The next morning, as the sun was rising, Isaac came into the house from the milk barn to a bustling kitchen. In the center of the room was a large table with benches down both sides that could sit thirty people easily. Off to the side was a work station for preparing the food and at the back of the kitchen was the large cast iron dwarf stove. The stove didn’t leak smoke, and was so well made that it didn’t have hot and cold spots. The family never worried about something going wrong with it and burning down the manor. On each side of the stove on the back wall were two doors that opened on a courtyard. In the summer the doors could be opened to let the heat from the stove out of the house. Thirty loaves of bread sat rising on the kneading table off to one side, and around the table sat all of the children who were the grandchildren of St. Gabriel. Isaac returned all of the greetings he received from the children and sat down at the head of the table in the only chair. His sister-in-law, Mercy, Luke’s wife, put a plate of eggs and bread in front of him, along with a glass of milk, in a business like manner. The women of the house tolerated no nonsense when it came to feeding the family. The only sister-in-law that wasn’t present was Hadassah who wouldn’t leave Elijah’s vicinity.
Three little boys all about the same size and age were just finishing their breakfast. Isaac thanked Mercy for his breakfast and then bowed his head in prayer. After giving thanks to the Lord for his food he said to the boys, “I need the three bags in my room brought to the door would you boys please get them for me?”
The three boys all sprang from the table, raced into a hall on one side of the room, and disappeared. All of the women smiled in conspiracy with one another as they watched the boys leave, and then continued with their work. Isaac started to eat his breakfast. The boys came back into the room struggling to carry the bags. Isaac issued them instructions to put the bags on the porch just outside the door. By the time they were done wrestling the bags out the door he had finished eating, moved to the wall by the door, and took down his sword and shield. Sarah came across the room and picked up his spear and they headed out the door followed by Mercy and Ruth, Elijah’s second wife.
On the porch Isaac handed Zack his Shield and said, “Carry this down to the dock for me.” Then he gave his nephew Coal, Luke and Mercy’s son, his spear saying, “How about you carry this for me.” Then he bent over and picked up two of the bags and with a swing put them over his left shoulder and with his right hand picked up the third bag. Sarah handed her nephew Eliseus, Elijah and Ruth’s son, the spear to carry. All of the boys were six years old and had been born in the same month. The boys were dressed for their normal day of adventure around the harbor and into the crags. Most of the rest of the family was already started to the harbor on the large path that led to the docks, so they would be on hand to say goodbye to those leaving.
When they reached the cog Isaac completed his goodbyes and told the boys to put his weapons in his cabin in the stern castle. The boys disappeared into the companionway and Isaac signaled to the captain to get under way as he stepped aboard. Most of the crew had smiles on their faces and everyone on the dock who was in on the joke was laughing. The ship started to slip away from the dock. Some of the smaller children had concerned looks, and one little girl pulled on Sarah’s arm and said, “Mom, the boys are still on the ship they can’t leave yet.”
Sarah answered, “Honey, the boys are going with your father, but they don’t know that yet.”
The little girl said, “But what will they wear tomorrow?”
Sarah smiled and answered, “We packed for them, and Daddy planned it this way.”
Just then the boys came on deck and all three gave exclamations of surprise. The crew laughed and those on shore could see Isaac telling the boys that they were going along. The three boys all jumped for joy and ran to the rail of the ship to wave to those on the shore.
Sarah said, “Your dad didn’t want to put up with them asking everyday all day when they were leaving and how long it would take and what can they take and put up with all the questions three little boys would ask. This was a lot easier.”
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