The Courage That It Takes To Live

chapter 4/ The rescue

It was the middle of the night and everyone was sound asleep until poor Tim started crying. I immediately woke up and rushed to his side. I felt his forehead and sure enough he had a fever. "Jack go into town and fetch some medicine from the doctor and also honey from the market" I said. Jack got out of bed and rushed downstairs to put on his coat, he then left. "Ben run outside and try to catch jack, tell him you'll get the honey and he can get the medicine" I said. He nodded and ran outside, "Eliza get a rag and put it in the snow but then put it by the fire for a second so it isn't ice cold" "Yes Mary" she said as she went outside. Tim was still crying I felt so bad for him, then he started to turn green and I could tell he was about to hurl "John quick! Get a big bowl from downstairs now!" I said. John jumped downstairs, got the bowl, and quickly ran back up "here" he said "thanks." Tim did indeed hurl, but then he laid back down. Eliza came up the stairs with a cold rag and class of water "thank you" I said. I got Tim situated and waited for Jack and Ben to return. Then the door flung open and they came running up the stairs with the medicine and honey. I quickly gave Tim the medicine, "Jack can you watch over him and then everyone else go back to sleep please" I said. Everyone did as there were told and then I went downstairs to make honey tea for Tim. Yesterday when I was at work I was picking some ginger and some of it fell into my pocket so I used that for the tea along with the honey. When I was finished I brought the tea upstairs and gave it to Tim. He didn't really like it but I made him drink it anyways. He soon fell asleep and I to went back to bed.

It was the next morning and everyone was asleep except for Jack, John, and I because we all had work. I did the same thing as I did the morning before but this time I left directions on how to start a bath. I wanted everyone to take one so they could get clean and not sick. Also I told them the only person to be by Tim was John because he was the oldest one there now that Ben had work. I gave Jack a hug and kiss goodbye and went off to work.

I helped Sarah in the kitchen then I went to help Edith with the fireplaces, after that I went to gather the children's laundry and brought it downstairs to the laundry room. I washed laundry for hours on end, by the time I finished, it was already the afternoon. I went to find Ms. Pearl. She was standing in the hallway talking to another girl of whom I've never seen before, it must've been the teacher or something. "Excuse me Ms. Pearl I'm so sorry to interrupt but I finished all my work and I was wondering if you'd like me to clean your office" I said "well now that I think about it my office is quite dirty so yes that would be just fine" she said. I nodded my head and went to her office. Since I didn't want her to know what I was really doing I did actually clean it so I didn't seem suspicious, plus it was the honorable thing to do considering I was going to go behind her back too steal her keys, even if it was for a good cause. I dusted the shelves and organized her papers for her. When I was done cleaning I started looking around for the keys. I looked in every jour but I still couldn't find them and then I saw a cabinet on the wall. I walked over to the cabinet and opened it, inside was the key. I knew it was the right one too because it was very unique. I put it in my pocket, closed the cabinet, and left the office. Ms. Pearl had left and I ran strait upstairs to the attic. When I went inside the little girl was still there but this time was laying on the floor coughing. "Oh dear it's going to be ok" I said with tears rolling down my face. Ms.Pearl must've not fed her in days because the girl was on the brink of death. I quickly unlocked the cage and picked the girl up, I then realized that I still had to get her out of here without being seen. There was no way I could do it in the daytime I would have to wait till everyone was asleep, luckily it was almost sundown anyways when everyone went to eat. That's it! I would wait till dinner and then sneak out." Delilah I'm going to get you out of here but we have to wait till everyone is eating dinner" I said. She nodded and started coughing again. This girl needed food and water ASAP.

A few minutes had passed and I could hear nothing in the hallway, I knew this was my chance I picked the girl up and carried her downstairs. I had to quickly put on my coat and shoes, but once I was I done I went down the street to the barn. I ran inside and called for Jack. He came rushing down the stairs and went over to me and Delilah. "This is the girl I was telling you about, I got her out of there as quickly and as safely as I could" I said. Jack stood there speechless for a moment but not in a bad way. "Delilah?" He said almost unable to speak "Jack is it really you" Delilah said with tears filling her eyes. They both hugged for a long time and I was more confused than ever. "Do you guys know each other?" I asked "Yes, she's my sister who disappeared a few years ago, I had no clue where she'd gone and I just assumed she died" jack explained "I feel bad for not looking for her longer but there nothing else that I could do" " Is that why you saved Angie the first day we met, you lost your sister and you knew how that felt, you didn't want anyone else feeling that pain so you saved her?" I asked. He nodded and smiled. "Well let's get her all clean and fed" I said. We started a bath for her and then I made supper. Tonight I made chicken and bread. Everyone ate it all up, except for Tim because he was sick I made him tea instead. I sent everyone off to bed and made a new bed for Delilah. As I was heading upstairs jack asked if he could talk to me for a minute. "Yes of course" I said "Thank you once again for saving my sister, but are you really going to continue working at the orphanage?" "I guess you're right, I'm sure I could get a job as a maid somewhere else" "In fact I heard that a family a few miles away from here is looking for a new servant, I'm sure you could get a job there" he said "your probably right" I said. "Oh and there's the clothes and fabric shop there looking for a new employee" he said. I thought about it. I guess working at a clothing shop would be better than being a servant but I have no skill with needle and thread. "I'll look into the servant job" I said as huge blast of wind came and almost knocked me off my feet but luckily Jack caught me. I stood back up "thank you" I said "There must be a snow storm coming because of the soon to come winter, we better get inside" he said. We went inside and layed down in our bed. I soon fell asleep.