The Schooner Bay Home for Invalid and Indigent Seamen
The Circus Comes to Town
Chapter 6:
The next morning after the morning rituals of washing, dressing, and having breakfast, Mrs. Muir made her usual rounds to speak with each of the men of the Home to see how they were feeling. Everyone seemed to be in good health and high spirits and Red made a particular point of telling her how Amy had insisted that he not indulge in any sweets the night before at the second circus performance. She was happy to heap praise on him and Amy, knowing that it wasn't always easy for Red to resist sugary foods. Since he'd come to Gull Cottage, he hadn't had any complications from his diabetes, but she and Martha worked very hard to give him a diet that was both healthful and satisfying and she was constantly on guard lest he develop problems with his feet. Amy, despite her limited understanding of what diabetes was and how it could be harmful for Red's health, was always there to remind him of what to do and not do, what to eat and not eat. The one thing she clearly understood was that the disease could cause serious problems and even death. She made it her mission to ensure that she and her beloved Red would be able to spend as many years as possible together.
After taking another cup of coffee from the kitchen, her next chore was to record the findings of her morning's rounds and then prepare the morning's medications for Charlie Fish (heart weakness), Hannibal Booth (dyspepsia) and Sam Tudor (arthritis pain). She was just reaching for her keys to the medicine cabinet when Captain Gregg appeared.
"Good morning, m' dear. You are looking lovely, as ever. Everything appears to be ship-shape this morning, doesn't it?" he said while first kissing her hands as he held them and then giving her cheek a gentle kiss as well.
"Good morning, Daniel. We missed you at breakfast. Is everything well with you?"
He shrugged his shoulders. "No longer having a physical body has relieved me of the daily concerns of 'wellness'. It is actually quite freeing. No, I was thinking of a plan to raise funds so that the town could purchase the neighboring parcel of land. It might sound like a poorly thought-out idea, but I believe it actually could be quite successful. However, the first step would be to invite Fortuna and Thaddeus Grover over for tea to discuss the idea."
Carolyn pursed her lips. It was no secret that she didn't care much for Fortuna Figg Grover. Not only had the woman been imperious and pretentions, but Fortuna and Daniel had enough history together to make her still feel slightly jealous. However, she had to admit that in the past year Fortuna had made significant strides in reducing her snobbish ways and join more in the community, and she strongly suspected the Captain's influence was significant in that change. Fortuna had joined the Women's Benefit Society, the Church's Support Committee, and the weekly women's book club. Because she knew that the seamen of the home were eager to obtain any new books that became available, she had become instrumental in making sure that the book club donated what they had finished reading to Gull Cottage. Carolyn reasoned that she owed it to the woman to revise her opinion of her, but what was Daniel thinking of in relation to the Grovers and raising funds for the town? Was it because Thaddeus owned the town's bank and now the town council was hoping for significant monetary support or was it something else?
Daniel continued; "Before I invited them, I thought it best to make sure that you would agree to host them here."
What could she do? It would be impolite to prevent Captain Gregg from inviting anyone to his home, after all. And all he requested of her was to play hostess and that only required that she smile, join in social conversation for a bit and pour tea. "Thank you for asking, dear. Of course, I will help you in any way that I can. What will you propose to them?"
Daniel smiled broadly at her. "Ahhh, dear lady! You will have to wait to find out!"
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In the kitchen, Martha was making out the weekly grocery list with Hannibal's help. Red was upstairs sweeping, and dusting and Sock was gathering up the men's laundry for Amy to start soaking. Peter and Charlie getting the horses fed and the wagon cleaned up before the trip into town later on in the morning. Joe was down on the beach digging for clams for chowder and Sam was working in their vegetable garden, pulling weeds that tenaciously popped up day after day. Nate was upstairs in his room, brushing off his best pants and jacket. He didn't want to disturb Martha, but he thought his newest white shirt could do with a little ironing. Perhaps Amy could help him after she put the laundry into the washing tub. In the meanwhile, he cleaned and shined his shoes so that they shone. He'd shave just before he dressed.
With everyone being busy at their tasks, the morning went by rapidly and as the tall case clock in the parlor rang 10:30, Peter and Charlie brought Clover and Sunshine with the wagon around to the front of the gate for Red and Sock to take into town to the greengrocer's and the butcher's shops. Nate was carefully dressed, his face closely shaved and his white shirt impeccably ironed. Carolyn and Daniel came down to the gate to see them off as Red helped Nate onto the wagon's bench seat.
"Anything else you think you'd be needing, Mrs. Muir?" asked Sock as he took up the horses' reins.
"No. Thank you, Socks. I think Martha has everything that we need," she replied.
"However," said the Captain, as he took an envelope out of his jacket's breast pocket, "I would be much obliged if you would drop this off at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Grover. I know it's out of your way, but this is important."
The two former seamen sat up straighter and Red saluted. "Aye, Aye, Sir! Is there anything else you'll be wanting?" he asked.
Captain Gregg smiled gently. Red had less ability than Able-Bodied Seaman Applegate had, but he tried so much harder and once he learned something, it stayed with him forever. Neither did Red fear the Captain. He'd rather have a hundred Reds than some of the scurvy water rats that he had taken on as crew in his day. In any event, his note would be delivered and hopefully the Grover's would agree to come by the next day for tea.
With the wagon gently swaying as it made its way down the road, Daniel turned to Carolyn, who was looking pensive.
"And what is worrying you, dear lady? Is it having Fortuna in the house again?" he asked.
"Oh," she said, startled at the sound of his voice interrupting her thoughts, "no. Nate has some serious business to take care of at the circus, but he won't tell me what it is."
"Well, I doubt that we have to worry about him running off to join it," Daniel said with a smile. However, Carolyn's concern didn't lighten.
"Could he know someone from it? Do you think he ever worked at a roustabout?" she asked.
"Well, I have known some seamen who would temporarily join a circus or traveling theater group. They were valued due to their expertise with ropes and rigging and climbing up and down the poles. The men would leave when they got word that their ships would be sailing or if they got to a port town and found a suitable berth. But Nate had no trouble finding jobs. He was a first-rate seaman and had many captains who wanted him on their crews. When I knew him, when I was a lad, he went from one ship to another without any difficulty. AND he often brought me and others he knew could handle themselves well along with him. Perhaps, m'dear, there is a lady involved in some fashion or the other?" Daniel asked with a gleam in his eye.
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It wasn't long before the wagon passed the fairground's entrance to the circus compound. Red helped Nate down and Sock leaned over to address him.
"I figure that between loading up the wagon with the provisions and going to the Grover's mansion and back up here, it should take close to 90 minutes. Is that OK with you, Nate?"
Nate waved him away with a gesture. "Yes, yes. That's fine. If I finish up here early, I'll just go have a seat on the that wall over there," he replied pointing to a small sea wall.
"You sure?" asked Sock. "We could come for you before we go to the Grover's."
"No, it's not necessary and besides, the Grover's house is in the opposite direction, and you'd have to go back and forth, back and forth like a new cabin boy who doesn't know where anything is or what's needed. I'll be fine."
As the wagon headed away over the roughened turf, Nate headed into the circus's main gate. The ground had become dusty with the pounding of many feet, dirtying his freshly polished shoes to his regret. Looking at the sky, he figured that it was about 11:00 and he could smell something being cooked. Glancing around, he looked for activity but found none, so he followed the trail his nose was leading him on.
Behind some of the circus's house wagons and carts, he came upon the bearded lady, Elisabeta cooking a large brace of chickens on a spit over an open fire. She looked up and took her measure of the old seamen. Deciding he was no threat she called out to him, "Hello there! Can I help you? The ticket booth won't be open for hours yet."
"Thank you," he replied, "but that's not what I came for. You see, I saw the circus on it's first night and there is someone I'd like to speak with...the "Egyptian Princess", Aida?"
In her many years traveling with circus shows, Elisabeta had seen plenty of men come by wanting to speak to the female performers, sometimes the younger male performers as well. Most of the time their goal was seduction; seeing someone in a revealing costume made some in the audience feel that circus folks were "fast". Of course, there were a few who were "loose", but by and large they were the exceptions. However, this was an old man who had dressed neatly and spoken politely, even humbly to her. She wasn't completely convinced that Nate was harmless, but her concerns were lessening.
"And why would you like to speak to her, Mr...?
"Nate Douglas. I live here at the Schooner Bay Home for Invalid and Indigent Seamen. I wanted to ask Aida if she knew someone from Boston that I had met many, many years ago when I was a 2nd mate."
Now this was an interesting turn of events. Elisabeta agreed to go find the fire breather, "...but would you mind turning the spit for me? I don't want the chickens to get burnt on one side."
A few minutes later she returned with the younger woman at her side. In the daylight, without her make up, she looked even more like Alma, although much more world-weary. Her skin was sallow, and she looked much thinner than he remembered from the performance.
Elisabeta introduced the woman to Nate, and they moved off to one side so they could speak quietly.
"Thank you for agreeing to meet me, Aida. I know how this can look to you."
"You're welcome, but actually my name is 'Ada'. Aida is my stage name. Elisabeta said you seemed polite and harmless, so I agreed to come out to see you."
"Again, thank you. I only wanted to know if we had an acquaintance in common. Someone I knew very briefly in Boston, probably before you were even born, Ada."
Ada's right eyebrow arched. "You aren't the first man to ask me that question." Nate was surprised, although he immediately realized that he shouldn't be. "What was the name of your acquaintance?"
Nate hesitated for a moment. He could leave and not open this can of worms, especially when it seemed that many men had been trying to open the same can. Looking at Ada however, made him realize that he saw more than just Alma there. "Her name was Alma Monroe. Was she your mother?"
"Yes, and she still is. In fact, she will be arriving for our last performance. Perhaps you'd like to speak to her when she is here?"
"I suppose that would depend on your answer to my next question. Did you know your father?"
"Yes, I knew him, although it was hinted that he wasn't my real father. He was a very nice man by the name of Jerome Seaver, but he was quite old already when he married Mother and she clearly never loved him. They didn't have any other children and he passed on when I was ten. Mother married again when I was twelve to someone who was awful. I ran away when I was fifteen to get away from him. They divorced after about six or seven years and Mother wanted me to come home, but I'd been in the circus all that time, had been taken in and protected by good people, learned my craft and I've been self-sufficient since then. She doesn't like that I'm in the circus and disapproves of everyone here, thinking we are all gypsies, women of the night and thieves. That's quite the irony since she never protected me from husband number two. Still, she comes to see me at least twice a year, always asking me to come home, promising me a new, better, richer life."
"I'm sorry you've had such a difficult time, Ada. You're obviously a very strong and determined young woman with a good notion of right from wrong. I'll think about meeting your mother when she's here, though I can't promise that I would see her. However, if you desirous of talking further with me, I live up by the promontory east of town on Gregg Road at the Schooner Bay Home for Invalid and Indigent Seamen. If not, I'll send a note to you telling you of my decision in regard to Alma."
