The Voyage of Lucy P. Simmons by Barbara Mariconda

Author:Barbara Mariconda
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2014-07-28T16:00:00+00:00

16

I tracked Marni from a distance, keeping her just in view. She’d walk for a while, then stop, stand absolutely still, and rotate slowly in a circle, as though waiting for some invisible clue to direct her course. Whenever she’d pause I’d slip behind a stand of trees, or duck behind a stone wall, wondering if she could sense my presence. If she did, she didn’t let on.

She continued, across fields and meadows. Where was she going? A building, set on a hill, came into view—an imposing stone structure. It appeared to be some kind of institution—perhaps a hospital or asylum. She quickened her steps, proceeding toward it. On closer inspection I realized it was part of a compound spread across several acres—a low block spanned one side, a three-story main building behind it, and a number of wings connected by a central hall. At the western side of the site stood another stark two-story construction. There was an air of deprivation about the place, with nothing in the way of embellishment, no flower box or garden bench, no statuary or ornamentation. The windows were deep narrow slits, suggesting an interior dark and dank.

A door opened and twenty or thirty girls about Annie’s age filed out, all wearing uniforms—dark smocks topped with full white aprons. They trudged in line, a dour matron marching beside them wielding a hickory stick, barking orders and delivering blows to any girl who moved out of step.

Even from where I stood I could feel Marni’s outrage, and, at the same time, her restraint. She collected herself and strode toward what appeared to be the front entrance. Once she disappeared inside I moved closer. A placard hung beside an entranceway: BALLYVAUGHAN WORKHOUSE.

The sound of a cry turned my attention back to the formation of girls and their warden. The woman grabbed one sorry child by the hair, yanking her out of line. “Ye know there’s no jabberin’ on the way t’ work! Wastes time better spent gettin’ t’ the task at hand! What ye need is the slothfulness beat out of ye! Learn the value of work!” She savagely whacked the cowering girl with her switch.

“Stop that!” I cried. “What do you think you’re doing?”

The line of girls gasped and gawked at me. The matron froze, and slowly, deliberately turned from her sprawling victim. Her eyes widened at the sight of me, and then narrowed. The ire that screwed up her features melted into a cruel smile. “What do we ’ave ’ere?” she asked, tapping the switch against her palm. “An indignant do-gooder? Protestin’ for the rights o’ the poor?”

“There’s no need to beat a child!” I cried. The gaping girls straightened up a bit and stared at me as though I was some strange, never-before-seen creature.

The matron’s nostrils flared. “Here’s what ye don’t understand, missy. Pauperism is bred into ’em. Suckin’ off the system fer generations. They need t’ learn to be God-fearin’ and productive, they do. That’s me job. I’d suggest ye take yer fancy privileged self offa the property, before I call t’ have ye removed.

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.