The Sterley’s of Oakland Park, SAREJESS [best e reader for epub .txt] 📗

with Murphy and found him to be a descent fellow with a vast knowledge of the events which trouble Ireland. Well to be more to the point this man Smyth he had been watching Murphy for some time then on the first day of our visit his lordship was called away to Waterford town on a matter for the crown, it was while he was yet there that Smyth made known to his lordship the doings of Murphy.

I remember well that evening when his lordship returned it was quite light and we were talking on matters pertaining to the following day when his lordships coach arrive din the stable yard.

His lordship was in a fine lather I can tell you he hardly saw Tom and I he came out of the coach saw Murphy and accosted him most violently. abused him soundly before calling for two stable hands to hold the man down stripped to the shirt sleeves his Lordship began to beat the poor man with a riding crop which was close at hand the abuse the poor man suffered I imagine is not unknown in many houses of people of rank. However I have never had occasions to treat my fellow man like that“ taking a sip of the wine at his side he continued

“Well I dare say it would have gone on for much longer had not I tried to come to the defense of the poor man, it was at this time that his lordship turned on me and called me a busy fuss pot. Telling me that I knew nothing of the dangers of republicanism that was at the heart of Ireland’s trouble and the cause of many of the problems that he was constantly beset by.

“Why Sir if you had but been in the court at Waterford town this day you would have seen how one treats these riff raff that they understand a moment of compassion on your part and they take it for weakness” he continued. “In the mean while the two stable hands had fell to beating the poor Murphy in furtherance of his lordships pleasure. Thomas and John intervened on the behalf of Murphy and the beating stopped his Lordship was wild with rage and swore that Murphy would not spend another moment in his service and discharged him there and then with out pay for the last quarter.”

This you see my dear there was nothing other then I could do but later find out where the man was living and bring him back here to Oakland Park I am sure he will serve us better then he served his Lordship.“ Sir Thomas concluded

‘Oh dear a fine how do you do indeed“ said Lady Ann I trust that he is now recovered the cottage which you have put him in is not well suited for the poor man and his brood of children how many dose he have I think I counted ten when I was near the cottage last evening” she continued

“All told I believe the man has eleven children all of them cared for and taught by his wife who I am lead to believe was taught to read and write by Murphy himself.” Replied Sir Thomas

“And of your leaving of Waterford how did that come about I hope it was not acrimonious?” asked Lady Ann

“We stayed but a few days after the events just related then made our obedience’s fanning a forgotten social engagement here at Oakland. I might add that her ladyship is of the same cloth as which his lordship is it’s surprising that his daughter the fair lady Virginia is not of that cloth for she is believe it or not my dear renown for her good works among the poor in Waterford.” Said Sir Thomas

“So any social occasion where his lordship the Earl or her lady ship are present I take it will not be one that we will be attending” said Lady Ann

“Indeed I will not suffer to be in the same room as that odious man” replied Sir Thomas “As for her ladyship she hardly ever leaves the castle I believe that she has a dreaded fear of been found among the Irish of low birth thus keeps close to the walls of that old house” said Sir Thomas

“I shall write to his Lordship the Earl of Bathurst in regard a station for young Tom before very long,” said Sir Thomas. “Indeed Sir I will tell you that it was Tom’s idea to have Lady Sarah and Arabella come to Oakland, then when you called on the children to come and join you it was a great disappointment. I have been at my wits end not knowing how to entertain them while you were away but now that you are back we can continue planning the ball we had originally intended to have here this past week,” said Lady Ann

“That is most refreshing I in the mean time am going to do a little writing in my study he said rising from the chair upon which he had been seated. It was the morning after his arrival back at Oakland and there was much to do much to peruse in the investigation of his estates.

While Lady Ann continued to dress for it was yet early only a quarter after eight and she was hoping to be in the withdrawing room at 10 o’clock to meet once again with the delightful lady Sarah Arabella she was sure would be glad of the news that her cousin’s had returned.

In his bedchamber, Tom sat quill in hand thinking upon the next sentence he would write for he and Virginia of Waterford had become friends in the short time that they had spent together. In her, he had found a fellow writer of poetry and artist for her landscapes were some of the best he had ever seen... Of course, it would never do for a lady to publish or paint publicly but as a pastime, it was some thing she could do to amuse herself. Tom thought this splendid his current difficulty lay in the fact that he was writing a poetic verse about her, and was finding it confounding difficult to express upon the paper before him the words that exactly showed his feelings for the lady in question.

“Lydia dear do play some thing upon the harpsichord” said Lady Ann “It is very unusual that Lady Sarah has not yet risen have you seen Arabella this morning Mary dear?” Asked Lady Ann “Yes Mamma she and John are taking a turn in the grounds” replied Mary “John what could John possibly know that could be of interest to Arabella?” said Lady Ann.

“I think he is showing her the new plantings Mamma you know the ones he did this summer,” said Mary “Indeed I had no idea that Arabella had an interest in gardening if I had known sooner I might have found much to amuse her out of doors ”said Lady Ann

“Oh yes Mamma she has quite a garden at home or so I am lead to understand,” replied Sophia who had just entered the room.

Elizabeth James lived a content and happy life for she was a creature of habit she was thankful for she had married her childhood sweetheart further more the living of which her husband took great pains to keep in a Godly manner afforded her the opportunity practice that skill in the kitchen this skill had been pperfect4ed over many years starting when she was very young she had spent many hours under the practiced tuition of her mother and older sisters who made it there business to teach her that most ancient and well loved art of cooking. For the woman of the Doughty household knew the way to a man’s heart was indeed through the door of the stomach.

Elizabeth James, formally Elizabeth Doughty was a creature of her time and delighted in the arts which the fairer sex usually take as there domain the arts of culinary expertise been her greatest love.

Indeed she took great satisfaction in cooking for those who called upon her reverend husband, added to this was her gift of knowing when one of the great houses required a gift of her sweet meats or chicken pies of which she was especially proud.

Indeed her pies were renown in the county for there style for they indeed looked heavenly there mysteries were deep however lay deeply buried in the crust so to speak for in there creation some thing would go amiss the end result of which would have the Lords and ladies of the great houses suffering from uncomfortable bouts of indigestion or great winds.

While the good Mr James busied himself with those tasks which are the domains of the country clergyman Elizabeth would find great delight in preparing great culinary feasts for her husband. Her husband had been blessed with an extraordinary constitution which allowed him to live through the various culinary experiments.

The reverend James had a great love for his wife for they had known each other from the very early years of there lives for they cousins and by nature both were of the same demeanor and manner.

It pleased her greatly that when she chanced to send one of her great pies to Oakland Park it would always be recived with great pomp by Lady Ann, indeed she had it directly from Ruth the Housekeeper that her pies were always accorded a special place. In her mind she imagined the guests of Sir Thomas sitting down to a feast with the pie been the center of conversation, she imagined that they would discuss at great length the crust silenced for a moment in rapture as they tasted the filling of wholesome chicken and freshly steamed country vegetables which made up the content of the pie. In her mind her pies were a delicacy which men would died for indeed her early culinary experiments had lead to the demises of a number of unfortunate persons who had shuffled of the mortal coil not knowing that they had fallen victim to the culinary skills of this dear lady.