The CBB :: View topic - In the shadow of the Minster (long but complete)

In the shadow of the Minster (long but complete)

#1: In the shadow of the Minster (long but complete) Author: Squirrel, Location: St-Andrews or Dunfermline

Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2005 4:28 pm

Just to be on the safe side this is going in here. Part of it is my difficulty in keeping it to a level that a girl of her age might have written - please bear in mind that she is very well read of all kinds of books - and adults are not always as discreet as they might be.

I was little older than Rachel is when an aunt talked about visiting people, and worrying about her waters breaking. Also TV more recently is relatively graphic, so it is possible to have a surface knowledge of these kinds of things without knowing about it in proper detail.

Ok, enough explanation, on with the story.

Chapter

“In the shadow of the Minster, Rosemary walked along past the tall building that was the Minster.

”St Michael le Belfry didn’t look much if you were comparing it to the vast building towering above it, but Rosemary didn’t bother about that one. It cut off a bit of sun, and yes, it might have some architectural fancy playing about. There was no doubting that it was advanced for its times, but Rosemary by far preferred her own church. Well, to start off with it was hers.

”Moving quickly so as to avoid any charges of loitering Rosemary took one last glance at St Michael and then went off to her next task. Had she but known it, her daily pilgrimages to look upon the building and enjoy the peace that seemed to envelop it were not going unnoticed, and this was to create a big change in her life in the near future.

She was but a humble cloth maker in a building not far away, and she often passed the building as she went about gathering the different things that she needed to make the cloth. Her mother was the head of the house, and when she did not grumble over her daughter’s love of the Kirk, she would turn to her and remind her that she was well past marriageable age.

Yes, most of Rosemary’s friends were now their selves’ mammas, but that didn’t mean that Rosemary herself was ready to be wed. She was managing a living, even if it wasn’t the best paid kind of a living. She was better off than many of the others she visited when she could get a few hours off.

Other than on a Sunday, this was rare, but she did her best to try and make things easier on the people who were in such deep need. She was lucky that cloth was in such high demand. Many of the poor people couldn’t get employment.

The store keepers would buy the beautiful cloths that she brought them, and in the few evening hours she was often able to provide herself with the cloth she needed for clothing. It was such a long process though.

She would make herself up a die, and would then soak the wool she was going to use in the fabric in the die, to give it it’s bright colours. Then, once it had stood in the die long enough it had to be taken out and dried for 24 hours. Here again her Mother was good at making life difficult. She would complain about the smell of the wet wool, and the space that was taken up by the cloth as it dried.

Rosemary had learned just to let her complain as to try and explain about it would just encourage her to dump the wet wools on the floor, and that would mean the whole process had to be started again, as the wool would then need washed, and as the die wasn’t fast by that point, and so most of it washed out.

Rosemary had not been impressed, but it had taught her to mind her tongue when talking to her mother at any rate

However she had no time for that now. Her mother did make life difficult, and thoughts like these did intrude into Rosemary’s life more than they ought, but with the Minister coming to visit her later on today she would have to get on with her work so that she would be finished by the time he arrived. If she did not, minister or not, Mother would be making a fuss.

As she went about her work Rosemary allowed her mind to dwell on this rather more pleasant issue. Why would the minister want to talk to her? Was there perhaps someone in the village who needed some help? Perhaps if he knew that Rosemary did her best to help these people out he would come to her if one of them was in trouble and he knew that Rosemary was in a position to be able to help. Perhaps it was that. And Rosemary’s mind was already going along the different branches of economy she could practice to help that person out.

But then she recalled how serious he had looked upon her as he made his request to call on her that evening. Perhaps there was something in her conduct that displeased him. Maybe she was not attending to his sermon’s well enough, or had misunderstood his injunction to be helping the poor. It was possible that he felt she was receiving too much praise for the little she did, and not giving enough glory to God.

However that did not fit with his words, his countenance was serious, but his words had been friendly, if sad. It was possible that someone had died in the parish, and Rosemary could do some good with the people there.

Or possibly it was a home matter. The young vicar had no immediate family, but he did have relatives in the surrounding districts. It could be that he was grave because of some trouble amongst them, in which case he could be coming to talk to Rosemary about almost anything.

Sighing, she wisely put the whole subject out of her head. It was no use conjecturing. She would either drive herself to distraction with worry, or she would raise her hopes so high she would wear herself out with excitement. Neither state was any good when it came to getting work done.

So she put her mind to her work, and got on with such vim that she had cleared all she had to do that day by lunchtime. Part of that was due to the fact that she had purposefully given herself less to do in honour of the visit, and part was the rate she had worked at. She was feeling rather exhausted as she put her things away, and her Mother spoke tartly to her as she organized herself some lunch

“See, I told you, you could do that work faster if you put your mind to it child.”

Rosemary ignored the statement, and like a dutiful daughter brought her mother something to eat. She knew that she could only keep up that pace of work for so long, and she knew it more especially now that she had tried it. The work was back breaking, and had tired many a stronger constitution than Rosemary’s was.

She had just cleared away lunch when a tapping came at the door
It was of course the vicar. He was a little early for his appointment with her, and he apologised profusely for this interruption of her time.

They talked for a while, without him coming down to the real issue for his visit. Rosemary knew this because he never quite lost his uneasy look. She didn’t know how she could tell that he was on edge, but she did know it.

Eventually he decided that he had trespassed on their kindness long enough. So rising he stated that he had better go to his next call.

“And what do you plan on doing Rosemary?” he asked her, seeming rather surprised at haven spoken.

“I’m not sure” Rosemary responded. “I might go and call in on the Fletts. It’s nearing young Gretchen’s time now.”

It only took this reference to Gretchen for Rosemary’s mother to call out in annoyance. “Gretchen, bah, it was her own fault if you ask me!”

Rosemary had not felt so furious in a long time. However she was able to respond with dignity, if a little indignation,

“Mamma, you forget yourself. Now, if you must know, it was not Gretchen’s fault. She was set upon by drunken louts who decided to amuse themselves with what they termed ‘young flesh’.

“As you can imagine, it’s hard for her to talk about it, so I would ask you to keep that to yourself so that she doesn’t hear it mentioned every time she opens her door.”

“How is young Gretchen anyway?” The words were barely out of the young man’s mouth than Susanna was calling out.

”Yob’s indeed, here is the father! After all he wouldn’t be so interested in the girl and her brat if he wasn’t!”

Rosemary was sickened by these words. “Mamma, you are right that he is taking a fatherly interest in both Gretchen and her child. However I can assure you that he is Not the father of the child.

“He is taking no more interest in the young one than he has of any other in the neighbourhood. He is a father to all of them. The louts were not of this town. That I know for certain.”

Anthony looked at her in respect. It seemed that she knew his feelings on the subject of the youth in the town. He did feel like a father to them all. He made no comment however but asked “Will you allow me to accompany you to Miss Flett’s house. I have been meaning to call there for some time, but have not been able to feel sure that I should not be intruding.”

Rosemary agreed to this of course and they soon left the house, Rosemary apologising profusely for her mothers words.

“No no, my friend, you are not to blame for the bitterness in your mother’s heart. Now, can you tell me, what is planned for Gretchen when her confinement has come? I feel so sorry for this child who will be brought up without a father. If it were not far more important that he or she should have a mother than a father I should offer to adopt myself. However I am concerned. How will they survive?”

Rosemary was gratified that he had turned to her with such a question. “It has been agreed that as I am a mature woman in comparison to Gretchen, that once the child is past it’s most intense need for its mothers milk that I shall look after the child.

“Many of my friends already have 3 or 4 children. It is not so much of a hardship to me to take on one child, in my line of work, as it would be for Gretchen to have to try and care for this little one.”

These words amazed Anthony and he looked at the young woman who said that she could take on issues like these with such calm assurance with respect that he had not known before.

However they were approaching the cottage where the Fletts resided so he said nothing, merely allowing Rosemary to introduce him to Gretchen and her mother. Then when he was allowed into the chamber where Gretchen resided he knelt down and began to pray for the life and soul of both mother and child.

Just as he was about to leave, pain wracked the young girl’s body, and all barring Anthony in the room realized that her time had come.

Rosemary acted quickly, it was not suitable that a young unmarried man witness this. It was not suitable for any man to see it, but one who was young and unmarried was worse than most.

“Could you go into the other room and continue to pray?” she instructed him. Then she returned to the bedroom.

He was rather surprised when Rosemary did not join him again. For if he was young and inexperienced in these matters, so was she, and he had not expected the older women in the room to tolerate her presence in the room.

Later on, much later on she told him about how she had somehow happened to be present at most of her friends confinements, and that they had refused to let her leave the room. By this stage she had now attended so many that she was considered to be as professional as any of the elderly midwifes at delivering a child.

When he heard this he exclaimed “You? Doing something like that?” The distaste for the job was evident in his voice and she replied with a laugh. “well, yes, after all it is the only way I have been able to take part in creation so far. I count it a blessing.”

And then, in a thoughtful tone of voice “And even if I found it less than pleasant dealing with it, don’t forget that even our dear lord himself got down in the dirt and washed his disciples feet. I don’t exactly think they were just a little dusty either!”

Anthony looked at her again, his respect for her increasing by the minute. Not only did she have her own work to do, she also helped out as an impromptu midwife, and helped any family she came across who needed any extra help.

That was beside her apparent love of St Michael’s. He knew that the special peace of God was calling to her heart and now this deep, deep knowledge of the scriptures. So practical too that she was able to tell him that she did dirty jobs as a follower of Christ if for no other reason. With this final proof of her rightness for the job he had in mind he eventually got round to the reason for his visit earlier on that day.

“Rosemary, I know that you are a busy young woman, but I was wondering if you would mind putting in some time at the church. You see we are in need of someone to mind the place so that people can come in and pray when they need to know God’s presence.

“We thought that a few hours each day would do it. But we needed to have someone who could spare the time to open and close up for us, and to be in the church for any emergency. I was thinking about the correct person for this job on Saturday evening, and you came to mind.

“What I have seen today has only strengthened that opinion. Will you think about it?”

Rosemary agreed that she would, and when she got back to him it was to accept his suggestion. This was not the only outcome of her time at St Michael’s though. Within the next few years Rosemary found herself relieved of her mother’s discouraging presence, and married to Anthony Talbot, the young Vicar.

They headed their family up with Bethan Louise, who was the daughter bourn by Gretchen Fletts. The young mother saw plenty of her daughter – the adoptive parents saw to that, and she had no need to complain about the care she received.

Soon younger brothers and sisters came to join young Bethan, but still her parents cared for her as before, bringing her up as their eldest child.

And now the mists of time close round the scene. No longer can we see Rosemary, she is left to live her own life in peace. And having learned what we can from her example, it is time for us to go and lead our own lives as well.”

#2: Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent, England

Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2005 5:31 pm

Thanks, Squirrel. I really enjoyed reading this story. I'm glad Anthony and Rosemary and their children had a happy ending.

#3: Author: aitchemelle, Location: West Sussex

Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2005 5:33 pm

Oooh thank you! That was really good Very Happy

(Just a small note to say that i think dye is spellt with a y not an i, but i could be wrong?!)

#4: Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England

Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2005 8:39 pm

Lovely!

Kathy_S and I went to the Minster while on holiday but ran out of time to visit St Michael le Belfrey, though I did point it out.

Next time, we'll be sure to visit. It's so much more human (if that is the right word) than the Minster.

#5: Author: MaryR, Location: Sale Cheshire

Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2005 9:12 pm

Thank you, Squirrel, it really is the most beautiful story, and I love Rosemary. She is exquisite.

#6: Author: LL, Location: White Hart Lane - beware if you don't support Spurs :-)

Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2005 10:45 pm

Thank you Squirrel!

(dye is spelt with a y, actually)

#7: Author: Nell, Location: London, England

Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2005 9:53 am

Thank you Squirrel. That was lovely.

#8: Author: Lyanne, Location: Ipswich, England

Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2005 10:12 pm

Thank you Squirrel, I think it was well written by you (of course!), but also convincing as being written by Rachel, a modern teenager. I'm glad Rosemary got away from her mother & had a happy ending.

#9: Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries

Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2005 11:24 pm

powerful stuff Squirrel - Rosemary is an exceptionally brave young woman.

I think you've really captured the style of Rachel's writing there, which is quite different to your own natural style, if Rachel is taken as an example of that. does that make sense?

#10: Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England

Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2005 1:00 am

Thanks Squirrel

Liz

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