CHAPTER SEVEN
JUST ALFRED NOW ©
“Are we all ready,” Louisa asked yet another time. Getting out of the Inn with seven children on her own was proving quite a challenge. She had never gone anywhere with all of them on her own before. Alfred had always been there to go with her or look after them while she went on her own or just with a couple of them.
Jasper, whinnied, again, stomping his feet on the ground impatiently. Louisa knew that he had been hitched to the wagon for long enough without movement and was eager to begin the journey.
There was a chorus of “Yes” from the back of the wagon and from Magnus, holding Ethel, beside her. It was Magnus who could keep Ethel occupied and Alfred Jr, would keep the rest of the boys under control for the seven miles into town.
Clip. clop, clip clop. Her thoughts once again wandered along memories of the past.......
“Are you sleeping, are you sleeping? Brother John, Brother John...” the boys were in full voice and went from the verse with John to include all their names. Ethel squealing with delight at their antics, clapping her hands whenever they stopped. "Ten green bottles, hanging on the wall...” was the next in their repertoire, sung at the top of the voices, with very little tune. But it made for a joyous trip into town! Sometimes grief has happy times too, she thought.
Gunnedah was a town like most other towns in 1883. Long dusty roads and buildings scattered throughout the area, with the usual Public Houses. Louisa thought of Alfred’s claim, as why Sugarloaf Inn was such a great buy. Being on the main road into Gunnedah it was in a prime position for travellers, offering lodgings and of course liquid refreshments. The ideal place to attract travellers before they reached town. It had proved him wise in his choice as business had always been good.
As Louisa drove along the road the thought struck her that she didn’t know where she was going. Where was the the Undertaker’s Office in town.
As she approached the Post Office, she pulled up with stern instructions for the children to stay put. The bell over the door announced her arrival as she entered.
“Oh Mrs Brandt, dear, such a terrible business. How are you bearing up, such a terrible accident. I knew when I heard... “
“I’m sorry Mrs Macey, I just popped in to ask where I would find the Undertakers?” Louisa interrupted her before she could elaborate on the many ills of drink and Public Houses. She couldn’t listen to it today, of all days.
“Oh of course dear. You will find him beside the GeneraL Store. Of course he may not be there, seeing as it is time for a cuppa, but then again he may...”
“Thank you, I will make my way straight there, just in case,” Louisa hurried from the store.
Just down the road, she pulled up in front of the General Store.
“Alfred Jr, here is a penny, I want you to take the children and buy them each a sweetie at the General Store. Then go down to the end of the road where the old big gum tree stands beside the Public House and let the children have a play. Take this basket, if I am away a long time, there is some bread and cheese and milk for your lunch. I hope I won’t be too long.”
“Mam,” he replied, “if I am now the man of the house, shouldn’t I be just Alfred now?” With a lump in her throat Louisa smiled and nodded her head.
As they went their seperate ways Louisa found herself silently asking her Alfred to give her strength to face whatever was in store for her. Here she was nearly thirty five and she didn’t really know about death. Of course she had seen her share, especially on the gold fields, but this was different. The death of someone who was a piece of her, a piece of her heart and soul, she just didn’t know how she would face the ordeal in front of her. When she was surrounded by the children it was a different matter, she could not break down in front of them.
But now entering the Undertaker’s door, all she wanted to do was curl up on the verandah and weep.
CHAPTER EIGHT
TEARS AND TREACLE TARTS ©
“Good morning Madam, can I help you?” he asked.
“Good morning Sir, my name is Louisa Brandt and I am Alfred Brandt’s wife, I mean widow.”
As he rose and came around the desk, she noticed his suit was old and in need of a good clean.
“My name is William Douglas, I am very sorry for your loss, Mrs Brandt.6 I assume you are here to make arrangements for your husband’s burial. Please take a seat.”
Louisa looked around as she sat in the only other chair available.The room was small and dingy with only the light from a small window illuminating his desk. Covering the desk were numerous newspapers of various vintages and areas.
Seeing her confusion Mr Douglas explained, “I am from Tamworth, Madame, you are fortunate that I am here this month. I also work for the Tamworth Newspaper assisting with their editing.”
Handing her a newspaper he sat down “I brought this with me, it has an article about the accident, that I thought you might be interested in.”7
The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser (NSW : 1843 - 1893) Tue 31 Jul
As tears streamed down her face, she thought, pull yourself together woman, you can’t let this man see you crying. What will he think? You have to do this, you have to organise Alfred’s funeral. He won’t take you seriously if you can’t string two words together.
Swallowing down her panic, she dried her eyes and prepared herself for the ordeal that was to come.
“When can I bury Alfred, Mr Douglas? I need to do right by him and send him off with respect. I really don’t know about these things, what am I going to do?” bursting into tears, despite her stern talking to herself.
While Louisa composed herself, Mr Douglas fussed around her, turning papers over, sitting and standing up numerous times, giving her the space she needed.
“My dear Mrs Brandt, the Magistrate has released your husband’s body to me this morning. I can arrange for the funeral to take place whenever you say.”8
“Can we have it tomorrow,” she replied, “ I don’t like to think of Alfred being kept waiting. He was never an overly patient man, but a good man, non the less and I want to see this business over and done with for the sake of the children. They need to move on and the funeral may help with this.”
The Undertaker sat down at his desk again and proceeded to tell Louisa what was needed. He assured her that he would handle all the details for her, once she let him know where and when she wanted Alfred buried.
An hour later Louisa left his office and headed back down the road to the children.
“Mumma, Mumma,” she noted George was the first to see her coming. She guessed that he had appointed himself as the lookout for her. He was not one to handle her being away for too long. As she pulled the wagon up and dismounted, George threw his chubby arms around her knees, almost causing her to lose her balance. But it was such a welcome normality after the last hour she scooped him up in her arms as she headed for the other children.
They all tried to tell her at once about the wonderful treat they had each bought at the General Store. Little Ethel tottered over to her indicating she wanted to be picked up.
“My goodness baby girl, is there any part of you that isn’t sticky? Whatever you have been eating looks absolutely delicious. Was it a treacle tart by any chance?”
Louisa laughed as Ethel held up her sticky hands and puckered up for a kiss with a brown sticky mouth and chin.
Then she saw the rest of her brood. There wasn’t a clean face among them! She also realised that her dress from the knees down was circled in the same mess, from her hug from George.
“We best get you all home and in the tub.”
6 Australia, Death Index, 1787-1985, Index Reg#8157 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010, Name of Undertaker, accessed 18 August 2015 , http://www.ancestry.com.au
7 The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser (NSW: 1843-1893) T8ue July 1883, p. 5, ,Retrieved May 26, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article906393
8 New South Wales, Australia, Registers of Coroners' Inquests, 1821-1937 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc, State Archives NSW; Series: 2924; Item: 4/6618; Roll: 343, http://www.ancestry.com.au.
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