Chapter 8
April 11, 1750
A woman in a drafty shack cries out in pain as she pushes the child she carries out of her body. With a shriek the baby cries pulling air into its' new lungs. The woman only sighs because this is her 15th child, she doesn't know how she will feed all of them but she must. Her husband died with the flu that is going around, now she is stranded with all this children and no way to support them.
"What will be her name?" The mid-wife asks. "My husbands always liked Elizabeth, so I will name her that. How is she?" The woman asks. "She is fine and healthy to boot."
The mid-wife places the new baby in the woman arms. (I hoped you would die so I could have one less mouth to feed.) The woman thinks as she nurses her new daughter.
"Is there anything I can do Mrs. Lewis." The mid-wife asks as she cleans up after the birth. As Mrs. Lewis rests the mid-wife cleans and then brings in the woman's other children all in small groups to see the new baby. They all agree that the baby is perfect and has a good future as she grows up. "This child will do amazing things, I just know it." One of her brothers says as they leave the room.
Five years later
Lizzy is a girl who has chores that she doesn't do, all she does is tell stories she makes up. "I had this dream that I was in a place with grass all around and there were this things that you sat in…" "Ok Lizzy that is enough. You need to do your chores before Mum gets home."
"But I did see this things, just like they where here." Lizzy says. "Go do your chores so we can have money to eat with." Her oldest sister yells. "One day I will have two parents and a beautiful house and then you will see." Lizzy yells back as she rushes out the door to their one room house. The walls shake when the door shuts. Lizzy goes to the corner and walks thru the back door. There she washes people clothes for 2 cents a week; she hates it and feels lonely as she washes and hand dries them on the line out back.
(I don't care what they say; I do see things that are not my memories. I wish I was that girl in my dreams, and then I won't have to wash clothes or go hungry because Mum did not make enough money to eat that week.) She thinks as she scrubs and wring out the shirts in front of her. "I am hungry, Mrs. Satterson." Lizzy tells her fellow worker. "When was the last time you ate?" "We had some molded bread two days ago." The woman sighs "I know a lady who needs help with her house. She will pay you, and you can stay in a nice home with food to eat everyday."
"How do I get this job?" Lizzy asks with a glint in here eye.
"I will take you there after you do that shirt. If she hires you then we will go see your Mum."
Ten years later
"Lizzy, where is William's cloak?" Mrs. Martin asks.
"I will get it for you, sir." Lizzy hands the item to a man who smiles light up the whole house. When she came to work, William was at school and she did not meet him until she was 12. That is when he came home and now is in college, so he is home more often. (I love you William. I hope you will see that soon.)
"Lizzy, can you run up stairs to retrieve my hat?" William asks. He knows that Lizzy has feeling for him but she is only working trash, clearly not well enough for him. She will just have to leave the moon eyes in her room.
"Yes sir, can I do any thing else for you?" Lizzy asks hoping he will need her to go with him. "No, I think you should mine your station in life." Lizzy yells back, "You know your family had to start somewhere. I could be a good woman if you give me a chance."
"I could have you fired, you would have to go back to that awful house and work until you are old and no one would want you." He says laughing at her face. "Oh just try, I have more power then you think. One day you will see me as a woman and then I will look down my nose at you." She turns and walks into the kitchen. "Maybe she is ok, I will wait and see."