The Peeler

By: Will B
(© 2009-2010 by the author)
 

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It was November 4th. The three men had taken the boys to the baths, and John had escorted the three boys home.

It was mild for November and Frederick and Edward were walking a little slowly enjoying the early evening air. Williams, Joe, Nicholas, and John were slightly ahead. Frederick and Edward were passing an alley when they saw a little figure crouched against the wall.

Chapter 8

As the two men were passing, the figure stood and came forward. “Penny for the Guy? Please, sirs, a penny for the Guy?*”

“I think I have a penny,” said Edward.

“Thank you, sir. Now I have enough money so I can go home. My step-father told me not to come home until I had collected ten pence.”

“Are you going to buy some rags for the bonfire?” Frederick asked.

“Oh, no, sir. My step-father will just drink it all up at the pub. But if I don’t bring the money home, he beats me. He doesn’t care for me at all.”

“What is your name?” Edward asked.

“Paul Evans, sir?”

“How old are you, Paul?” Frederick asked.

“I’m eight, sir. I really appreciate this….I wish…I wish…I had some place else to go, but….”

“Look, Paul, I’m Frederick Fitzsimmons, and this gentleman is Edward Kent. We have a place where young boys can stay, get good food, and learn to read and write, and then be helped when they’re old enough to get a position where they can support themselves. Would you like to come with us?’

“I dunno, sir. I’ve heard about bad men who kidnap boys off the street, and take them to places where they cannot get away. Maybe I’d better not…”

Paul started to edge away, as if he were about to make a run for it.

“Wait, Paul. We’re not going to force you to come, but I’d like you to meet some other boys. Wlliams,” Frederick called, “Would you and John and Joe and Nicholas come back here for a minute, please?”

Williams and the three boys came back.

“Joe, Nicholas, John: would you explain to Paul about the school?” Frederick asked.

Before the boys could open their mouths, Williams said, “Why, bless my soul! It’s young Paul, isn’t it? I remember when I saved you from being beaten up by some ruffians! How are you?’

“Hullo, Constable Williams, I’m fine—well, I’m a little cold…these two men asked me if I wanted to come to their school to live, but I didn’t know….”

“Paul, you can trust me,” Williams said. “These are two of the finest young men I’ve ever met. Mr. Frederick is Sergeant Frederick Fitzwilliam, one of the ‘peelers,’ and Mr. Kent is an excellent teacher. They take care of young boys, give them a good education, and feed and clothe them. You’ll be absolutely safe at the school, and my sister does the cooking, so you will eat well, I promise you!”

Paul looked at Frederick and Edward and said, “I’m sorry, sirs. I just….”

“Don’t worry, Paul,” said Edward. “You were absolutely right to be cautious, but now that Mr. Williams has given us a good character, we’d still like to have you come home with us.”

“When we get there, Paul, if you’ll tell me your step-father’s name and address I’ll write him a letter telling him you’re now a student at our school, and that you won’t be returning to his house,” Frederick added.

“Thank you, Mr. Frederick. I’m happy to go with you now,” Paul said. “Uh, Constable Williams, does your sister ever make custard tarts. I like custard tarts.”

“That she does, my boy. Just you wait and taste them. And, you know, I think she was making some for supper tonight. Maybe we’d better step lively and get home before Tom and Bill eat them all up,” Williams said, with a grin.

In a few minutes everyone was at the table, tucking in to another one of Jane’s delicious suppers, and yes, there were custard tarts, enough to go around.

It was decided that since Nicholas and John had one bedroom, and Bill and Tom had another, that Joe and Paul would share a bedroom. Each bedroom had two beds, a table, two chairs, a chamber pot, a fireplace, and enough wood to keep the fire going through the night.

When the four younger boys had gone to bed, Frederick, Edward, Williams, and Jane sat talking.

“Williams, I think we need to take all of our students shopping for clothes,” Frederick said. “I want each boy to have two sets of clothes for every day, a ‘Sunday best’ suit, and enough small clothes** so they will always have clean clothes.”

“Right you are, sir. I’ll take them all tomorrow,” Williams replied.

“I have an idea,” said Edward. “Williams, why don’t you take the four younger boys in the morning while Tom and Bill have their lessons, and then in the afternoon I’ll have the four lads for their lessons and you can take Tom and Bill.”

“That would be fine, sir.”

Accordingly, after breakfast, Williams took Nicholas, Joe, Paul, and John to a clothing store where he soon had bought them what items they needed. Most men don’t like shopping for clothes, and young boys are no exception to the rule. The four behaved pretty well, but Williams could see they were getting restless and he was heartily glad when they could leave the store with their purchases.

On their way back to the School, they passed a toy shop and all four boys stood and looked at the toys on display. There were mechanical men who climbed up and down ladders; there were games that involved rolling dice or dealing cards.

‘I wish…,’ Oh! Look at that…,’  “I’d like to have…’ the boys exclaimed.

“I think you might have to wait and see what Father Christmas brings in a few weeks,” Williams said, with a chuckle. He had paid careful attention to what toy or game each boy seemed most interested in.

“I don’t think Father Christmas knows where I live. He’s never come before,” said Paul.

“Well, I don’t know,” said John Williams. “We’ll just have to wait and see.”

The boys returned home somewhat subdued as they wondered whether Father Christmas might find their home—or would he pass them by.

Their spirits were lifted considerably later that afternoon. Tom and Bill had returned with Williams, and the four younger boys were finishing their lessons with Edward, and a visitor came. It was Charles Dickens, and he was carrying a sheaf of foolscap papers.

“Hello, all,” he said.

“Mr. Dickens, Mr. Dickens, huzzah!” cried the boys who knew him and Paul looked on curiously.

“Good to see you, Charles. How are you?” Frederick asked.

“Never better, my friend. I’ve brought you the first chapter of my new book, Oliver Twist. It will be published in the papers tomorrow, but I thought you might like to see a copy ahead of time.”

Jane came in with the tea tray. Tom and Bill had bought a number of new items of clothing, in which they promptly lost interest as they greeted their visitor, and then sat down to enjoy their tea.

“Please, sir,” Paul asked. Are you Father Christmas?”

“No, I’m afraid not,” Dickens said, but if I see him I’ll tell him to be sure to stop here on Christmas Eve, after all good boys are in bed asleep, really asleep, mind you!”

Four young pairs of eyes grew large. ‘What if they couldn’t sleep? Would Father Christmas pass them by?’ each one wondered.

John, a little more curious—or perhaps a little more fearful than the rest—said, “Please, sir. What happens to little boys who aren’t good?”

“Oh,” said the author, “He may just leave them a lump of coal or two!”

“I’d like to have a little more coal in my bedroom,” said Tom. “Bill, here, likes to sleep with the windows wide open, even in November! I like to be nice and warm myself.”

“Bet you wish you had Sally, Dr. Buchanan’s maid to….,” Bill started to say,

“AHEM!” Five scandalized adults stared at Bill, who knew he had said the wrong thing.

“That kind of talk does not belong in my parlor,” said Jane. Don’t let me hear you…”

“Yes, Miss Jane,” said an abashed Bill.

 All too soon Dickens left, and everyone sat while Frederick, Edward, and John Williams took turns reading aloud the first chapter of Oliver Twist. Several pairs of eyes were tear-filled, and several noses had to be blown as they finished listening to the chapter.

Nicholas stood up and went to Frederick and said, “Thank you, Papa, for taking such good care of us.” He gave Frederick a hug, and then went to Papa Edward and did the same. He didn’t forget John Williams or Jane Barton either.

A few days later, it was afternoon, and Edward was sitting with Bill and Tom, reading the London Times. They were discussing the upcoming state opening of Parliament when the queen was to ride in state to prorogue her first Parliament.

There was a knock at the door, and John Williams ushered in John Digby.

“Good afternoon, everyone,” Simon Dawlish’s clerk said. “I bring an invitation to all of you to come to his chambers on the afternoon of 20th November next. You will all be able to see the Queen’s procession to Parliament, and Mr. Dawlish and I…that is, <ahem>, Mr. Dawlish, is providing a light repast for you to enjoy between the two processions.”

Dawlish turned to Jane and said, “Mrs. Barton, Mr. Dawlish expressly instructed me to tell you that you and Constable Williams are included in the invitation as well as all the students enrolled in Mr. Fitzimmons’ School.”

“That will be lovely. Thank you, sir,” said Jane.

“Oh, and he is providing an omnibus*** to carry you to and from his chambers.”

“Please tell Mr. Dawlish that we all appreciate his invitation and we accept,” said Frederick.

At one o’clock on the afternoon of November 20, the omnibus arrived at the School, and everyone boarded it to be taken to Simon Dawlish’s chambers. His law chambers were on the first floor, but the company was led to the second floor where Dawlish had his living quarters.

This room facing the street had three large windows and chairs had been placed so that everyone could see the street below.  In the center of the room was a long table laden with all manner of good things to eat.

“Welcome, all of you,” Dawlish greeted them. “It will be a while before the procession passes by, so please enjoy some light refreshment now—but we will be dining again once the procession passes.”

John Digby was there to help serve the guests to tea, ale, cakes, and pastries of all sorts.

Soon everyone was served and they took their seats. As they watched they could see Londoners gathering on the street below and then they heard the sound of horses’ hooves clopping on the street. They heard drums and trumpets playing ‘Rule Britannia,’ and then a troop of Household Cavalry rode by.

The cheering grew louder as the group saw the gold State Coach, originally built for King George III, come into sight. Pulled by eight grey horses, the coach held a young girl and an older woman. The young girl was dressed in a white silk dress with a fur wrap around her shoulders. On her head she wore a tiara.

‘The Queen, God Bless her,’ ‘God Save the Queen,’ ‘Huzzah, huzzah,’ could be heard from the crowd below, and from the watchers in Dawlish’s chambers.

After the coach had passed out of sight, Nicholas asked “Why wasn’t the Queen wearing a crown?”

“She hasn’t been crowned yet, son,” Frederick said. “Her coronation will be next year.”

“Doesn’t she wear special robes?” asked Tom.

“She’ll go to the Robing Room where she’ll put on her scarlet robes trimmed with ermine. Her train will be so long it will take six or eight ladies in waiting to carry her train,” Dawlish said.

“Who was the older lady with her?” Joe asked.

“That was her mother, the Duchess of Kent,” John Williams replied.

 As the last of the procession passed by, the group was invited to go into the dining room, where a large table had been laid with fine china plates and crystal glassware. Dawlish invited Jane to sit at the foot of the table as if she were the hostess, while he sat at the head.

There was roast goose, roast beef, and roast pork. Salad, potatoes, beans, and other vegetables made for a delicious dinner. There were cakes and pies. The adults were served fine wine, and even Bill and Tom were allowed one glass! The younger boys had ale, watered down somewhat. For dessert there were – custard tarts!

 After dessert, Dawlish and Digby poured champagne into flutes for the adults, and then Dawlish stood at the head of the table and made the ‘Royal Toast:’ “The Queen, God Save Her!” everyone else stood and responded, “The Queen!”  They emptied their champagne flutes.

Soon the noise of the returning procession was heard and everyone went back to see the Queen return in state to the Palace. Again there was cheering from both inside and outside the building.

As the party prepared to return to the School, Digby told Jane that the servants had prepared some packages of cut meat and he and Mr. Dawlish asked Jane if she would not take the packages back to the school, as it was far more food than Mr. Dawlish could eat!

“Thank you, sir,” she replied. With a houseful of young boys and two lads, not to mention Mr. Frederick and Mr. Edward, all of whom have hearty appetites, this is very welcome.”

* * * * *

The guests had left; the servants had cleaned away the remains of the meal and gone to their quarters in the basement.

Dawlish looked at Digby and said with a smile, “That went very well, John. They all had a good time…and now, my dearest John, shall we retire to our rooms? Will you come to me this evening? I want you—oh God, how I want you to plow my furrow as deeply, as hard, and as often as you can!”

John smiled, kissed Simon on the mouth, and said, “I’ll be in directly."

A few minutes later, when John entered Simon’s room, his employer—his lover, his partner—was indeed ready for him, lying on his back, in a complete state of readiness, absolutely nude, and his legs raised into the air. Simon just said, “Come into me, John, come! Fill me with your own man milk!”

At that same moment, Frederick and Edward were sipping each other’s champagne from their very own ‘champagne flutes’!

To be continued, after an intermission!

Dear readers: this is not the end of the story, I have plans to continue ‘The Peeler,’ but I will be off-line for several weeks in January and February, getting two knee replacements and then recuperating.

I have a short Christmas Story I will be posting, but then I will be gearing up for the holidays and then the hospital.

I thank you for your loyalty, for your notes. I will always respond, but I cannot promise to answer any e-mails received after January 5.

I hope you all have a happy holiday season.

Will B.

Historical notes

*In the 17th century Guy Fawkes and some other Catholics planned to blow up the Houses of Parliament on November 5, 1605, in revenge for the penal laws against Catholics. The plot was discovered; Fawkes and the others were caught, tried, and executed. It became a custom for communities to construct a bon-fire the night of November 4, to commemorate the discovery, and children would go about collecting pennies to buy combustibles to put on the fire.

** Underwear

*** Omnibuses, horse drawn large carriages, had been designed by George Shillibaer in 1829 and had become part of London’s transportation system; the carriage had seats on both sides, facing a center aisle.

As always my thanks to my reader, mentor, and friend, “Critter.”

Posted: 12/10/10