The Royal Station Master's Daughters by Ellee Seymour

Author:Ellee Seymour
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bonnier Publishing Fiction

Chapter 16

Beatrice and Ada scanned the week’s edition of the Lynn Advertiser for updates on the war. Ada pointed to a cartoon showing a portly middle-aged man resembling a country squire pointing his walking stick at a pipe-smoking young man out walking with his sweetheart. The caption read, ‘Look here, my lad, if you’re old enough to walk out with my daughter you are old enough to fight for her and our country.’ Behind them was a sign pleading, ‘Enlist Now, 100,000 men wanted’.

The large broadsheet newspaper was spread across the kitchen table. It featured pictures of handsome local soldiers proudly wearing their uniforms. The accompanying text was announcing their deaths, followed by a list of other deceased servicemen from the area. They left behind so many broken hearts.

Ada next pointed out a letter from a ninety-year-old vicar fuming at a lack of Christianity, complaining about empty church pews. He moaned:

In the villages and towns of Norfolk there are more people who seek their own pleasure on the Lord’s Day than care anything about the honour of God. It is sad to see how many wait for the opening of the alehouse on the Sabbath morn and never enter the House of God.

Should fathers and mothers who have sons at the front be seen leaving the alehouse on the Sabbath and never seen in church or chapel? Oh, that the many millions of the nation would turn to the God whom they have forsaken, then this cruel war would end and the nation would have a happy and prosperous peace.

She shook her head at the vicar’s miserable rantings, muttering under her breath that vicars should be showing understanding and forgiveness to their errant flock, continuing to turn the pages.

The delicious aroma of Betty’s flavoursome lunch filled the kitchen. The Sawards were grateful that her thrifty ways were now paying dividends, that she could be economical with food, bulking up stews with lentils, and for being able to count on Lizzie at Blackbird Farm for milk and a chicken from time to time.

It only took ten minutes for Betty to make Trench cake, which required no eggs, using vinegar and baking soda instead, and a pinch or two of spices and dried fruit. Plain flour, margarine, cocoa, brown sugar and milk were used too, and although it was less moist than the usual fruitcake, the Sawards knew it would survive the journey to the battlefields after being posted to Sam and Alfie for Christmas 1914, and it had been favourably received by them both.

Harry, Sarah, Jessie and Maria came in then and joined Ada and Beatrice, taking their places at the large oak table. Ada appeared irritable, struggling to placate a wriggling Leslie, and plonking him in his high chair.

Betty’s mutton stew was being served for lunch. Using less meat and thickened with extra onions, potatoes and carrots and flavoured with fresh rosemary from the garden, it was always a favourite. A creamy milk pudding followed, washed down by a steaming cuppa.

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