Free The Chainmakers by Helen Spring Page A

on Anna's own? Materially, of course it was... but in other ways? Even so, a drunken father...
    Florence went across to "The Chainmaker's Child" and stood a long time, staring at the dainty image. 'I think you may be in between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea my dear,' she said. She traced her fingers gently across the faint signature in the corner of the painting. 'Oh Andy,' she whispered, 'I do hope your family doesn't hurt your little chainmaker.'
    ~
    'Gerron wi' it!' Ma Higgins commanded. 'Yo' ay got all day!'
    Anna regarded her coldly. 'This ain't my job,' she muttered, as she carefully folded cart traces into a half size barrel.
    'Wot did yo' say? I'll tek no mouth from yo' Miss Toffeenose!'
    'I only said I don't get paid for this.' Anna stood her ground. 'I could be working on chain... the dog leads...'
    Ma Higgins snorted. 'Yo' just do as you'm told ma wench,' she said, not unkindly. She did not mention that Anna was the only one of her workforce she could trust to count the correct number of cart traces into the barrel.
    'Tell yer wot. Yo' get them traces counted out proper, an' down to Tommy 'Oskins, an' I'll put yer down fer a extra dog chain.'
    Anna raised her eyebrows, Ma Higgins must have gone soft. It was impossible to make even half a dog chain in the time it would take her to do this small job.
    'And in case yo' think I'm doolallytap,' said Ma Higgins, reading Anna's mind, 'There's another barrel to do after this 'un.'
    Anna sighed. 'Alright,' she agreed. At least it was something different. It was a lovely Spring day outside and she would be able to breathe in the fresh air as she rolled the barrel down to the cooper for him to seal it.
    'Mek sure Tommy 'Oskins does a good job,' said Ma Higgins as she turned away. 'Them cart traces is goin' all the way to Masser-chew-sits.'
    Anna could not help but smile. Ma Higgins relished the lovely long American name, and pronounced it with a flourish as often as she could. Lots of their chains went to America, packed carefully in the wooden barrels which ensured they could be easily moved, and kept them in good condition on the sea voyage.
    Having carefully counted out one hundred traces, Anna put the lid on the barrel and pulled it onto its side. She rolled the barrel carefully out into the dazzling light, laughing as the other women, infected by the bright spring sunshine, launched into "Rule Britannia" at the tops of their voices, assuring anyone who passed by that 'Britons... never never never... shall... be... slaves...' and beating time with their hammers.
    Anna rolled the barrel carefully down the lane to the cooper's shop. She had to wait a few minutes before he could attend to her, and so took the opportunity to sit down on a small bank outside, where a few dandelions pushed their heads through the straggling unkempt grass. Anna picked off the flower heads and pushed them into the pocket of her baggin' apron. Not enough to make a brew for Clancy's Mom, she thought, but there might be a few more on the way home. She had an idea. Why not? Provided she did the washing first...
    She got up quickly as the cooper beckoned. 'Will you seal this please? For Ma Higgins, and there's another one to come. They are for Massachusetts.'
    'Leave it wi' me, ma wench.' The cooper gave her a wink. Anna smiled her thanks and then ran as fast as she could down the rutted lane, wrinkling her nose as she caught the stench from the overflowing middens in Tibbetts Yard. She ran down the bank to the forge where Clancy worked, and found him hard at it.
    'What's to do darlin'?' Clancy looked quite pleased at the interruption. He took a bottle of tea from the bosh, and wiped his brow before taking a swig.
    'I must be quick, only slipped out for a minute,' Anna said, breathless from her run. She glanced around the forge, giving quick smiles of recognition to the men who without exception had stopped work to look at her. 'I thought perhaps we could go to Clent tomorrow as the weather is so