Later in the morning, after Mary had emptied the chamber pots and made the beds, she was setting up the furniture in the dining room for later in the day. Todd’s children were somewhere in the house, Mary could hear their laughter along with Victoria. Mary smiled, and wiped the furniture down with soft beeswax. Mary liked the smell and the way the furniture glowed with warmth. She hummed softly to her self as she moved about the rooms.
Victoria found Mary in the parlor and called the child to her. Shyly, Mary walked over, her eyes on her hands, which were clasped in front of her.
“Mary, I have something to give you for Christmas.” The mistress handed Mary a box with pretty cloth wrapping. Mary’s eyes grew large, her hand tentatively touching the box.
“Go ahead Mary, it’s yours. Open it.” Mistress Anderson encouraged with a soft smile. Carefully, Mary opened the wrapped box, looking expectantly inside.
A soft sigh came from Mary when she saw a new pair of boots. Under them were wool stockings, soft and warm. Mary looked up into her mistress’s eyes, large and luminous with unshed tears.
“Oh, Missus, this is wonderful. Is they really mine?” Mary asked softly, her fingers touching the soft leather. These boots looked softer than the ones she’d been forced to wear. These boots were her very own, never worn by anyone else. She’d never owned anything of her very own. All her clothing and belongings were hand-me-downs.
“Yes, silly child, the shoes are yours. The boots are a bit big, so you can grow into them. The stockings will make sure they stay snug on you.”
“Oh, Missus, thank you.” Mary exclaimed, and without thinking, wrapped her small arms around the older woman’s neck and hugged her. Slowly, Victoria’s arms came up and wrapped around Mary’s sturdy body. She pulled the child closer and held her tight for a moment. It seemed as if the mistress didn’t want to let go, but she did. Smiling through tears, the mistress told Mary to put them on. Victoria helped Mary lace them up and showed Mary how to tie them. The boots were a bit large as the mistress had said, but with the wool stockings, the shoes felt comfortable enough.
Victoria watched as the girl walked back and forth. She thought that Mary walked a bit awkwardly, but Victoria was sure that Mary would get used to them quickly. Mary’s smile was as beautiful as any angel, Victoria thought, her heart tugging. She told Mary to run along to the kitchen and to get something to eat and then to go on home to her mother. Mary thanked her again, and scampered off to the kitchen in search of Cookie. Victoria wiped at her eyes and thought of her own daughter. It had been so many years, but the pain was as fresh as the day she’d lost her Magen.
Mary arrived in the kitchen a huge smile on her face. Cookie looked up and her mouth opened in surprise and a smile. Cookie ohh’d and ahh’d over Mary’s new boots.
“Take this towel on home now, give it to your momma. Don’t worry, I’ll bring treats for the other children.” Cookie knew Mary had a generous heart and would end up giving it all away. She wanted Ida getting the food, the woman was looking too thin.
“Thank you, Cookie.” Mary chirped and held the bundle to her chest. Cookie stood at the door and watched the child disappear down the path. She snorted to herself and turned back to work. She had plenty to do before she could find her bed.
Ida’s ears tuned in to a sound near the cabin. She thought that it was Mary, skipping toward the cabins; Mary rarely walked, skipping nearly every place she went. A soft smile spread across Ida’s lips. The door of the cabin opened and Mary came in, bringing cold air with her. Mary’s cheeks were flushed pink from the cold. Ida and Liza were sitting at their old battered stick table. The women were sipping hot root tea, the heat of it keeping them warm. A cheery fire was dancing in the fireplace, which Mary had decorated with scraps of ribbon and holly.
The pot hanging over the fire bubbled with something that smelled wonderful, one of the boys, Dark Henry, had brought her a rabbit and Ida had added onion and potatoes. The women looked up when Mary walked in, her childish face wreathed in a smile. Ida smiled at her daughter, her heart swelling with pleasure. She noticed Mary’s arms cradling a bundle wrapped in a dishtowel. She knew Cookie had sent good things to eat.
Mary began to skip and dance about the small cabin, kicking up her heels; it was then that the women saw her new boots. Liza whooped and jumped up and hugged Mary to her ample breasts and swung her around.
“Gal, you sho’nuff look pretty in them fine boots. Why you look just like a swell.” She laughed, grinning broadly down at the little girl. Her hand cupped the roundness of Mary’s cheek and Liza ran a thumb along the smooth surface. She let Mary go and the child turned to her mother.
Ida gathered Mary into her arms, looking at the new boots and stockings. She was thankful that Mary had found favor with the mistress. It tore at her heart to watch Mary walk barefoot on the cold ground, but Mary hated the stiff hide shoes so. Many children lost toes due to frostbite, some children died when their foot became infected with gangrene. While others had the foot cut off, leaving them lame for life.
That night, Mary, Ida
