LOUISA - Chapters Twenty Five and Twenty Six ©

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE  ©

MUDDY WORK 

The dawn of a New Year saw many sleepy bodies drag themselves from their beds.

Louisa met all her children over the breakfast table and suggested that they start the year with a picnic by the river.

All in agreement they were soon loaded with all the necessities for a lovely day in the wagon, and the short trip to the banks of the river.

It was here that John broached the subject of his plans for the new year.

“Mumma, I am now fourteen and I have enjoyed the mail run and I appreciate you getting it for me, I really do. But I want to work in town. There is a job going at the new building site of Royal Hotel. Can I apply for it, please Mumma, George could do the mail run, it would be good for him.”

Louisa smiled to herself, she could hear Alfred’s bargaining skills, in his voice. Trust him to appeal to her commonsense and promote his brother’s development at the same time.

“All right son, if this is what your heart is so set on, I can’t refuse you any longer. Yes you may apply for the job.”

“Thank you Mumma, it is only a rouse-about job, but I am sure it will lead to other things,” he replied as he enveloped her in one of his bear hugs.

The following week John was accepted to work for the builder of the Royal Hotel. He was in his element and enjoyed the menial tasks that were set for him. Always looking forward to the day when he would be able to move up the ladder and maybe have something to do with actual building. Louisa had never seen her fourth son so happy.

“John, you best hurry up, you will be late for work. The road is going to be muddy. So give yourself plenty of time,” calling upstairs from the kitchen, where she was preparing breakfast, Louisa added another tart to his pack for the ride into work.

The long drought had finally broken. It had been raining for over a week. There had been four and a half inches recorded in town.[18]

He would be covered in mud when he arrived. She thought of his childhood, she couldn’t remember a day when he hadn’t worked. She wondered if he would have liked to go to school, to play football with mates.

“Bye Mumma,” John planted a quick kiss on her cheek as he dashed out the door.

The day passed as most of her days did now. She was content with her life, she was a successful Publican and liked the company that her regulars provided. Thinking about her life she realised that she would always keep herself to herself, she would never be hurt with the loss of a spouse again. She could’t face it.

John still wasn’t home. She thought he had probably decided to stay in town again because of the muddy roads. She didn’t like him working on the Sabbath, but his boss had asked him to cleanup the building site as it had been awash with mud and building had been held up the last week with all the rain.

Oh well, she thought, he wouldn’t have such a muddy trip for work tomorrow.

18 Gunnedah. (1890, March 1). Australian Town and Country Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1870 - 1907), p. 15. Retrieved May 27, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71108542

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX  ©

WHEN WOULD IT END

Bang, bang, bang! It’s still dark! Who could be at the door? Rubbing her eyes Louisa grabbed her housecoat, rushing to open the front door. A policeman stood on the verandah.

Dear God no! It can’t be John, can it? Grabbing hold of the door frame her legs began to shake uncontrollably.

“Mrs Engstrom, there has been an accident, John is in hospital, you need to come quickly.”

“I won’t be more than two minutes, Officer,” turning on her heel, she rushed down the hall to throw on her dress and coat. True to her word Louisa appeared outside and climbed into the Officer’s buggy a few minutes later.

Listening to the policeman on the journey into town, Louisa’s gave up trying to keep her tears in check. John had been clearing the building site. While carrying wood he had slipped in the mud, crashing down the incline, with the roughly hewn wood going everywhere. By the time his employer had reached him, he was screaming in pain with a large piece of wood sticking out the side of his face. He thankfully, lost consciousness, before being taken to the hospital.⁠[19]


Not mincing his words the officer explained the piece of wood had torn his jaw and cheek, causing him to lose a lot of blood.


Four days later, in great agony, John gave up his battle.[20] His dreams for life ended on 19 February 1890, as just dreams.[21] Louisa never left her son’s side. I should never have let him take that job. I should protect my children! He was only fourteen years old.


Tears streaming down her face, she clung to his hand. Oh my dear Johnny. Now I have to bury you too, beside your father and step-father!

When would it end?

19 Gunnedah. (1890, March 1). Australian Town and Country Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1870 - 1907), p. 15. Retrieved May 27, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71108542

20 Gunnedah. (1890, March 1). Australian Town and Country Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1870 - 1907), p. 15. Retrieved May 27, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71108542 

21 Australia, Death Index, 1787-1985 for John Brandt (Provo, UT, USA, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010), http://www.ancestry.com.au.