Folk Tales From the Canal Side by Ian Douglas

Author:Ian Douglas [Douglas, Ian]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Fairy Tales; Folk Tales; Legends & Mythology, Transportation, Ships & Shipbuilding, General
ISBN: 9780750997027
Google: mc4QEAAAQBAJ
Publisher: History Press
Published: 2021-03-22T00:14:34.809522+00:00

BARNETT’S BREACH

Ted Newsum never knew the high life, nor did he ever want it. He was, and always had been, happy with his lot. He was born to a poor boat family from Wolverhampton. In fact, he was born on the very boat that he now owned, handed down to him by his father. Starlight, she was called – 60ft long with a strong wooden hull that had done many a mile in its life. Before Ted was born and when Starlight was young, his father had pulled the boat himself, with a leather haulage strap across his broad chest and attached by rope to the boat mast. He would drag Starlight from job to job, with Ted’s mother on the tiller. You see, they just didn’t have the means to afford a horse to do the work.

When Ted came along, it put extra pressure on the family and things at times were bleak. But worry not, this is a story of hope, not despair, because Ted grew up quick and strong and it wasn’t too long before he was a useful hand on board the boat. In time, with three of them now to carry the load, Ted’s father was able to start to put a little bit by, job by job, until the day came that he had the money to buy the beast they needed.

Ted’s dad bought a cob, and a good strong one at that. Not too big for the low bridges and with a steady temperament, she was the perfect choice. Ted was quick to learn the ropes and the cob was as quick to understand when to pull and when to let the boat have its way and so now, they could move twice as fast.

And for a good few years that’s what happened, and things went well for them, but you know, the years of dragging and toil at the tiller for long hours had taken it out of Ted’s mother and father and eventually enough was enough. The day came that they could do no more and they handed the boat to their son.

As sad as he was, Ted was a young man and loyal and he took to the task as he was asked. In fact, he made a go of it, did Ted. He took on a chap to help, at first, and then he caught the eye of a young boating woman who eventually became his wife, and Starlight became their home, just as it had been for his mum and dad. But then, just as things were going from strength to strength, tragedy struck.

Ted’s mum, who was full of years, passed away. Well, his dad couldn’t be without her and followed a few days later and Ted was beside himself with grief. But it didn’t stop there, the old cob who had dragged that boat from job to job went lame and so had to be put out of her misery. Ted and his wife hit rock bottom.

However,

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.