The sea captains wife by SAREJESS (books for 8th graders .TXT) 📖

Some where with in the great house three boys were waking for Tom Sterley every day was an adventure for he was filled with the joys that the young have so freely available tot hem this morning his friends George and Peter Parker were still sleeping and he had taken it into his head to wet them with a bucket of ice cold water this he did not out of evil intent but rather because he was board and the Parkers had overslept and he wished them now to be awake for it was time to be abroad and playing there was a lake full of fish and fowl to hunt.

Tossing the water upon the lads as they slept evoked a roar of protest from the brothers Parker who now like ghosts rose from the sheets covered in bed linen and wet night shirts.

Chapter 3

It is a strange thing to know that a heart that beat with bravery was now cold the funeral barge now proceeding down the river to Westminster carrying last mortal remains of the brave sea lord who had given so much for England now nothing more then a husk. Sir Thomas was in a thoughtful frame of mind as he watched the procession from the quarter deck of HMS Romulus below standing with heads bowed the crew no doubt also spent a moment in reflection on who would now fill the gap left by the titan who had walked among them. For after all Nelson it was felt was the friend of every man jack for he had always had a kind word for those who served under him.

Sir Thomas had always been of the opinion that one should take that which is good in another man and try to improve ones own character by emulating that behaviour, thus Sir Thomas endeavoured very much the attitudes and manner of Nelson when he addressed the tars for all his efforts HMS Romulus was a happy ship and it was seldom that any man was made to kiss the gunners daughter for Sir Thomas had an aversion to flogging he abjured the fact that a majority of Navel officers still held to the old ways such as flogging as a young midshipman many years earlier he had witnessed the death of an old salt the manner of the poor mans death was so violent that when he some times thought about it he still shuddered for it had been a fine day when the ship upon which he had been serving had come under a most unfortunate set of winds that it had almost been lost old captain Bosworth had been so angry that he had summoned the crew up on deck and had the helmsman strapped to the gun the beating which the man endured was one which was a common sight but one which the young Sir Thomas had not been accustomed he knew that his father punished wrong doers but had never first hand witnessed such punishment. The whip having been used upward of thirty times had long since drawn away the mans skin exposing the soft flesh of his back. By unfortunate accident one of the ends of the whip hooked the flesh and tore away a piece of flesh which fly skywards and landed on young Thomas's face. as an office he was duty bound to stand fast until the crew had been dismissed after the flogging he found it exceptionally difficult to do so and only by the utmost use of his will power did he mange to do so he promised himself on that day that if he ever became captain he would never use the whip as a punishment unless it was under exceptional circumstances.

The funeral over Sir Thomas dismissed the crew to go about their business while he made ready for a most interesting evening for Sir Thomas and his beloved wife Ann had been invited to a grand ball to be held at Carlton house home of Prince George. Admittedly the prince and Sir Thomas did not find much occasion to like each other for neither could find it with in themselves to flow forth with feelings of friendship since a certain event some months previously when by unlucky fortune they had both bet against each other over a certain nobleman's actions both predicting a certain outcome thereafter the noble man had acted quite differently to both of there predictions whereupon each believed the other to have had a hand in it. Thus the prince and Sir Thomas were no longer friends. Lady Ann had warned Sir Thomas at the time that to bet against the prince was folly but he had done it any way thus the result was a friendship which the two men had been in together since their youths was now over.

However tonight was going to be different if the prince as it was rumoured was in of his benevolent moods then mayhap there was a chance of happy reunion where brotherly love might once more beat in the hearts of both men. It was more likely that this would not happen for Lady Ann was of the opinion that this would be one of those occasions when the prince would once again publicly humiliate Sir Thomas. for the prince had of late sort out every occasion to do this much to the anger of Sir Thomas and the sorrow of Lady Ann for she loved her husband and took it as a personal affront when he was insulted.

Sir Thomas and Lady Ann had taken apartments at Whitehall for the funeral and it was to the same that Sir Thomas now hurried for it was still early in the evening and he had hopes of partaking of a small meal with his wife before they repaired to Carlton house for the prince was notorious for keeping the guests with whom he spent the evening waiting until half past One o'clock in the morning before allowing the dinner to be served.

The snow had fallen and it was a bitterly cold the streets of London were dangerous the snow had melted and frozen again into had packed ice leaving the ground black and smooth causing the unwary pedestrian and coach driver alike prey to slipping and falling a number of horses had already fallen in the road in front of Whitehall there anguished cries mercifully cut short by a pistol shot to the brain. Sir Thomas had warned taken note of this condition and had accordingly warned Joel the family’s coach driver to take the utmost care of how he traverse the streets lest any of the horses pulling the coach fall victim to the ice. Thomas’s concern for the safety of the horses was also connected with the safety of his wife and the unborn child she carried. For an accident in the street could be a violent affair and could result in the loss of the unborn child if the carriage became unstable and rolled.

The carriage stopped outside Carlton house at 8 o’clock in the evening, Sir Thomas escorted Lady Ann up the staircase and into the grand entrance here footmen and other servants stood ready to take the cloaks and coats from the guests. Who greed of their heavy clothing moved to the ball room where servants moved through the crowd of invited guests with trays of drinks.

The ball room was splendid with a thousand candles lighting the room the mirrors on the high roof reflecting the light down in to the ballroom. Here gentlemen dressed in a vast array of uniforms danced with their female companions who were for the most part dressed in white, pink or red gowns.

The air was filled with a heavy sent of perfumes as many at the ball had taken the precaution of using au de colon to hide the smell of their unwashed bodies. It was a well known fact that the price liked to gamble and it was in one of the pallor’s that the prince was now to be found dressed this night In a uniform of his own design his vast bulk covered in an extravagant jacket which stretched to his waist but also open to display a splendid mauve shirt which was tucked into a pair of white breeches which proceeded down a very expensive pair of leather boots. The price it seemed was sharing a joke with a close companion who was lapping up every word.

It seemed now that Sir Thomas and Lady Ann like many others would have to wait until midnight to partake of the meal promised in the mean time the couple danced a little and when Lady Ann grew tired she sat and spoke with other ladies present whilst the gentlemen partook of a game of whist which had been laid out in the pallor where the prince had made himself at hom
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Publication Date: 03-30-2010

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