The Long Journey. Susan Wright
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meet you Mrs Kruger. My name is Frederick Duggan; just call me Fred, everyone else does.’
‘Pleased to meet you Fred. I am on my way to meet the women in the cottages I hope they don’t mind me coming unannounced.’
‘I wouldn’t worry about that Mrs. They will have been aware of you coming since you left the house.’
She was a little perturbed at the thought of being observed all the time. ‘Is that so, well I best be on my way then.’
The old man merely nodded and she carried on past an assortment of buildings which seemed endless in variety and uses around which seemed to be a never ending amount of cats and kittens. Quiet a few of which were ginger and bore a strong resemblance to Jeremiah. It was their duty to keep the mouse population under control, with that amount of cats it would take a very brave or very foolish mouse to venture out. Katherine then noticed to her right and set under a macracapa hedge was a wooden building with an iron roof. Around it on three sides was a fence in a sorry state of disrepair in the middle of which hanging at an awkward angle was a gate. There was a small bridge across the creek with an overgrown path leading up to the gate. She crossed the bridge and pushed past the undergrowth which was still heavy with frost. She went through the gate and stood still to observe the place. It was obvious it had not been used for a long time. The path led up to wooden door on each side of which were two windows each divided into four small panes, these were covered in dirt and cobwebs but glistened with the frost on them. Katherine walked forward and rubbed at one of the windows to see inside. It was very dark but she could just make out at the far end a large fireplace. She was startled as a voice behind her said, ‘This was where the boss and the first Mrs Kruger lived while the big house was being built.’
‘Fred, you gave me a fright. I didn’t see you coming.’ An idea began to form in her mind. ‘Has this building been used since then?’
‘Some of the single men used it for a while until the boss built a place for them. They don’t know they are born these days. They each have a room of their own and the boss even employees a cook for them. In my day it was different I can tell you.’
‘I am sure it was Fred. Would you say in your opinion that this building was in good condition and could be used again?’
‘Sure it could, it just needs a few minor repairs, what did you have in mind Mrs?’
I have in mind to use it as school room, but first I will have to speak to my husband and get his approval.’
Well, thought Fred, if half the gossip I hear is true the boss wouldn’t refuse this one anything. It’s funny what a woman will do to a normally level headed man.
Katherine walked back out onto the road and left the old man muttering to himself. Walking on she noticed to her left a large building it was different from the rest it looked more like a large house. This must be the place where the single men are accommodated she thought. She carried on towards the river; on the banks the willows were just beginning to turn green. Pausing for a few minutes to observe the scenery she thought how exhilarating it was just to be out of the house again after the long winter. She could now see the cottages, she felt a little nervous and tense as she knew the whole outcome of her idea of a school depended on the cooperation of these women. It’s funny, she thought, how the outward appearance of a house often reflects the people living in it. This was certainly true with first house. It was very neat and clean there were even some daffodils growing along the path. The door opened and out came an equally neat and clean women.
‘Hello Mrs Kruger, we are all pleased to meet you at last. My name is Jane Tall, please come inside and have a hot drink, you must be frozen.’
‘Thank you Mrs Tall, I am feeling rather cold.’
‘Please, call me Jane.’
‘Then you must call me Katherine.’
She was ushered into a small kitchen with a coal range on which was a large black kettle. The brightly burning coal range was giving off enough heat to warm the entire house. The immediate impression Katherine received was one of warmth and homeliness. Everything had a well used look but yet spotlessly clean. Katherine smiled to herself as she noted curled up on the mat in front of the range was another ginger cat bearing a strong resemblance to Jeremiah. Jane made the tea and set before her a plate of freshly made scones dripping with butter and raspberry jam. These had been hastily made and put in the oven the minute they were aware she was coming.
‘This is my eldest girl, Sarah, she is sixteen, then next is Judith who is twelve, and this is Grace, she is eight, my two boys are out with their father, George is fourteen and Henry is six.’
Katherine noted that Sarah had bright intelligent eyes. She was a plain girl, unlike her sister Judith, who even at twelve had the makings of beauty. Grace was sniveling with a cold.
‘I am pleased to meet with you all. I am sure you must know of my intention to start up a school I would like to know how you feel about that.’
‘Speaking for myself I think it would be great. We try our best but there is always so much to do we haven’t always got the time and to be honest with you most of us lack the education ourselves. My husband and I have talked about this at great length and we will support you all we can.’
‘I am delighted to hear that. Would you mind coming and introducing me to the other women?’
‘Of course not, you girls clear the plates and do the dishes.’
‘Good-bye girls, I will look forward to seeing you in school.’
‘Good-bye Mrs Kruger,’ they all said in unison.
Next door lived a quiet shy women who may have at one stage laid claim to beauty but now through too much work and too many children looked a lot older than her thirty-three years. She was introduced as Gladys Finlay. Around her stood five children of varying ages who appeared as shy and nervous as their mother. Because of her obvious anxiety Katherine briefly told her of her intentions for the school and said she would be pleased to have her children come along. Gladys thanked her and said she would send the eldest ones. She then hastily retreated indoors followed by the children.
The last house on this side of the road was in complete contrast to Jane’s. The fence was falling down. The gate no longer existed. The grass was up to the windows. At a glance it appeared no one lived there. As if to prepare her Jane said, ‘This is Florrie Brown’s place, you will have to excuse her, she is a bit coarse.’
A bit coarse was putting it mildly as out came a woman who Katherine judged to be in her forties. She was large with massive breasts that seemed to sit on her stomach. She was also extremely dirty.
‘Well gidday Mrs. Come to meet us then have ya. Me name’s Florrie.’
‘Hello Florrie, I am Mrs Kruger.’ There was no way this creature was going to call her Katherine.
‘Come to try and knock some sense into the kids have ya?’
‘I would not put it quite like that but yes it is my intention to start a school, have you any children?’
This brought forth a great guffaw of laughter. ‘Sure have love. Me eldest Tom, is seventeen and he won’t come to ya school he would much rather be out chasin’ rabbits.’
Or my girls thought Jane.
‘Then there is Dick, you’re welcome to try and knock some sense in that little bastards head.’
‘Florrie, mind your language,’ said Jane feeling very uncomfortable.
‘Do you have any other children?’ Said Katherine rather hoping there were not so she could move on.
‘There is Harry, Mike and Fred; you can have the whole damn lot and good riddance to them.’
‘You have five boys then?’
‘Sure do love, there would have been more but I kicked the old fella out. He sleeps over the stables now.’
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