Free A Lion to Guard Us by Clyde Robert Bulla Page B

Mother,” said Jemmy.
    â€œâ€”and they were married and had three children.”
    â€œThree fine children,” said Jemmy.
    â€œJames Freebold was a carpenter. He could build houses. Do you remember the house we used to have? He built it for us—”
    â€œI know,” said Jemmy. “Tell the story.”
    â€œThere is a land called America,” said Amanda. “Some call it the New World. It’s across the sea, and it’s a beautiful land with rivers and trees and birds. Indians live there, and they wear feathers and shoot with bows and arrows. Some men asked Father to go there with them to help build houses. They were going to build houses and towns and live in America in a place called—”
    â€œVirginia,” said Meg.
    â€œYes. You like that name, don’t you, Meggie? Father said even if we were poor in London, we would be rich in Virginia. We would have our own fields and gardens. Remember the song he used to sing?” She sang very softly:
    There are lands a-calling me
    From across the wide, blue sea ,
    And I’ll find a home one day
    In a fair land far away .
    â€œTell the story ,” said Jemmy.
    â€œWell, you and Meg and I had to wait with Mother. Virginia was a wild place. It wasn’t ready for women and children. Father went ahead, and we moved to Mistress Trippett’s, because Mother worked there.”
    â€œYou didn’t tell it all,” said Jemmy.
    â€œYes, I did.”
    â€œNo. You left out the lion.”
    â€œOh,” said Amanda. “There was a door knocker on the house where we used to live. Before Father went away, he took it off and gave it to us.”
    â€œHe gave it to me,” said Jemmy.
    â€œHe gave it to us all. It was a lion’s head. He said it was a lion to guard us while he was gone.”
    Jemmy said again, “He gave it to me.” From under the covers he took out a small lion’s head made of brass. A brass bar hung from its mouth. He swung the bar back and forth.
    â€œDon’t you want to hear about the sailor man?” asked Amanda. “He was here today. He’d been to Virginia, and he saw Father there. Father has a house, and he wants us to come.”
    â€œWhen?”
    â€œWe have to wait.”
    â€œWhy?”
    â€œFor Mother to get well. Now go to sleep. You, too, Meg.”
    She waited until they were asleep before she slipped out of bed. She picked up the candle and went back to Mother’s room.

III
Dr. Crider
    Ellie said the next morning, “It’s been awhile since Mistress came downstairs. This might be the day.”
    At least once a week Mistress Trippett surprised them in the kitchen to make sure that all was neat and no one was idle.
    And just after breakfast, they heard the click of her heels on the front stairs.
    â€œI told you!” whispered Ellie.
    The servants stood like soldiers. Mistress Trippett came down into the kitchen. She looked small, even in her high heels and her tall, red wig. Her eyes were like little black beads.

    She swept through the kitchen. She peered into the pantry and the cupboards. She opened the door to the back stairs.
    Amanda held her breath. Jemmy and Meg were there. Once Mistress Trippett had called them idle brats. But today she almost smiled as she shut the door.
    â€œThe children have grown,” she said. “How old is the boy?”
    â€œEight, ma’am,” answered Amanda.
    â€œAnd the girl?”
    â€œOnly five, ma’am.” Suddenly Amanda felt bold. “Do you think they might come into the kitchen?”
    â€œWhy, certainly,” said Mistress Trippett, and she swept off upstairs.
    Cook’s face was like stone. “I’ll not have those brats under my feet.”
    â€œYou will if Mistress says so,” said Ellie.
    Cook struck at her with a spoon. Ellie jumped out of the way.
    Cook suddenly shouted at Amanda, “Don’t stand there like a noddy. Fetch some