From Dawn Till Dusk
Author: Dennis
From: Wallingford, USA
Age: 10
Date: 9th Jun 2000, 7:56 AM
Rating: 5
Comment:
Title: From Dawn Till Dusk
FROM DAWN TILL DUSK
CHAPTER 1
The sun fell behind the mountain as my father and I walked back from our chores. Father opened the door and walked in. His heavy black boots clicked on the hardwood floor. Mother was sweeping the floor with the new broom that my father had made for her from pinewood.
"Hello Dan," she said without looking up. Father was especially good at telling if someone was in a good mood or not.
"What’s wrong, Martha? "
"The British had the first battle against us."
"Really, how did you find out?" Father asked.
" Mr. Manier stopped by and told me."
"Don’t worry; it will be over soon," Father replied.
"I hope you’re right, Dan."
Then Father looked at me. "Get some water for your mother, Cam," he said.
"Yes, Father." I then was about to get the water when Mother held up her hand for me to stop.
" I’ll be alright," she said. " But Cam, you better get washed up for supper."
My real name is Camron Jefferson, but my parents and friends usually call me Cam for short. My parents only call me Camron when they’re angry at me.
After supper, I helped Mother make butter. I know Mother is supposed to do it, but I like it. Father says, " Let a woman do a woman’s job and let a man do his." That’s why I usually help when Father is not around. But he said nothing tonight.
After that, I went up to the attic to sleep. I have a feather filled mattress and pillow. Then there’s a blanket that never seemed to fail to keep me warm.
* * *
The next morning I awoke from the sound of cows. Father was downstairs. I could hear him talking to Mother. His voice was deep and Mother’s was a higher pitch. I didn’t want to get up, but I knew I had to.
When I walked downstairs, I could smell my breakfast. Father, with his big appetite, was halfway finished.
" Good morning, Father," I said. He looked up but didn’t say anything. That was strange. He was always in a good mood. But I pretended that I didn’t notice. The only other time I saw him like this was when he lost his favorite hunting knife. Suddenly I saw him look up with a grin from ear to ear.
" Your mother’s pregnant, Cam! Can you believe it?" He jumped up out of his chair. My mouth dropped open. I couldn’t believe it. My heart jumped with joy.
"Where’s Mother?" I asked.
" Outside planting flowers," Father answered.
I ran outside. Mother was pushing dirt away and putting the seeds in the ground.
She looked up. She saw the big grin across my face and knew why I was outside. She got up and hugged me.
"What are you gonna call the baby?"
"Well, only God knows what it’s going to be, so your father and I chose a name for a boy and girl."
"What are they?"
"If it’s a boy, it will be William, and if it’s a girl, it will be Ann."
I didn’t know what to say. I just stood there filled with excitement.
" Now go eat your breakfast," Mother told me as she shoved me to the door a little. I walked into the house, sat down, and ate.
* * *
Later that day, Mother told me to run to the Manier’s tavern down the road.
"Get some beer," she said. She handed me a jug and a shilling. I opened the door and walked outside.
It was a beautiful day. The sun was shining and birds were singing. I walked along the road and saw the tavern up ahead. When I got inside, I saw my best friend Sarah Parker.
" Hi Cam," she said. Sarah was as old as I was, 11. She had light brown hair that fell down to her shoulders.
" Hello Sarah."
" What are you doing here?" Sarah asked.
" I’m getting beer for my mother."
" Oh," Sarah said." Well, I work here with Mr. Manier."
I had forgotten. Mrs. Manier had died last month.
" Here, give me that jug." I handed Sarah the jug. When she came back, she set the jug on the counter. I paid her the shilling. Then she asked, " Did you hear about the battle between the British and us?"
"Yes," I said.
" Did you hear about how they lost a lot of men?"
" Who?"
" The Redcoats."
" What?"
" The Redcoats, or the British. Actually it sounded like we had lost, but when them Lobsterbacks were marching back, we shot back at them."
" Who?"I asked. She kept calling the British something other than British.
" The British, Cam."
" Oh," I answered. By the way Sarah was talking, she sounded bloodthirsty.
" I don’t understand what this is all about anyway," I said.
" Me neither," Sarah answered. " But, since I work here now, I can listen to people’s conversations and find out information about this war. I’ll tell you if I do find something."
" Okay then," I replied. " I’ll see you later then."
Sarah waved, and I left.
CHAPTER 2
That night I told everybody about what Sarah had told me. Father and I are Patriots, as for mother; she’s not a Tory or a Patriot. Father was saying, "We’ll have another battle and win!" Mother said this was a bunch of nonsense and that the Patriots were acting like children. Mother had a bit of Quaker in her. She didn’t like wars, but since she was only a little bit Quaker, she said, "We only need to fight if it’s absolutely necessary."
The next day Mr. Manier asked me if I wanted to help him and Sarah at the tavern. Mother and Father talked about it. I knew I wasn’t supposed to interrupt, but I couldn’t hold it in.
"Please!" I pleaded. "I would love to do it; plus it would get me out from under your feet and I can get myself money."
"I don’t have a problem with it, Martha?" Father said.
Mother looked at Father then me.
"He is getting old enough. Well, if you’re alright with it, Dan, I am."
"Yes!" I cried. "Thank you, Mother, Father."
I started running toward the tavern. By the way I was grinning, Mr. Manier and Sarah knew my mother and father had agreed.
Later that day Sarah coaxed me into the back room. "You know that battle I told you about yesterday?" Sarah asked. Her eyes were red from crying.
"Yes."
"Well, I didn’t find out till this evening when I ran to my house."
"What?" I asked.
"Clark’s dead!" she answered.
"Clark!" I cried. Clark was Sarah’s brother.
"He was stabbed by a bayonet in the stomach. He then lay under a tree screaming for six hours." She stopped talking and started weeping. I put my hand on her shoulder to calm her down. But she couldn’t.
Suddenly Mr. Manier burst in. "Come on, children." He stopped, looking at Sarah.
"Are you okay, Sarah?"
"Yes sir," Sarah answered.
"Okay, three men are waiting for their dinner." He shut the door. Sarah rubbed her eyes. She then gave me a grin.
"Come on," I said.
CHAPTER 3
"You must be lying, Cam," Father said.
"No, Father, I’m not. Clark was killed."
"Darn Redcoats!" Father cried. "Samantha and Leif must feel horrible."
"I’m going to make them a cake," Mother said. I hadn’t noticed that she was there.
The next day I went to the Parker’s house. Mrs. Parker opened the door. Her eyes were blood red. You could tell she was fighting to hold back the tears.
"Hello, Camron," she said in a choking kind of voice.
"Good morning, Mrs. Parker." I didn’t want to mention Clark, so instead I said, "My mother made this cake for you."
Mrs. Parker took the cake and smiled at me. "Thank you, Camron, and tell your family I said thank you."
"I will, Mrs. Parker, and if you need anything, come to our house and we’ll help you."
"Thank you," Mrs. Parker said.
"Bye now," I said.
"Good bye."
Mrs. Parker closed the door.
I then ran down to the tavern. I was surprised to see Sarah there.
"Morning, Cam," she said. I could tell she was in a better mood.
"Hello," I said. I then quickly got ready for customers.
For lunch, Sarah had made venison stew from the deer that Mr. Fairchild had shot. While I was eating, two customers came in.
"Get us something to eat and drink, boy!" the man demanded.
"Yes sir," I replied. I got them stew and rum. While they were eating, I heard them talking about colonists gathering forces. I didn’t get too excited because I didn’t want them to know I was eavesdropping.
"Get us a room, boy," said the other stranger.
They had an unfamiliar accent. And when they got up, I saw a GR in very small print on their boots. I then showed them up to their room.
"Thank you, lad," said one of the men. When I left, I went to Mr. Manier.
"Do you know what GR stands for?" I asked.
"Yes," said Mr. Manier. "It stands for George Rex. It’s the symbol that the British wear."
"And do British have a strange accent?" I asked. "What does it sound like?"
"It sounds a wee bit like this my lad," said Mr. Manier in the exact same way the men talked.
"Well, there are some men out there that speak like that."
That seemed to catch Mr. Manier’s attention.
"And they have GR on their boots, very…."
Before I could finish, Mr. Manier had shoved a pistol in my hand.
"If those men come down and try to hurt you and Sarah," he paused, "shoot them."
"But why, sir?"
"They could be spies for the British, Camron."
Then he ran out the door.
* * *
When Mr. Manier came back, my father, Mr. Parker, Mr. Fairchild, Mr. Pratt, and Mr. Sensus were with him.
Sarah was right next to me with wide eyes. Everyone carried a musket.
"What room are they in, Cam?" Mr. Parker asked.
"The second to your right."
"Okay men, let’s go!" Mr. Fairchild whispered.
They walked up the stairs. We heard the bang of a door coming down, then shouting. A few minutes later, everyone came down. Mr. Fairchild and Father were holding onto the men. They were tied up.
One man looked at me with an angry face.
"You good for nothing…" But before he could finish, Mr. Fairchild had punched him.
"Put something across their mouths," Mr. Pratt said. Mr. Sensus and Mr. Pratt gave them handkerchieves. They tied them across their mouths.
"We’ll put them in the old jailhouse," said Mr. Parker.
"That’s where they belong!" my father replied.
CHAPTER 4
Later that day, I found Mr. Manier writing something.
"What are you writing?" I asked.
"Oh, just a letter to the General about those boys we caught."
"Oh."
""I suppose they’ll send someone over to get them."
"What will they do to them?"
"Hang’um or shoot’um, something," Mr. Manier answered.
"Is it possible they’re innocent?" I asked.
"Yes, very possible."
I didn’t ask anything else. Instead, Mr. Manier handed me the letter. "Would you read this please?" Mr. Manier asked.
I looked down at the letter.
Dear General Putnam,
I work at a tavern in Sadbury. While I was in a different room, my assistant, Camron Jefferson, let some British spies into a room. They were dressed up in farmers’ clothes so he didn’t know they were spies. But when they stood up, he saw in very small print, GR (George Rex) on their boots. When I found out, I gathered up some men and we captured them. They claim their names are John and Tim. We have put them in the old prison. We thought it should be your decision as for what to do with them.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Jonah Manier
"It’s good," I said.
"Honestly?"
"Yes!"
"Good!"
Chapter 5
Three weeks had now passed since the capture of the spies. On Friday afternoon, I went outside to think. While it was hot, clouds filled the sky, making it overcast.
Suddenly I heard the thumping of a horse, then the squeaking of a buggy. Finally two men came into view. You could tell they were in the army. Their clothes were torn, but they seemed to be in good health.
They stopped by Mr. Manier’s tavern. Suddenly it hit me! These soldiers were here to get the spies. I ran over to the tavern.
When I got in, the two men were sitting at a table talking to Mr. Manier. I could see Sarah washing dishes. She looked grim and angry.
The men looked up at me.
"Is this Camron Jefferson?" one asked.
"Yes, sir," I said. I couldn’t help from smiling.
"Cam, this is Sgt. Handford and this is Private Wald."
I shook their hands.
"Nice to meet you," I said.
I looked over at Sarah. Her angry face was gone. She was giggling. I knew she was laughing at me. I probably sounded stupid.
"Now," said Sgt. Handford, "let’s go get those Lobsterbacks!"
They all walked out, while I looked at Sarah.
"You were laughing at me, weren’t you!" I said sarcastically.
Sarah turned around; she was blushing.
"I couldn’t help it. You sounded crazy over there," she said.
I looked out the window. Sgt. Handford and Private Wald were shoving the spies out of the old prison. They got the buggy and put them inside. Then they locked it. The buggy was unusual. It was brown, and the door in the back had a tiny window made up of bars.
When the soldiers and Mr. Manier got inside, Sarah gave them food for the trip back and some leftovers for the prisoners.
"Thank you, young lady," said Private Wald.
"You’re welcome," Sarah said.
"We’d better get going, Private. We’ve got a long way to go."
"Yes, sir."
"Good day," said Sgt. Handford.
We waved. When they got out of sight, we got back to business.
* * *
Sunday came; I got up and came downstairs. Father was eating breakfast. Since it was the Sabbath, the porridge was cold, but I didn’t complain. The rest of the day was uneventful until suppertime.
" I think we should invite the Parkers over tomorrow for dinner," Mother said. My fork was half way to my mouth, but instead of finishing, I left my fork like that looking like a statue.
" Do you have a problem with that, Camron?" Mother asked. She was looking at me. I shoved the food into my mouth.
"No," I answered with my mouth full. Mother rolled her eyes.
" I think it would be a great idea, Martha," Father said.
I grinned.
* * *
As soon as I got to the tavern the next day, I asked Sarah about supper.
" I’ll go home and ask," she said. Then she raced off. Sarah lived about five minutes away from the tavern.
When Sarah returned, I asked her, " What’d they say?"
" They said they would," she answered excitedly.
CHAPTER 6
That night at 6:30, Mr. and Mrs. Parker came with Sarah following behind.
Mother was cooking beef from a cow that father had butchered a few days before.
Mrs. Parker sniffed the air.
" Smells wonderful, Martha."
" Thank you."
Father and Mr. Parker had been best friends for as long as they could remember.
"Hello, Leif," Father cried.
"Dan."
They shook hands but suddenly they switched gears and were talking seriously about the war. I was surprised the Parkers could speak of Clark. Suddenly I felt a pull on my arm.
"Come on, Cam, let’s go look at that picture with the ship," Sarah whispered.
I never understood what was in the picture that made Sarah like it. It pretty much was just a ship out in the water. Father had bought it for Mother on their anniversary. It was a much larger painting than usual.
"Come on."
"Okay, okay, fine," I replied.
We walked down to the picture. When we got there, Sarah said, "I’ve been studying this every time I come here, and I’ve noticed the mast is a handle."
"What!"
"Look how the mast sticks out more than the rest of the picture."
I squinted. Sarah was right; it looked like a mountain compared to the rest of the picture.
"Do you see it?" Sarah asked.
" Of course, I can see it!"
"Do you want to check it out?"
"No!" I cried. "Who would want to pull that handle? For all I know, there could be one of my ancestors in there!"
"Come on!" Sarah said with a mischievous look. "Don’t be such a baby!"
Two things came to my head. One, I didn’t want to show fear in front of a girl. And two, Sarah would keep bribing me to do it anyway.
"Okay!" I agreed.
"Okay!" Sarah said. "One, Two, Three!"
Sarah pulled with all her might. The picture swung forward leaving the mouth of the passage open.
"It’s too dark to go in without a light," Sarah said.
I nodded. "I’ll be right back."
When I came back, I had a candle and handed it to her.
"Ready?" Sarah asked.
"Ready!" I said.
"Okay. Leave the painting open just in case…"
"Yes," I agreed.
Sarah got into the square passage. She looked back.
"Cam, if we do find one of your ancestors, you can shake hands."
I gave her a look and she grinned.
Sarah moved up the passage.
"You can get in now," Sarah called back.
I climbed in. The passage floor hurt me knees. The rafters were a dullish brown from age. I followed Sarah. Suddenly she stopped.
"What’s wrong?" I asked.
"Nothing," Sarah called back. "There’s just a ladder."
"Are you going to go down it, or are you just going to sit there?" I asked.
""I will wait."
Sarah turned back and handed me the candle. "Hold onto this while I climb down."
I didn’t answer.
She started climbing down the ladder.
"I hope there aren’t any rats down here," she said.
I laughed. I knew she hated rats.
"Shut up, Cam."
That made me laugh even harder.
"Hmph!"
"Just go down the ladder, Sarah!" I said.
After about ten seconds, I heard a THUMP.
"Okay Cam," I heard Sarah whisper.
I started to climb down. I carefully handed Sarah the candle. The ladder squeaked under my weight. After about twenty seconds, I touched the floor.
The light flickered across the walls. It was a small room, about 7 feet by 8 feet. There was only a tiny chair.
" See one of your ancestors in here, Cam?" Sarah asked.
I growled. I found a pebble on the floor. I skipped it by Sarah’s foot.
"What was that noise?" Sarah asked.
Then an idea came into my head to get Sarah back.
"It was probably a rat!" I said.
Sarah ignored me.
"Let’s go. It’s probably time to eat," Sarah said.
She handed me the candle and we climbed out.
CHAPTER 7
Wednesday came. In the middle of the afternoon, a man came riding into town. He stopped by the tavern.
When he came in, he asked, "Where’s the tavern keeper?"
I showed him where Mr. Manier was. Mr. Manier and the stranger talked for about fifteen minutes before they came out.
"Cam, Sarah, this is Private ConRay. Private, this is Cam and this is Sarah," Mr. Manier introduced us.
Private ConRay smiled. "Do you think you can get me a room?" he asked.
I nodded.
I found a room for him and he thanked me.
When I came back downstairs, Mr. Manier said, "ConRay told me there was a battle at Breed’s Hill the other day. We lost, but we also made the British Army weak. I’ll be off around town spreading the news, okay?"
"Okay," Sarah and I said.
Mr. Manier left. Sarah sat there in awe.
"I never knew the war would go on like this," Sarah said.
That night Father and Mother talked about the war. "I don’t want to hear anything else about this war," Mother said.
CHAPTER 8
The next morning, Mr. Sensus came galloping back into town. He tethered his horse and raced into the tavern.
"Cam, five British soldiers are coming! We need to hide ConRay!" he said.
Then an idea came to my mind.
"Sarah, we could hide him in the passage!"
"Good idea, Cam!"
"Mr. Sensus, bring down Private ConRay and follow us!" I said.
Mr. Sensus and Private ConRay came running down the stairs.
"Follow me!" I cried.
The men and Sarah followed me. One by one, we ran into my house. My mother just stood there in awe.
"Cam! What are you doing?" she yelled.
"It’s a long story! I’ll tell you later!" I called back.
We soon came to the picture. I pulled the handle. I then climbed into the passageway.
"Follow me!"
Private ConRay and Mr. Manier followed. Sarah stayed behind to tell Mother what was going on.
We all climbed down the ladder, and there was the room, just as we had found it.
"You’ll stay here until I say!" I said. "I’ll bring you food and water."
"Okay," Private ConRay said.
When Mr. Manier and I came out of the passage, I found Father waiting outside the door.
"How did you find out about that, Cam?" he asked.
"Sarah was the one who found it, why?"
"Never mind," Father said. "I heard what was going on, so it’s okay for him to stay here under one condition. He must not come out."
"Yes, Father."
"Good!"
******
The soldiers came to town at dawn. They started checking houses for Continentals. They hadn’t gotten to our house yet, so I decided to bring Private ConRay supper. Mother had made soup. I carefully dipped the ladle into the pot and poured it into the bowl. I then went into the passage and opened the door and got in. But suddenly I felt a pulling at my feet. I dropped the soup and fell into the hallway. I then got up. A British soldier! He grunted and walked toward the passage with his musket out and ready. He knew what was in there! Oh no! But then out of the corner of my eye, I saw Father’s pistol. I picked it up and pointed it at him. When the British soldier saw it, he picked up his musket and pointed it at me. But without thinking, I pulled the trigger first. A sound filled the house, but I didn’t hear it because I was on the ground screaming. "I killed a man," I thought. "So this is how it feels to kill a man."
CHAPTER 9
"Cam, Cam," my mother’s voice awakened me.
I had been unconscious.
"Mother, what happened! I killed a man! What-"
"Your father’s dead Camron Jefferson."
I started crying.
"The British soldiers did it after you killed the other one."
I started cursing and crying at the same time.
"Hush, Camron, hush."
It was now almost November when my sibling was ready to be born. It was 5:00 at night. I couldn’t leave Mother alone to go find a doctor or someone else to help. So I would have to do it myself. Hours went by as I helped Mother. Six hours went by. The baby was finally born. I had a new baby sister Ann.
EPILOGUE
It’s been 30 years since Ann was born. Mother is in her late 60’s. I am 41. I stayed in town until my early twenties and married an elegant wife named Mary. Sarah is still living in Sadbury. We are planning to go to her house next weekend. I wrote this down to see how much she could remember from 1775. When the war ended in 1781, everyone was back to his or her normal selves. But for me, I spend my days from dawn to dusk thinking about freedom and how much it costs.
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