Remember Mary looked nervous especially at the sight of the rough crew Indeed Remember agreed with her sister We’ll meet with the larger ship when we arrive in England Then both ships will travel together For safety Remember reassured Mary All they could do now was have faith in God Come along children Mama said as she herded them on board the ship No dawdling and gawking There’s work to be done Papa was already in front of the family leading them to the ship master Papa cleared his throat and introduced himself to the efficient-looking captain Good morning Master I am Isaac Allerton My wife Mary My son Bartholomew and daughters Mary and Remember Mrs Allerton and the children looked down at the ship’s deck humble and obedient 10
Good day to you sir the Captain said matter of factly as he shook Mr Allerton’s hand The Separatist families will berth in the cargo deck With that the Captain marched away to check on the riggings Well then let’s head below deck and get settled in little family Mr Allerton did not seem flustered by this news or the Captain’s terse attitude Cargo they were cargo Remember thought Like the chickens Remember followed her father and her mother down into the dark ship Crates pens and trunks filled the area fearfully Shush child do not question your father like that Mama corrected Mary Ashamed Mary blushed and looked away Several other families were already in the cargo deck They had each claimed a small area and used their trunks as makeshift Is this where we’ll stay Mary asked 11
borders between the families There was no privacy and very little room to move This will do Papa said and resolutely claimed their section as Bartholomew pushed their trunk against the ship’s interior wall Remember glanced at Mama For a brief moment Remember thought she saw doubt creep across Mama’s brow Mrs Allerton let’s take the children off the ship and settle for the night at the inn I have a meeting with Mr Bradford and the agents You need your rest for the voyage Mr Allerton didn’t want his impressionable children in close company with any of the rough seamen any longer than necessary Besides there were legal matters that Papa had to attend to such as the terms and conditions of their shares in the New World Mama led her anxious family from the ship to the inn It was to be one of their last luxuries 12
on this continent Who could guess what the New World had in store for them Remember thought Mr Allerton spent several hours with Mr Bradford and Mr Warren discussing money and repayment The voyage across the ocean for the Separatists was expensive but well worth it At least they hoped it would be When Mr Allerton arrived at the family’s room in the inn later that evening Remember and Mary had been reading aloud from the Bible Bartle was wrapped in a quilt sound asleep on the floor Girls Mama said in a hushed voice so as not to wake him continue reading your Scripture Your father and I must talk Mama patted Remember’s head and took a seat at the small table near the window Papa sat across from her In the candlelight Papa looked tired and tense 13
