Stars On The Atlantic

VI

On the Day of Christmas of the year 1906, Amybeth came home to her mom crying over a letter which she was holding with shaking hands.

"Mummy, are you alright?" she asked. After looking around in the house, she added: "Where's Daddy, isn't he back yet for Christmas?"Mrs. McAuley wiped her tears and said in a voice interspersed with sobs:"Daddy's had an accident. He is badly injured.""What?" cried Amybeth. It all sounded too unreal. 

The last letter they had received only days ago from Clydebank was filled with optimism and hope. John McAuley had written that construction on the Lusitania was progressing fast and that the ship could be delivered in just another year. But they needn't worry, for hands were still needed for the construction on her sistership, which was sure to last for another while. As for himself, he was expecting to be home for Christmas like every other year. Mrs. McAuley had saved up enough this year to buy a goose for the occasion.

"What happened to Daddy?" cried Amybeth as tears rolled down her little pink cheeks.

"He fell from a crane and broke his back. I am going to Clydebank to take care of him," answered Anna McAuley as she stood up and grabbed a few robes and toilet items which she shoved into a bundle bag.

"I'm coming with you!"

"No, darling. You stay with Mrs. Scott while I am away."

"We are a family, where you go, I go! What's more, we've always celebrated Christmas together, no matter what lay in front of us," replied Amybeth firmly as her hands closed upon the Celtic cross which she had worn around her neck for a year now.

Mrs. McAuley bent down and caressed the little girl's red hair.

"Life in the city isn't pleasant," she said softly. "The living conditions are low, the streets are filthy and the air is saturated with smoke from the factories."

"I can endure that! I'll pray to Mother Mary to make me strong and resilient, please let me come with you!"

Mrs. McAuley laughed through her tears and kissed Amybeth.

"You've grown up. Alright then, go pack a few clothes. We will be catching the evening train to Clydebank."

"Should we also pack the goose for Daddy?" inquired Amybeth, pointing to the oven.

"No, that's fine. We'll get another one for Daddy in the city."

On the train to Clydebank, Amybeth lay on her mother's laps, her hands never letting go of her Celtic cross. Mrs. McAuley softly passed her hand over and over in her daughter's hair which still looked like fire in the declining sunlight. Serenely, Amybeth fell asleep to her mother's gentle singing voice:

"The snow on the hills fills my heart with winter chills.

Christmas has once again found me.

Dreams of my childhood and presents round the tree,

Family and friends all around me."