to rear, but the gaffer held on tighter. He kept moving them forward. His cloak floated almost as if it wanted to fly as the winds increased in strength. The ponies wanted to run and pawed the ground where they stood. Hamson gripped the length of the reins and fought to keep the ponies in place. Without warning the ponies lurched forward and the Gaffer quickly jumped in between them holding on to both their necks. The ponies raced forward a few paces screaming in fear. Hamson braced his feet against the foothold of the wagon and pulling back with all his might to control the ponies. Halfred held on to Hamson in fear his brother would fall. The ponies slowed as the front of the storm quickly past them overhead and the rain began to pour straight down as if the clouds dumping buckets directly over their heads.
The Gaffer jumped back down from his hold of the ponies and began pulling them forward. On and on they went in the drenching rain until finally the rain began to ease and the gaffer could see the clouds over head beginning to part. He climbed aboard the wagon and took the reins from his son. He was relieved that the storm ended quickly as it started. It was not long until they crossed the overflowing creek and were almost home.
~*~
Sam sat in the kitchen and watched the storm and he could only hope all was well with his family. He had been in a few storms with the Gaffer during fieldwork and he knew they would be safe with him. Then since the storm blew over quickly he had expected them home shortly. He kept his eye on the road looking over Bagshot Row. He gave a sigh of relief when he saw the ponies pulling the wagon into their yards.
Sam ran outside to greet them and help them anyway that he could. He was more than happy to take the ponies to the corral and unhitch them. His sisters were glad that they were finally home and they rushed to their bedrooms for dry clothing. His mother did also.
The Gaffer poured himself a strong cup of tea as his hands shook trying to take a sip of it. Mrs. Gamgee came out of her bedroom with a thick robe wrapped around her and a towel tightly bound her hair. She scolder her husband for not changing he clothing promptly. "My kitchen floor has puddles everywhere from all the dripping of wet clothing. Off with now before you catch your death. I'll keep your tea piping hot and waiting for you."
"Bell, we made it through another storm together and fared well after it," said the Gaffer, teasing her.
"Thank the heavens you are all safe. Those were some strong winds that hit Bagshot Row," Sam commented toward his father.
"You should have seen it from where we all stood," the Gaffer teased.
"No thankee, I have weathered a few storms in my past, ones I'll not likely to forget," Sam added.
"That we have my son. That we have," The Gaffer laughed patting Sam on the back as he past him heading for his bedroom and dry clothing.
"I'll start a fire to dry out these wet things," said Mrs. Gamgee.
"Mother, I will do that for you, please sit yourself down and rest," said Sam as he smiled at his mother.
"You're a good one, my boy. Dear to my heart," Mrs. Gamgee kissed the top of Sam's head and then sank into her comfy soft chair.
Within minutes Sam had a nice fire burning in the hearth. Sam grabbed the clothes railing that the Gaffer made for his wife. Sam gathered all the wet clothing and began hanging them on the railing next to the fire.
Mrs. Gamgee finished making supper and they all sat at the table. With so much excitement going on the pass couple of days, talk at the table was endless, all except coming from Sam. Who just sat back and listened. His thoughts kept wandering back to Rosie and Wee Billy. His guilt at causing Rosie so much worry bothered him. Sam's heart felt broken and so did his spirit. He could barely handle the idea that Rosie might hate him. It weighed heavy on his mind.
"Sam you have hardly touched your supper and you have barely spoken a word. Are you feeling all right? You are not ill, are you?" Mrs. Gamgee asked.
"I am all right. I was just listening to every ones talk, is all. But if you do not mind, I will be turning in now"
"Just what I was a thinkin'. We still have to finish with the corn silage. You boys will have your work cut out for you tomorrow. Off with the lot of you and get some rest. Will be starting early in the morning," the Gaffer told them.
The boys grew silent and looked at each other. Standing, they all began heading to their bedrooms.
~*~
The next morning, The Gaffer was waking everyone up early. The sun had still not risen in the eastern sky. Their bedrooms were dark as night. Only the candle that the Gaffer held in his hand was the only light they had. The Gaffer began lighting all the candles in the holders. "Up with you now, boys. We have work to be doing."
When Sam and his brothers were dressed they walked into the kitchen. Their mother and sisters were packing baskets of food to be taken into the fields. The Gaffer brought the team of ponies and hitched them to the wagon as the sun just began to break the sky. Each boy grabbed a basket and helped their mother load the wagon.
Halfred stretched and yawn as he sat next to Sam, who only sat quietly looking out at the countryside. When they reached the corn fields the Gaffer barked out orders of where the boys should start cutting the stalks, while he would crank the grinder. The women folk would carry the ground silage to the wagon.
Just when they had began their chores the Cotton boys rode up in their wagon to help the Gamgees with their work. Sam looked about to see if Rosie was with them, but he could see no sign of her anywhere. He wondered if she was back at Bagshot Row. However, he was not about to ask.
"Hullo!" the Cotton boys shouted as the Gaffer walked towards them to greet them.
"'Tis good to see the likes of you boys. We sure could use the help with the cutting," said the Gaffer.
"Da is back at Bagshot Row with Rosie. They are bringing Wee Billy home again. Da will pay you top dollar for the corn silage. For the trouble that Wee Billy has caused you, we will be bringing you a wagon of cut corn this fall after it has dried down. What say you, Gaffer?" asked Tom Cotton.
"'Tis a fair deal in deed," said the Gaffer as they both shook hands on it.
The boys grabbed their blades and began cutting the stalks down and carried them over to the Gaffer.
Mrs. Gamgee went to take the baskets of food from their wagon to begin serving the boys their lunch. She turned quickly to hand down a larger basket to Daisy when she caught her leg on an old rusty nail that protruded from the side wooden panel of the wagon. It cut a wide gash in her leg and began bleeding. Mrs. Gamgee let out a loud yelp when she felt the rusty nail hit her leg. She sat down directly to examine her leg. Everyone ran to see what had happened.
"Off with you, it is only a bit of a cut. Noting to fret yourselves with," said Mrs. Gamgee.
She torn off a piece of her petticoat and wrapped it tightly. The Gaffer watched his wife carefully, but soon dismissed his worry as she was back preparing their noon luncheon.
The Gaffer took his hammer out and tried to pull the old nail from the wooden panel. But the nail was so rusty it broke off in half. He tossed the nail over the side and pounded in the remaining part of the nail. Small rusty fragments lay at the bottom bed of the wagon.
They all gathered to eat and listen to the tales of the storm last night as it caused some damages to the crops in the field near Bywater. Even the tatters were exposed from the dirt as the pouring rain washing so much soil from the garden. The Gaffer did not like to hear about this and began to worry about his own tatters. He would check on them as soon as the silage was finished.
On and on they worked late into the afternoon. The summer sun beat down on them. Mrs. Gamgee wiped the sweat from her forehead as it poured down her face. She felt warm and weaker than usual.
By the time they had all finished, Mrs. Gamgee's skirt and that of her daughters were filthy with mud caked half way up from their hem. Sam and the other boy's feet were also caked with thick mud and their hands to their elbows were also.
They bid their farewells to the Cottons and thanked them for all their help. They all sat quietly on the long road home.
~*~
Sam and the boys were exhausted. Thinking about unhitching the ponies and brushing them down was too much work for their aching bodies to take. Their eyes were heavy and their backs sore, however they dare not make a mention of it to the Gaffer.
Just before they turned to entered Bagshot Row. The Gaffer stopped the wagon and handed the reins to Hamson. "Take the wagon home and unhitch it. I'll be back directly."
The Gaffer walked into his tatter garden and saw that the soil had washed away enough soil to expose the tatters. Row after row looked the same and his shoulder sunk in despair. He knew their work this day was not over yet. All those tatter would have to be pulled by the evening. He turned to get his boys and his shovels.
~*~
"No Gaffer!" shouted Mrs. Gamgee. "Those boys had enough work for today. It will have to wait until tomorrow."
Sam, Hamson and Halfred looked as if they would collapse from exhaustion and anger grew in their eyes as they listened to their parents argue about the tatter fields.
"It'll not wait. The hot summer sun has beat down on the tatters all day and the leaves have gone to wiltin'. The tatters will be no good to us if not taken out by tonight. We won't have anything to fill our bellies by the time of the first snowflake falls. We either pull them by tonight or go hungry all winter," argued the Gaffer in a loud firm voice. "Get your shovels boys and off to the tatter fields with you now!"
Mrs. Gamgee placed her hands on her hips and glared at the Gaffer. She turned sharply, going inside her house and slammed the door shut.
Sam lowered his eyes and he forced his feet to move to get his shovel.
The Gaffer loaded his cart and pushed it into the tatter fields. It was close to midnight as the boys finally loaded the last basket of tatters on the shelf in the cool, darken cellar.
Mrs. Gamgee had a hot tub of water sitting next to the hearth for them to bath. The Gaffer had his bath first and from the oldest to the youngest, meaning Sam was last. The water was cool and filthy by the time he gotten his bath.
~*~
Mrs. Gamgee allowed her boys to sleep in until the noon luncheon. She prepared a large meal to make up for all the meals that they missed since last night.
She greeted them warmly, especially Sam who had seemed so sad of late. She watched her boys shoveling the food in their mouths and it put a smile on her face that they had faired through all their hardships with the work they did last night. She would make sure that they had a holiday this day, no matter what the Gaffer had to say about it.
Mrs. Gamgee narrowed her eyes when the Gaffer came into the kitchen and filled his own plate. She waited for him to bark out another order before she would put her two cents in.
"You look no worse for wear," the Gaffer commented as he eyeballed his three sons. "The barn's roof lost some shingles during the storm, so we will all have to fix it."
"Boys, I want you to gather your things right now and go have a holiday. Take your sisters with you. I want you all to have a day full of fun. Listen to your mother and go now! I want to talk to the Gaffer."
"What are you saying, Bell? I need the boys to help me today!" shouted the Gaffer.
"You listen to me Gaffer. They had enough! I did not bear them into this world to be work hands for Bagshot Row. They are our children," Mrs. Gamgee spoke clear and confidently.
The boys closed the door behind them and Hamson grabbed the Gaffer's weeding shears. He walked over to the flowerbed just below the kitchen window.
"What are you doing Hamson? Mother told us to have a holiday and she did not want us to work," said Sam a bit confused.
"Shhh! I am listening to what they are talking about. I took the shears just incase I get caught and I can tell them I was just trimming ferns." Hamson told him.
"What are they saying?" Sam asked.
"If you will be quiet you can hear them." Hamson told him.
"You all can listen if you want, but we are heading out to have our fun. Come Daisy and May." Halfred told them as he turned and walked away.
"As I always say, a days work to earn a days pay. That is what feeds the family," the Gaffer argued.
"In Bagshot Row, 'tis all work! There children, Gaffer! They need to laugh and play. They need to believe that their world is safe." Mrs. Gamgee shouted back.
"Take the holiday, if need be. But mind you, Bell. That roof still needs mending," the Gaffer commented and went back to eating his lunch.
"Eat your tatter delight, Gaffer. And I hope it sits well in your stomach," said Mrs. Gamgee as she slammed the door shut behind her and stood on the porch to collect her thoughts.
"That does it Sam, I had enough. I am telling mother I am leaving. The Roper has ask me months ago if I wanted to work for him. Seeing that things are never going to get any better here, maybe the getting is what I should be doing," Hamson told Sam. He patted Sam on the top of his head and then hugged him tightly. "Take care of yourself Sam and don't stay too long here. The Gaffer will make you an old hobbit out of you way before your time. As soon as you're old enough Sam, leave Bagshot Row and never come back."