Revolutionary Wartime

The Plantation

    December 18th 1773,

Bright and early on a December day, the air had shifted overnight, as I lay there something with an icy touch landed on my nose. With a quick hand I brushed it off, starting to wake to another day. I shifted out of the side and stood up from my makeshift bed, the floor boards creaking as I tiptoed across them. Walking over to the small window of the loft I look out into a white day, Snow had just started to fall onto the landscape of Lockton plantation. The chickens calling for their morning feed, the wind at a slight whistle through the treetops it is a beautiful day. I walk over to my clothes, freshly washed and crisply folded, the smell of the fresh mountain water from the spring lurks on it. I'd button up my long sleeve shirt, making sure that all the buttons were in the right place. A rustle below me startled the chickens, "George! Rise and shine time to git to work!" The footsteps would echo as Lucas Lockton walked out of the farmhouse. "Right away sir!" I'd call after him. Quickly putting on my hat I would rush down the ladder into the farmhouse where I would put on my boots. Running to the house door I would take off my cap and knock on the door. "I'm ready sir." I'd say. He would open the door, "Faster than usual eh?" He would ask with a smile. "Yes sir, a new record I believe!" I'd grin back at him. Lucas is a good man, treats all the people who come along here well, always has been kind to me. "Today I need some more firewood and if you could run into town to grab some cloth for the missus to sew into clothes that would be all you would have to do for today." I'd nod, "How much cloth sir?" He would pause, "You know the big rolls of them about a foot wide?" I'd think for a moment "Yes sir I do recall those." He would nod "I will need about five of those." "Alright sir." He would hand me ten pounds. "If you would like if you have extra, you can buy yourself something." I'd look at him "Are you sure sir?" "Yes now git on your way I will sharpen the ax by the time you get back it will be sharper than a tack!" He would smile at me as I walk away. "A good lad is he." He would close the door as I run to the stable to hook the horse to the cart. I'd hoist myself onto the cart as I grab the reigns. "Alright lets go!" I would snap the reigns and the horse would take off into the dirt road ahead. Passing by some folks on the road I would tip my hat. I'd continue on into the small town, pulling up to this small store. Hopping out of the cart I would tie the horse to a tree. The door would jingle as I walked in, the friendly shopkeeper Joanna greeted me "Hey George, what will it be today?" "Well the boss wanted five of the foot wide rolls of cloth." "Cotton or wool? I'd stop, "I believe cotton.. yes! Cotton." "Alright that will be about." She counted, "Six pounds George." I'd take out six of the pounds remaining with four left, "Do you happen to have a hatchet?" She turned and bent down to look under the counter, "As a matter of fact I do!" She puts the most beautiful blade I have ever seen on the counter. "Four pounds and its yours!" I'd look at its skilled craftsmanship. "Alright I'll take it." I'd hand over the four pounds, "Have a good one George!" I'd take the rolls of fabric off the counter and load them into the back of the wagon before taking the hatchet carefully and placing it within the loop of my belt. I'd wave goodbye, jumping onto the cart and riding off back towards the plantation. 

Arriving half an hour later, the back wheel of the cart wobbling on and off, another thing to fix. Pulling alongside the house i'd hop from the cart. Knocking on the door, smaller and lighter footsteps would approach the door. "Is that you George?" Said the lighthearted lass of Mr. Lockton. "Yes mam tis me."She opens the door slowly, "Would you bring the cloth inside?" "Certainly mam." I'd walk over to the back of the car picking up all the rolls, strolling back over to the door. She would usher me inside and direct me to where all of it goes. "Thank you George.. Lucas is waiting for you outside by the side of the farmhouse." I'd make a crisp bow to her, "All in a days work mam, and thank you." I'd walk out of the home over to where Lucas should be. "Ah George there you are!" Holding the freshly sharpened ax in his hand. "Here you are. As for the wood I could use at least mebbe three trees worth?""Aye sir." I'd take the ax from his hands, slinging it over my shoulder. "Now be off with ya I'll see you in a few hours." I'd march into the forest, humming a little tune. I'd walk upon a young oak