The setting is a moderately simple yet homey cottage. The shabby, peeling walls and sparse furniture are offset by a roaring fire in the hearth, which seems to be trying its utmost to dispel the despondency in the air.
In a far corner of the room a middle-aged woman sits wringing her hands while her husband stands staring hopelessly at the ground. The air is thick with a sense of urgency, and impending sorrow, yet both seem loathe to address the problem that can no more be ignored.

* * *

“Catharine, let us be reasonable!” burst the man suddenly. “I have worked as hard as I could for you and our children these twenty years that we have been married. But the king keeps raising taxes higher and higher to support his Colonies in America, and I simply CANNOT keep up with the new tax raises. The king is putting men in prison everyday for failure to keep up with his demands and I may be next. We might have been able to, if only…if he had not…”
The man’s voice choked and trailed off but he needn’t have finished for Catharine knew what he was trying to say.
Many years back, when they had first moved to the crowded city of London, they had been quite well off. Finding a job for one was hard, but miraculously they had both found work, William in manual labor and Catharine at home sewing for wealthy families.
Then tragedy struck in the form of a child that Catharine conceived. She gave birth to a boy, their fifth child. However, he was born very weak, and as time progressed, he grew steadily worse.
Having saved up some money, they had paid many a doctor to treat him. Nothing worked, and the baby had died.
Meanwhile, the money that they had been carefully saving up had been depleted, and they were forced to borrow. With heavy hearts and sagging spirits, they began piecing their lives back together, but what with the newly instituted taxes and having to put food on the table, they had been unable to keep up. Threatening calls to their house were being made from their former money lenders, and they were apprehensive as to when one of them would finally report them to the extent of the law. Now, when they looked out of their window, the damp, dingy streets stared back at them ominously, and each one wondered if they would end up sleeping on them the next night.
“Oh Will,” the woman cried out in despair and exasperation, “I will not have my children raised as street urchins!”
“Now, my dear,” the man said soothingly, hoping that his voice sounded more confident than he felt, “I have a plan. Listen; there is yet still one last hope!”
The woman looked up in bewilderment, but nodded and remained silent.
“I am going to travel to the Colonies” he began. The woman opened her mouth in protest, but he gently placed a finger on her lips to signal silence. “I hear there is cheap land and we could have our own farm and begin a whole new life. I would send for you as soon as I can—hopefully no more than a year.”
“But what will we do before then?” Catharine inquired worriedly.
“Just stay here. You have a job, and George can leave to look for work tomorrow. He is old enough now, nearly fourteen. I have heard that the king does not normally imprison mothers and their children, but mostly the men. Perhaps he will have pity on you or you could find a different location to stay in—maybe an apartment building where you could room with others. I would stay to help you get settled, but I believe leaving as soon as possible would be the best course of action to take, so we can start our lives anew. Don’t worry, just trust me, I know it will all work out.”
He paused to let his words sink into her conscience.
“You know I hate the idea,” she said slowly in a near whisper, “but I see no other choice!”
She burst into tears and clung to her husband, and they held each other for a long precious moment. There were no words to be said, for each was resigned to his fate.

* * *

The next morning when Catharine and her children awoke, William had already left. As she said her prayers, she added a special prayer for her love so far away, asking God to guide and protect him.
Gathering her four children around her, she addressed them.
“My dears, I must tell you something. You know that we have not been very well financially, and this has reached a crisis in recent months. Your father and I have tried our best to care and provide for you and give you everything you need. But the new tax raises have all but ruined us, and Papa left to the Colonies in America. He will buy land there and send for us when all is ready. Meanwhile we must stay here and try to survive as well as can be thought of. George, you will leave soon to look for work. We will greatly need any extra money. I will keep up my job sewing, but I will have to work extra long to be able to provide for all of you. So Elizabeth, you will keep watch over the house with Vicky and Anne’s help to free me to work more. We will all have to grow up and try our hardest, but with God’s help we will make it.”
She paused and looked around at all the wide eyes and open mouths.
“Mother”, gasped Elizabeth, speaking for all of them, “this all happened so fast! I don’t know if I can do it, but I will try my best for you.”
The little girls gathered around their mother’s skirts. Tears welled up in Catharine’s eyes as she thought of William and all they must go through before they would be together again.
George alone was the only one who looked slightly less somber than the rest. He was thinking of all the tales of valor and glory he would be able to accomplish now that he was the man of the house. I will make our family the richest in England! He thought triumphantly.

After the initial hectic environment of getting used to the new schedule, everyone found that it suited him or her perfectly. Catharine was bringing in enough to keep the home together, but she could not cut back on the debts that they had had for so long. George still had not found a job, but he looked everywhere and each night came back with tales of adventure and wealth that he was sure were just around the corner.
Catharine smiled and looked on. His way of seeing things reminded her of William, for he had always been optimistic and full of ideals. Yet inside she anxiously awaited what would come next to their doorstep. She was expecting their lenders to visit anytime, yet she had nothing to pay them with.

* * *

William ran to the ship that was on its way to his desired destination. He didn’t know much about the Colonies, where was a good place to settle with good soil, etc, but this vessel was bound for the newly established city of Providence, Rhode Island.
He nearly missed boarding, having lost track of the time while buying some provisions for his journey, but thankfully the captain waited an extra minute for him, and he hopped aboard just as the tide was rolling in.
The journey was slow and uneventful at first. William enjoyed it immensely, and loved the smell of salt and the wind blowing over his closed eyelids.
The voyage, which was supposed to last for one-and-a-half months, was taking shorter than expected. One night the captain announced to all the passengers that they should expect to see land within the week.
That night, however, William was awakened by shouts and cries of alarm. He shot out of bed and hurried onto the deck. They had run suddenly into a furious storm, and their boat was tossing and turning, threatening to roll over and send them all into a watery grave.
Hurrying to one of the sailors, William shouted above the howling of the wind, “Can the ship make it, or will it shatter with this constant battering?”
The man looked at him with a toothy grin and replied, with some obvious amusement, “You’ve never been on a ship in the middle of the ocean before, have you?”
William looked at him and shook his head dumbly.
“Well, you’ve nothing to worry, lad,” the man said calmly, “I’ve been in many a storm thrice as large as this, and I just pray to God, and he always pulls us through.”
William nodded and walked away. He had never really thought much about God before, but now seemed like a good time to try to contact him.
After going below deck, he said a simple prayer, asking God to take them safely to the other side, through the storm and to their destination. Then he drifted off to sleep.
When he awoke the next morning, all was calm, and everyone was safe and sound. William lifted his eyes to the sky in heartfelt thanks.
When they arrived in Rohde Island the following week, William disembarked and looked around the town to see what adventures he would find waiting for him. Next he used the last of his money to procure some food and an inn reserved for a week.
After retiring to his room for the night William began to reminisce on his family. He hadn’t had much time to think about them what with all the excitement and activity during the last months. But now they flashed before his eyes one by one, until he thought it would be too much for him to bear.
“Oh God, keep them safe and send them to me as speedily as You can,” he whispered as he nodded off to sleep.

* * *

Catharine awoke with a start. The sound of banging on the front door had awoken her in the early morning hours.
“Who on earth could it be at this time of the day—or shall I call it night?” She wondered, though in the back of her mind she had a nagging suspicion.
After dressing quickly she made her way to the door, her heart pounding.
“May I help you?” she inquired politely, as if these people’s visit was a surprise and puzzled as to what they could want with her.
Her notion had been correct, for there before her stood two smartly dressed soldiers and a man, whom she recognized as the noble who owned all the land in this district.
This man now stepped to the front.
“Where is the money your husband owes me?” he demanded angrily, while pointing an accusatory finger at her. “He told me to come here this month and he would reimburse me with all the payments that he missed!”
“We come from the sheriff of this county,” the soldiers now came to the forefront, “Mr. Lombard, as I understand, owes quite a large sum of money to the king in taxes that he did not pay during the last months.”
Catharine thought quickly and answered, “I am very sorry, but my husband is not here right now and will not be back for quite some time. Meanwhile I will take care of his business.”
“Then give us the money!” roared the noble, his face red with rage. “Your husband has never been faithful to pay, and now he has run away and left his wife to take the responsibilities. Some men these days.” He muttered under his breath.
Catharine’s chest swelled in anger at this accusation, knowing how far it was form the truth. But she forced herself to remain calm. A plan began to form in her mind and she smiled within herself.
“I apologize, but I do not have the means to pay your dues right now. But I have a proposal to make. I will pay in installments over the next year or so. I have no doubt that I can in time pay you back in full, but I have only recently started working, and have nothing saved up yet. How much do I owe you?” she inquired of one of the soldiers.
“Two hundred and fifty pounds,” he answered smartly.
She looked at the nobleman and raised her eyebrows, not bothering to repeat herself.
“Three hundred,” he snapped. “He missed payments for almost two years.”
Catharine let out a little gasp. She had no idea that he had owed such an amount. Still, she reasoned, I am sure we could keep up with this. I am a woman, after all, and they must show some mercy.
She turned to the men. “I promise to give each of the parties twenty pounds every month until such a time as I have completed the debt in full,” she stated in her most formal voice.
The soldiers conversed for a moment and then nodded their consent to the transaction. The nobleman gave her a look that said, ‘I am only doing this because you are a woman, but if you were your husband, God help you!’

After the men had finally gone, Catharine had time to collect her thoughts. She did not know what prompted her to give them such a deal, for she knew that, especially with George unemployed, there was no way they could ever meet such high demands.
And because of this, she remembered, patting her belly. A few days after William had left she had discovered that she was pregnant. Her heart swelled with joy as she imagined having her new baby in their new home.
But it will also restrict my working hours; I am always so tired when I conceive! She worried, but knew it was worth it.
Thinking quickly, she decided that they would look for a cheaper place of residence elsewhere, perhaps to even rent rooms out for cheap to earn something extra on the side.
Catharine quickly sent a letter to William, telling him all this news and reminding him to hurry along and not get caught up with trying to do great acts of bravery. Smirking at the thought, she sent George with it to take to the harbor, with instructions to find a ship sailing to Rhode Island, for William had written telling her of his new address.
Before beginning her daily activities, Catharine included a little prayer.
“God, if you have time to do little normal things in people’s lives, please bless this whole thing and keep us all as we prepare to move.”

* * *

One day, about half a month after the visit from the soldiers, Catharine was busily knitting when she happened to look up and out of the window.
“It’s getting late,” she said aloud, “George should be home by now from his daily wanderings. Unless he has found a stable place of work, for which I would be most grateful.”
A couple of hours later George burst in through the door, huffing and puffing with exertion.
“Mother, you wouldn’t believe it!” he cried, bouncing around excitedly.
Catharine was worried for a minute that he had done some ‘heroic’ act for which they would have to answer to later. But soon her face filled with delight as he continued.
“I got a job working for Mr. Hilldunker, the most prominent politician in our city. It pays well, and he said he will give me a week’s payment in advance. He was so accommodating; I didn’t know what to say. Our financial problems are solved! We don’t have to move anymore, do we?”
George’s eager face and pleading eyes made Catharine laugh. He had always loved this house, and told her everyday how he didn’t want to ever leave. Patiently she took his hand and tried to explain.
“My dear, the money that we have to pay is due in two weeks. How much does this man propose to pay you?”
“Seven pounds a week, perhaps more if I work overtime,” he whispered, as if it was a great secret.
“Well, that is definitely much more than I would have supposed. We are certainly fortunate. But your job will only cover some of the payments. My job will cover the rest, but we still need to put food on the table, and we should start saving up for the baby that is on the way. So you see, it is impossible for us to keep up with this place if we stay here.”
George nodded silently, seeing that there was no other way.

* * *

William ran to the docks, as he had heard that a ship with news from England and many letters had just put into harbor. It took him awhile to find out exactly where to go to find the letter that he was sure was waiting for him, but finally he procured it and took it to his abode to read. Holding it as if it was the greatest treasure in the world, he joyfully read all of the news.
I must work even harder now, for the baby must be born here, he thought determinedly, and I want to be a perfect provider for my family. After rereading the letter several times, he decided to change his plans.
He had been living in a small apartment with some others. They would divide the rent between themselves, and each bought his own food. For work he helped an elderly farmer who was too weak to keep up his land alone. The man was friendly and always generous with his payments. William also used this opportunity to learn as much as he could about growing food and maintaining a farm, for he had already decided that he would have one of his own in time.
But now he wanted to begin looking for land on which to build. After making some inquiries he settled on Philadelphia. After taking leave of his employer for a week, he hired a coach to drive as fast as it could all day and night to his destination.
After looking around and liking what he saw, William purchased some land with money that he had been saving up. Then he drove back to Rohde Island and dispatched a letter to Catharine telling her of his move.

* * *

“So where are my payments?” demanded the landlord rudely as Catharine answered the door on the day appointed. Being over two months pregnant and experiencing great nausea, she found it hard to maintain her steadiness, but somehow she managed a smile.
Getting out the money, she paid each group of men his due and sat down. The man looked a little disappointed she thought, as he was sort of hoping that Catharine would not have the money, and then he could send all of her family to debtor’s orison. But now he took the coins and began counting it greedily. The soldiers simply took the money.
“Before you all leave I need to inform you,” Catharine said quickly as the men turned to make their exit, “that from this point on you may go to receive your payments at this address.” So saying, she took out two pieces of cloth with writing on them and handed them out.
The soldiers simply nodded, but the landlord exploded with anger once he realized what was going on. His face turned purple with rage and he opened his mouth to scream some obscenity. Catharine held her breath, but suddenly the man calmed and let out a sigh.
“Very well,” he said dryly, “I will be awaiting your next payment. Until next month.”
That night, Catharine took out the money that she had been secretly saving over the years. Not even William had known about it, for she knew that if he had he would never have left to America, a change which, she now knew, was the best thing that could happen to their family. It was not much, but enough to pay the rent for a small apartment above a store. There were two bedrooms, and Catharine reasoned that they could afford to use only one and then rent out the other to whomever would give the highest price.
The next day she bought the house and began the long, hard task of moving their stuff out. Since they had been living in their current place for so many years, they had accumulated a lot of junk that they would have to sort through, keeping as much as possible aside to sell.
They had to work on it mainly at night, for George worked long hours at Mr. Hilldunker’s house, so as to bring in as much income as was needed. Catharine also had to keep up her sewing job, which left only the three littlest to do the rest. Catharine would sometimes send them on small errands to take things to the new abode, but she hated having them go out on the streets alone.
So they continued on with their schedule, cutting back on as many corners as they could, barely stopping to sleep or eat, for they had to clear out before their landlord came back to demand that they pay the next month’s rent as well.

* * *

During this time Catharine began to feel very weak. It came over her very slowly, beginning with more and more frequent headaches. She knew she needed rest, especially in her condition, but she kept saying to herself, No! My family comes first. I must support them above all.
Then one evening, while packing one of the children’s bags, she began to feel very dizzy. Thinking that it must just be her position at the moment, she straightened herself up. Just then a sharp pain shot up her back, and she began to fall. Reaching forward to catch herself, she caught hold of a chair. But the chair toppled over as well, and both woman and chair came crashing to the floor. Everything went black, and Catharine remembered nothing after that.
Hearing the commotion, Elizabeth came running and let out a scream when she saw her mother lying motionless on the floor. Not knowing whether she was dead or alive, she quickly called for her little sisters.
“Vic, Annie, help me get Mama into her bed! Careful…” she whispered as they heaved and groaned with the weight.
After moving the unconscious figure to a couch, they could go no further and decided to leave her there.
“Will Mama die?” asked Anne
“Is she already dead?” echoed Victoria.
“Shhh, now is not the time for questions like that”, Elizabeth hushed, though feeling rather frightened herself. “We must act quickly. You two stay here and never leave her side until I return. I will fetch a doctor.”
So saying, she wrapped a shawl around her shoulders and hurried out into the streets.
When the doctor arrived, Catharine was still unconscious. She had become delirious and was babbling unintelligibly, although every few minutes Victoria was sure she heard the name ‘William’.
The doctor opened her eyes, looked inside her mouth, and checked her pulse, heartbeat, and temperature. After checking a few of his instruments and charts he stood deep in thought for a long while. Then he slowly shook his head.
“Too much physical and emotional stress has weakened her to the point that her body can no longer fight off disease or infections in the air,” he said slowly, looking at Elizabeth to see if she comprehended what he was saying. He continued, “If you carefully follow my instructions and only do exactly as I tell you, she may survive.”
So saying, he took a small vial out of the bag he had brought with him.
“Keep her as warm as you can. She needs to sweat out whatever impurities she caught. Also, give her a spoonful of this each morning and each night, and feed her soft foods that are easy to digest such as broth. I will come as often as I can.”
During the days that followed, Elizabeth took over Catharine’s sewing job, though at a somewhat slower pace than her mother. She told the doctor of their situation, and he agreed to treat his patient free of charge if Victoria would help out with chores in his house. Everyone consented readily to this plan, and each held his breath as they waited to see if Catharine would indeed survive.
One day, four days after Catharine had taken to her bed; Anne came running and tugged at Elizabeth’s dress.
“Come quickly,” she shouted, “its Mama!”
Quickly Elizabeth gathered up her skirts and rushed to her mother’s side. She was a little worried that Catharine had passed away, as the doctor was expecting would happen any day now. But her fears were soon replaced with joy unspeakable as she found her mother awake and sitting up.
“What happened, Liz?” Catharine asked drowsily. She began to try to get up, but Catharine gently pushed her back down.
“You must rest now, Mother,” she cooed softly, “You nearly died from overwork and exhaustion. Do not worry, we have everything under control. The doctor will come by later today to check on you.”
Catharine looked up and gave a weak smile. She struggled to say something, and Elizabeth had to kneel and put her ear to her mother’s mouth to hear what she was trying to say.
“…Thank God,…” she whispered. She tried to say more, but all could see that the strain was too much. She closed her eyes and fell into a contented sleep.

* * *

The doctor continued dropping by whenever he had the time, and he was amazed at Catharine’s speedy recovery. One day he began to speak quietly to Catharine. “You will not be needing my services from this point on. Your daughter can also come back and needn’t work at my house anymore. Make sure you go slow and rest if you feel tired. You must also eat proper foods regularly…” He paused and bit his lip as if there was something more to say. Catharine noticed immediately and inquired earnestly as to what he was hiding from her.
“I knew that some bad would most likely occur. Please do not hold anything back, but tell me all that you wish to say.”
The doctor glanced around the room, as if wishing there was some way out of this awkward position. Then he took a deep breath and began, “Catharine, this sickness has not only affected you. It is a miracle that even you survived and recovered fully. I am sorry to tell you this, but the infant you were carrying didn’t make it. The child miscarried two days after you fell unconscious. I hid this from you until now, for I did not want to discourage you before you were fully recovered, as that would have had greatly hampered the process. I wish there was more I could do to help, but…” his voice trailed off and he looked at the ground.
The news was a shock to Catharine. She knew it shouldn’t be, as the extent of her sickness would have killed any child that young in the womb. I guess I just never imagined it would actually happen, she thought. The room began to spin, and she felt an inexplicable feeling of regret wash over her. The only thing she could compare it to was when her little son had died.
Quickly dismissing the doctor, Catharine sat staring dumbly at the ceiling, too angry at herself for tears.
I could have prevented that! But I also had a duty to take care of the rest of my family as well! Why, oh why, God, did you not do something to help me? I am alone here and I have no one to turn to except you. You could have done something! You could have done something!! She repeated this over and over, her mind swimming in a sea of confusion, misery and frustration. Then she suddenly remembered.
“William! I promised to send him my new address, but I never did! Now the first he will here of will be this…”
When George got back from work that night she dictated a letter to him which he wrote out and sent.
Over the next few weeks, Catharine became more and bitter about life, their situation, and mostly about God. The children exchanged worried looks. Their once happy and positive mother was becoming constantly angry, easily annoyed, and murmuring about everything. She even began to look older, they noticed.

* * *

William was getting worried and impatient. It had been months since Catharine had last written. He had already bought the land they would settle on, and had saved up more money besides. Now he just needed her new address to tell her that all was ready.
At the same time, he knew that speed was imperative, for he had seen and heard some disturbing news of late. A small but gradually larger trickle of anti-England sentiment was creeping through the land. Debates and squabbles between the king’s officials and people’s representatives began, getting more and more serious.
At first William was surprised that the king did nothing to appease the people. Doesn’t he realize what this whole thing could lead to? William thought incredulously.
As time went on, small acts of retaliation against British rule began—the Boston Tea Party, Stamp Act riots, and a complete boycotting of English goods. He heard whispers of plans for freedom from British rule, and war was in the air.
William prayed earnestly that his family would be able to come to America before the war began.

* * *

Catharine was dusting off some furniture in their newly furnished place of abode when George came from work looking very troubled. After supper he told her an account of conversation he had overheard at the house of his employer.
“Some people came for a meeting at Mr. Hilldunker’s house today,” he began, “They spoke of what is happening to the once strong ties between the Colonies and their Mother country. They were saying that there is talk of war, and people shout of freedom from England…”
“But this is preposterous!” cried Catharine. “Why would they do such a thing?”
“They are opposing the taxes that the king sets for them,” George explained, “They say that if they have no representatives in Parliament than they should not be expected to fund things that they do not even approve of.”
“It makes sense, I guess, I do not really like to think about politics,” Catharine whispered. Then she straightened up. “But this news of war could have a big effect on us. What if they close the ports to passengers in case of a war? I am sorry to have heard this news right now, for if I had known sooner, we would not have had to move here, but I would have taken you all straight to America. Then perhaps my child would have lived…” she trailed off and set her mouth into a straight line.
“Oh God,” she cried, forgetting that George was still there, “How could you do such a thing? Why? Oh, why!!”
George looked at his mother with a mixture of grief and pity. Although he knew he could never understand what his mother was going through, he knew that if it was not for the protecting hand of God they would most likely all be sitting in debtor’s prison, or worse.
Gently laying a hand on his mother’s shoulder he said in a soothing voice, “Mother, I cannot pretend to know what you are going through, but I do know that God has been with through all these years.” Then he proceeded to remind her of all the times that they came so close to complete ruin, but something always pulled them through.
“You know all that was not merely coincidence, you even used to tell me so yourself.” He stopped and let the words wash over her.
Catharine struggled within herself. She knew that she had been unfair to put all the blame on God, when it was really her own fault. I was working too much on my own without asking Him to help me. I really should learn to trust more in Him and let Him do the work of worrying.
A peace settled over the room, loving and understanding. The tears that had been unable to form now welled up and spilled out. Catharine collapsed with a fit of sobbing into George’s arms. Not knowing what else to do, George held his mother awkwardly.
“I think maybe God sent you that child as a test of your faithfulness to him,” he whispered, “It was His Will to take that child away, so there must have been a good reason. Maybe He knew that the journey would have been too hard for it, and it would have perished anyway. You would have been too weak now to travel across the ocean if you were pregnant. I am sure He knows. We just have to trust Him.”
Catharine nodded, unable to speak for the emotions that were churning within her. She felt like George was the parent and she the little child. But deep inside there was a perfect peace had settled, and she knew that a change had taken place, and that she would never be the same.

* * *

“Help, help!” A cry was echoing through the streets of the city. Suddenly shots were heard outside the window, and William jumped out of bed. Sweating and panting he stood there, in the silence of the night. It was another nightmare, and with the shouting and fighting right outside his window getting louder and more intense by the day, these dreams were only understandable.
When William got up the next morning, he counted out the money that he had and decided that now was the time.
“Whether or not Catharine has moved, I do not know. But if they want to come within the next ten years, they must leave before next month.”
He wrote a letter to her and sent it to the old house they had been living in when he had left. The letter from Catharine had not yet arrived, and he never did get it. Many letters were lost on the long voyage, so no one could know for certain that a letter they had sent would get all the way across to the person for whom it was intended.

* * *

The atmosphere in the house of Mr. Hilldunker was tense. A group of men stood huddled around his bulky figure, while he shook his head and sighed.
“Why must it have turned out like this?” he said in a low voice, “If these Colonists would only give in a little…but then again, perhaps they do a have a point…Is there any news on what the King plans to do?” he asked, turning to face one elderly balding man.
“He seems to be insistent on keeping the Colonies, and will not give them up without a fight, I suppose.” The man answered, looking pale and worn, “They are very valuable to England’s wealth of natural resources and for our trade with the rest of Europe. To give them up would mean a great deal of sacrifice on our part, after we have invested so much in setting them up.”
“Yes,” Hilldunker interrupted, “But think of all the people that would be affected by this war—thousands could be killed, families torn apart because of being forced to choose sides, and miles of land wasted. Methinks if we let those people have their own country peacefully we could continue to trade with them and get more out of it than if we stay enemies. Who knows, perhaps in later years they would come to us for advice on how to run and rule their people.”
The men in the room exchanged puzzled glances. Hilldunker had always been the most outspoken man in politics, and the only reason that he had been able to keep his position was because of his ingenious ability to find solutions to problems of state. But now he had outdone himself. He had blasphemed against the King in public, and many in the room knew that this time he would not escape as easily as he had up to this point.

* * *

After the men had gone for the night, George was alone with his master. The elderly man seemed rather anxious and deep in thought, probably realizing the repercussions he could have as a result of what he had said that night.
After a few minutes he motioned to George to come near.
“Sit down, my lad, while I explain something to you. I will be leaving tomorrow to stay with the King for a fortnight or so. I will not be needing your services during this time, so for now I am going to dismiss you. You must understand,” he said quickly as George’s face fell, “it is through no fault of your own that I do this, but I do not know what kind of punishment, for indeed there will be one, I will receive for my words on this night. But because of the current state of your family I am going to give you two months’ wages first.”
George looked up with joy and thankfulness written all over his face. He really felt like a hero now. Wait ‘till I tell mother, he thought to himself. But one thought plagued him that he must ask Mr. Hilldunker.
“Sir, I do not know what to say. Your generosity is great, and I assure you that it will help my family more than you could imagine. But if you don’t mind me asking, how did come to know of my family? I thought you only employed me when I came here the first time, without any prior knowledge of my past.” George looked down a little embarrassed.
“It’s okay, lad, you have a right to know. You should never be afraid to speak your mind, no matter what someone’s rank in life, for we are all only human. First of all you must understand that I would never let someone work here without a through knowledge of their personal life. I am not nosy, but just mindful of who and what are in my house. So when you came to me, I sent you back to come the following day. That night I sent one a friend to ask around to see who knew about your family. I learned about your father leaving, your move, even about your financial situation from your former landlord. So I understand how much this money will mean to you. I hope you all make it to America safely. Tell your mother that she may want to think of leaving soon, for it may be too late if she does not leave now.”
After thanking the man profusely, George took his leave and hurried home to tell of this fortunate occurrence.

* * *

Because of the dangerous times that were only growing worse, William had found it necessary to invest in a gun. He didn’t want to, as weapons were expensive and he was trying to save as much as he could. But now his life was beginning to be threatened as small skirmishes in the streets and other acts of violence became the norm.
Walking home that evening, his gun held awkwardly under his arm, William was musing silently when he came upon a small group of people. A line of red-coated British soldiers stood in front of a small group of Colonists. The men mocked and yelled at the soldiers, throwing stones and spitting on them with disgust.
Usually William stayed away from any scenes, not wanting to get involved. But just then he saw a soldier raise his gun and aim at the group of men in front of him. On impulse, William fired on the soldier. In the confusion that followed, William turned and ran down a nearby alley, hopefully undetected. His exit, however, had not been altogether unnoticed.

* * *

The money given by Mr. Hilldunker was soon put to good use, and the final packing to leave was underway. Even in England they were beginning to feel the effects of the war. Taxes were raised, men were enlisting in the army, and people everywhere debated and betted on what would happen next.
Catharine was tired, but in her heart she was happy and content, knowing that the Lord was taking care of them.
On the day they finished cleaning all their stuff, Catharine and her children took their belongings and traveled to the nearest harbor to see if there was a ship headed to their destination.
After making many inquiries, Catharine was surprised that there were no ships headed that way, and that none even thought of going there in the near future.
Just then a young man made his way towards them.
“Ma’am, you look a little lost. Would you be needing any assistance?”
Thankful that she had found someone helpful, Catharine turned and explained their predicament.
“Why, my dear lady, have you not heard of the war with the Colonies?” he asked in genuine surprise.
“I had heard of it, but I did not know it was a full-scale war just yet,” Catharine said, “I thought it was still in the beginning stages.”
“Well, if you had come here perhaps three weeks ago, I would have been able to agree with you. But now I am afraid that they have just closed the ports to any and all civilians, and only warships and soldiers are allowed passage. I am very sorry.”
Catharine thanked the man and sat down on a nearby wooden bench in shock. She could not believe that this could be happening. Now what would they do? Inside she chastised herself for so foolishly coming here without inquiring first.
“Lord, please come through for us, just as you always have.”

* * *

“Mother! Mother!” George cried as he ran down the streets towards the apartment they had bought again after their little excursion to the harbor.
Bursting in the door, George breathlessly exclaimed “Mother, Mr. Hilldunker is dead!”
“What?” Catharine asked “But how?”
“Everyone is talking about it. Mr. Hilldunker had gone to see the King, I already told you. But the King refused him, and he was held in contempt by the court. One morning his friends broke into his apartment to investigate why he was so late for a meeting, and they found him murdered in his bed. The King and his doctors say it was suicide. But if you ask me,” George lowered his voice, “it has something to do with that meeting where he spoke out against the decisions the King was making as far as the war.”
“It’s shame what the world is coming to,” Catharine shook her head, but would not give her opinion on the matter.

* * *

William had been nervous all day, half expecting a dozen soldiers to leap out of every crevice and arrest him. So it was with much trepidation and trembling that he answered a knock at his door that afternoon.
There was a smartly-dressed man wearing a long tailcoat with brass buttons that flashed brilliantly in the sunlight.
After he had shown the man inside and both had seated themselves comfortably, the gentleman introduced himself as Edward.
“William,” the man began with a benign smile but crafty smile, “I saw what you did yesterday, and I and some of my friends were greatly impressed.” He raised his eyebrows upward as if that was of a great significance.
William was worried for a minute, but soon realized that he had been seen by a faction of people that he had not expected.
“We would like to offer you a job in our new revolutionary army, fighting for independence,” the man continued, “ We need men like you, for right now we have but a small band of men, and none of them very well trained. What do you think?”
“I would be honored,” began William apprehensively, “But I have one question. You see, my family is still living in England, but they could be traveling here any day now. Isn’t there a possibility that they would be hurt by my hand?”
“My young men have that question, and I will set your fears at rest. Just about two weeks ago England imposed a law saying that only soldiers were allowed passage across the ocean, so your family will not be coming here until after the war.” Edward looked questioningly at William as if to make the invitation again.
William thought for a moment and then decided. “Yes,” he said confidently, “I will join the army.” Then to himself, Though it is rather awkward to think that I am fighting against my own family. I should try not thinking about it. The army may be my way to get famous and become a hero!

* * *

Catharine was trying hard to be optimistic and cover up the facts, but they could all see where they were headed.
George had lost his job and wasn’t able to find another one. Taxes were skyrocketing, and Catharine was getting fewer orders in her line of work than before, for times were hard on everyone. George knew that if only Mr. Hilldunker was still alive he would help them. But he was gone, and they had to try to help themselves. So they saved their food and sold as many of their belongings as they dared, all the while knowing they were headed for impending disaster.
Catharine at times was tempted to doubt and give way to despair, but she knew God would always take care of His own, as He had proven time and time again.

* * *

One day Elizabeth was home with the two youngest ones, while Catharine and George went out to do some shopping for bare necessities.
She was just beginning to wonder when they would be back when there came a knock at the door. That must be them, she thought.
Anne rushed to the door and threw it open, expecting to run into her mother’s arms. Instead Elizabeth heard her give a squeal of shock and begin yelling, “Liz, Liz! Come, quick!”
Elizabeth rushed to the door to find five red-coated men at the door. There was no question as to who they were, and what they had come for.
“Go inside, Annie,” she said soothingly, and then faced the men.
The leader stepped forward. “We have come to inform Mrs. Catharine Lombard failure to pay the royal taxes. Unless she will come and give us the money, we are instructed to escort her and her family to a nearby facility to be held until such a time as she will be able to pay back what she owes.”
Elizabeth’s heart felt like a big lump in her throat, but she managed to explain, “My mother, the one you are seeking, is not here right now,” she began, but was cut short.
“Then we will wait for her!” the soldier announced gruffly and a little annoyed.
So Elizabeth led them into the main to room to await her arrival, and when Catharine had entered, everyone somberly followed the soldiers to their new ‘home’.

* * *

Bang! Bang! Crash! William let out a volley of shots and then ran for cover in a nearby ditch.
His period of training over, he and his contingent had now moved out into the battlefield, and since then there had never been a quiet moment.
William had gained respect and popularity from his fellow comrades for his bravery and daringness in battle. He often did little risky things to make his name known; for he loved the attention and compliments that they brought him.
Now he was in the hottest part of the battle, and he had picked a good spot in a wooded area a little ways away from the main bulk of the army. Here he could not be easily detected, so he would jump out and attack the soldiers of the opposite side and then run for cover before they knew what had hit them.
His maneuvers so far had all been successful, and he felt his self-confidence rise within him. Sneaking right up to the enemy’s lines, he felled a couple of soldiers with the blunt end of his rifle, turned, and sped into his hiding place.
A couple of minutes later he peeked out and prepared to jump into action. But then he doubled back in horror as a realization washed over him.
While he had been busy with his antics, he hadn’t been paying attention to the tide of the battle, and the English army had been pushed back—right into the woods that he in. Seeing soldiers backing toward him only meters away, William jumped up and dove into a large bush.
From his vantage point he surveyed the situation before him. He could see no way out except to backward. This could prove to be even more dangerous, however, as he would be escaping to English territory, which he did not, and in which he ran a great risk of getting captured.
But then, he thought, the only other way is…forward? He smiled suddenly as a thought entered his mind.
Steadying himself for a minute to keep his mind from panicking, he crept slowly toward the line of British soldiers. He was not detected, as they were busy facing the opposite way. Catching them by surprise, he attacked the line of men in the back, felling man after man as he fought desperately to make it to the rest of his contingent. To his dismay, however, he was soon overpowered and surrounded.
Looking around the circle of men, he was suddenly reminded that not more than a year ago he was just like one of them. This made him think of his family, so far away in a country that he was now fighting against.
If Catharine could see me now, he thought, she’s be so disappointed. She always hated violence of any kind. I can’t go on like this, he abruptly began to grasp. Understanding that he could be shot at any moment, he began to pray earnestly. Oh God, he silently cried out, I understand what Catharine always said about no man being enemies to You, for these men are all just humans with families just like me, and they are all precious to You. Free me, I beg You, and I promise never to raise my hand against my fellow man again.
All this time the men around him were talking and shouting, while outside of the circle the battle continued to rage. Just then he noticed the bugle calls coming from his contingent. They were shouting victory!
Can it really be…? He thought, hoping against hope that he would somehow be rescued before the retreating British army marched him away.
The soldiers put him in chains and began to march into the woods. Just as he was beginning to accept defeat, he heard a familiar voice. Turning his head, he caught sight of one of his friends from his contingent. Shouting desperately, he tried to get the man’s attention. His friend turned in surprise, and once he realized what was happening, ran to the officer in charge. The commander rallied the men and they chased after the retreating army. Not many minutes later William was rescued. He had some minor injuries, but he was just thankful to have escaped with his life. The last thing he remembered was falling to the ground on the battlefield in complete and utter exhaustion.
When William awoke sometimes later, he was in a large tent with many other soldiers. A doctor was making his rounds, treating the various wounds. Soon the doctor made his way to him and addressed him respectfully.
“Mr. Lombard, how well you are looking! We are so glad that your recovery has gone so well. I must admit, for a day or so I was afraid you might not make it. But you have, thanks be to God!”
“Oh, I was sleeping for that long?” William asked, bewildered. “That must be why I am so hungry.”
“Never fear, I have made you a healthful soup to strengthen your bones.” The doctor left and soon returned with a steaming bowl. “Now, when you are finished, I believe that there are some people who will want to speak to you. You bravery and courage yesterday seems to have impressed everyone, including myself.”
William was puzzled, but decided to wait and see what exactly it was that he had done which had sparked so much enthusiasm in this normally dull and somber doctor. After thanking the doctor, he finished his meal and was escorted to the tent of his commander.
Ushering him to some nearby cushions, the commander began to go into a detailed account of the battle three days ago, and, when he came to the point of when William was captured, looked him straight in the eye and said, “William, you have always been one of my favorite men. You have been brave and fearless and willing to do even above and beyond what was expected of you. What happened the other day could prove to be a turning point in your career. It is now time to make a decision: if you stay on here, you will most likely climb high in rank, perhaps even passing me. A report of this battle has already been sent to the General, and I assure you that your name was mentioned. However, if you prefer, we can give you an honorable discharge, and you can go and build your home in preparation for your family’s arrival. It’s up to you to make the decision, but it must be made soon.”
William thought for a moment. The offer of staying was so tempting… But inside he knew that this was the Lord’s setup, and that he should leave and keep the promise that he made on the battlefield.
Without another moment’s hesitation he told the commander of his decision. The man, though surprised, seemed a little relieved; for in truth, he had been a little resentful and thought of William as a rival who may some day take his job from him.
A ceremony was held in his honor before he left, and he was given a paper with fancy writing that said that he was officially released because of the great services he had rendered. In truth, William could hardly recognize the story that people were telling of his ‘great works’, and at first he had been sure that they were confusing him with someone else.
Well, he thought with a small chuckle, I suppose at this point in time the men need something to inspire and lift their sagging spirits.

* * *

Catharine woke often during the night. She could hardly sleep, haunted by thoughts of being stuck in prison forever. She could see no way out, for she had no relatives, friends, or anyone else who would be able to help them.
During the day she tried to be hopeful and cheerful for the children’s sake and for the sake of the ten other people that they shared this cell with. She could tell that George and Elizabeth knew and understood what was going on, though they also kept their lips sealed on the matter.
But during the night Catharine let out all her frustrations, and let the tears flow. She felt so helpless, like a little baby who cries to be picked up. Everyday they sat in their cell of four walls and stared into oblivion, cut off from the world and not caring about the time of day. A few of the people, including themselves, had brought some belongings with them, the bare necessities, but that was all.
Now Catharine sat with her head in her hands, and everything seemed to fade and merge together into one big mass of nothingness. They had been here for two weeks and already it seemed like two years. It seemed as if she had come to a raging rapid in the path of her life, and there was nothing to do but sit and wait.
Wait for what? That is what I long to know! Wait for the river to run itself out? Wait to grow wings so I can fly over it? Oh William, I miss you so much! I hadn’t realized how hard it would be to be alone in the world.
“Oh God,” Catharine sobbed, her voice sounding choked and hoarse as it croaked out cries that came straight from the deep, aching pain in her heart, “I am about to go insane! I don’t know how, but I know that You can help us and rescue us. Please, make something happen within the next week to take away from the monotony of this situation,” she whispered wildly, hysteria filling her mind, “or else, I really do not see any reason left to live.”
With those ominous words hanging in the air, Catharine lay down and fell into a deep sleep, such as she had not slept in a long while.
The next morning she awoke with a contented smile on her face, knowing that God would somehow make a way for her family. She was surprised to see the sun shining so brilliantly into their cell, for it had seemed as if the sun had never shone on them before while they had been in these miserable circumstances.
It’s amazing how much difference having a little hope in your life can make, she mused. “Please remember your promise,” she whispered, looking up at the ceiling.

* * *

Three days later at about midday, there was a commotion at the end of the long hall outside their cell. Shouts of protest were heard coming closer, and soon a small group of soldiers came marching towards them. A man walked in the middle of them, an angry glower written across his face. He wore the garb of a man of the sea, and was very muscular and tanned by the sun.
After putting him into their cell, the man leaned out and shouted, “I have money coming any minute! Listen to me!”
They paid him no heed, but continued until they were out of sight. As the sound of tromping boots disappeared into silence, the man turned to the crowd of curious faces. Looking rather embarrassed, he began to speak.
“Hey-ho, mates, how be you?” he chortled in a friendly manner.
Catharine was amazed at the change that had come over him in the last few seconds. His scowl was replaced with a welcoming smile, and his voice sounded kind, almost gentle.
After introducing himself as Captain Harvey, the man settled himself into a corner and slept for some time.
When he awoke, he looked around and said cheerfully, “Come, children, I will tell you a story of my sea adventures.”
All of the children flocked to them, and he kept them entertained for hours with tales of pirates and battles, which made the children gasp with delight.
Catharine studied this odd man closely. He had the manners of a gentleman, yet such a rough exterior that it made him almost comical.
During the next few days Catharine began to spend much time with Harvey, and a friendship grew between them. Deep inside Catharine knew that she loved William more than ever, but the blossoming feelings she began to have for Harvey were confusing, yet enjoyable at the same time. She could not make sense of it, but it distracted her mind from thoughts of their situation, so she decided to just wait and see what would happen next.
One night, Catharine was dozing off when George and Elizabeth crawled up and sat on either side of her. Each putting an arm around her shoulders, they snuggled up close to her.
Pleasantly surprised by such an unusual display of affection coming from her two oldest children, she inquired as to whether or not there was something they wished to speak of.
After exchanging rather uneasy and embarrassed glances, Elizabeth began.
“Mama, something has come up that we wanted to ask you about. It has something to do with your personal life, so it is a bit awkward to bring up the subject, but we just wanted to clear this up so that our minds could be at peace.”
George now took over. “You see, Mother,” he explained, trying to sound grown-up, “We just wanted your confirmation that your relationship with Harvey is not going to hinder your first plans if going to America to join father. I understand that you are lonely since he has been gone for so long, but I just need to verify that father still has the first place in your heart.”
With that they both looked a little sheepishly up into her eyes, as if to ask if they had said the right thing or if she was offended by their forthrightness.
Catharine was shocked. She had no idea that she was so transparent. Silently she took each of their hands quietly told them of the prayer she had prayed last week, and how Harvey had come along at just the right time, when she was ready to quit on life.
“I must tell you,” she spoke in an earnest whisper, “I sincerely love your father still, and no one could ever take his place in my heart. If there was an opportunity to leave this place right now I would begin looking for a way to cross the ocean immediately, for I miss him so much. But right now Harvey is like my friend in time of trouble. I assure you he is nothing more than a friend.”
A couple of days later, Catharine was laughing and talking quietly with Harvey when the sound of tromping feet came once more from down the hall. Harvey jumped up, and Catharine looked on, knowing what was most likely about to take place, but dreading the realization.
Harvey had told her that he was expecting one of his ships to come into port any day now. That particular ship was doing some very profitable trading in the Mediterranean area, and if it came through, he was assured speedy departure from jail.
Now a soldier entered the cell and called out Harvey’s name. Quickly Harvey went over and began conversing with another man who had come with the soldier. They exchanged handshakes, and the man handed Harvey a bag of coins. Harvey turned to the soldier and whispered something to him, presumably that this was the money that he had to pay to be set free. The soldier nodded and the three men left the room.

* * *

For awhile Catharine sat and stared and said nothing. It had all happened so fast. He was here, and now he was gone. She fell back into her old depressions and feelings of hopelessness, for all seemed lost now. God had answered her prayer, and had He now seen fit to take that blessing away, perhaps to see if she was strong enough to stand alone?
“Lord,” Catharine prayed, “Please, I am sorry for not being more specific with my request last time. I pray that You will please get us out of here—and make that soon.”
The next morning was rainy, and they awoke to water rushing through the metal-barred window of the cell and threatening to flood the place. Quickly Catharine volunteered to climb up and place a small piece of wood that someone had procured over the opening, hung up on little spokes of rock jutting out beside the window.
After clambering up the wall and placing herself in a position that suited the job she had to do, she happened to look up out into the street. What she saw at first filled her with astonished surprise, then a little tingle of excitement as she remembered the prayer she had prayed the night before.
She watched as none other than Harvey beat his way through the storm toward the prison. He entered, and then Catharine could see no more. She hurriedly finished the job and slid back down the wall, being now thoroughly soaked.
For a few minutes they sat in silence, Catharine’s heart beginning to beat more rapidly as a feeling of excitement overcame her.
This is foolish of me to be getting my hopes up like this, she chastised herself, he has most likely forgotten all about us and was only coming here to do some business.
But the feeling persisted and grew until Catharine felt as if she would burst with happiness, so sure was she that God had come through for them yet again.
After some time footsteps were heard in the corridor, and Harvey appeared. Catharine watched as their names were called and the same procedure of whispering and handing over of bags of coins ensued.
Feeling as if she was in a dream that she hated to awaken from, Catharine heard Harvey’s voice welcoming them and felt his arm gently taking hers. She and her children turned to look for the last time at that tiny cell in which they had been trapped for what seemed like centuries. Then they followed Harvey out of the door to freedom.
Soon they found themselves sitting a comfortable parlor in Harvey’s house overlooking the sea. Answering Catharine’s unspoken question after she had marveled at the spacious and rather luxurious house, Harvey explained that his ship had brought even more profit than he could have ever imagined, and he was now starting a new life in a new class.
After several moments of awkward silence, Catharine spoke the words she knew he was waiting for, but that truly came from her heart.
“I…we…just don’t know what to say. How can I ever thank you, Harvey? I hope you understand that we could never pay you back…”
“Oh, cloybyosh!” Harvey exclaimed, cutting her short with a sheepish grin, “You know I could never have left you there. Really, the pleasure was all mine, and do not embarrass me further by bestowing any praise upon me that I do not deserve. I am not used to receiving thanks for services, but just knowing how much you appreciated the gesture made it more than worthwhile.” He paused and looked at her tenderly.
The children felt rather out of place in this romantic setting, especially George, who was getting more and more concerned about this interesting relationship by the moment.
Pulling himself out of his reverie, Harvey began talking—a little too quickly it seemed to the amused George. It was comical to see this big tough man caught off guard.
“I invite you all to stay here at my house for awhile while I look into ways to get you all safely to your destination. It will take a few days, but I hope you will feel at home here. You may peruse anything that may catch your interest. I set up a play room for the little ones so that they will not get bored. You all may read from the library I have as well.” With that he stood up to leave.
“Thank you so much, Harvey,” Catharine repeated, standing up along with him, “God will greatly bless you for all your help.”
They embraced for a few moments and then he took his leave, mumbling over his shoulder of some business he had to attend to.
Catharine sent the youngest children to play and then sat down, her head in her hands. George and Elizabeth exchanged worried glances and then left the room.

* * *

After a week of well-deserved rest, Harvey announced that the day had come. They were eating supper when he turned to them with an excited grin.
“I have something to tell you all,” he began, casting a careful glance at Catharine before continuing, “I have converted my ship into a vessel for transporting supplies to our army in America. I am making a trip to Virginia to deliver some stuff to the English fort there, and I have arranged for you all to travel with me. It would have to be in secret, of course, for any civilian would immediately be suspected of spying for the enemy, but I have a plan.”
He looked around at all the expectantly wide eyes before continuing.
“I have paid a peasant woman who looks much like you,” his voice was directed toward Catharine, but he seemed to be purposefully avoiding her gaze. “She has children about the same age as yours, and she has been living on the ship in secret ever since you left the prison. I had to put her on early before the crew arrived so that no one would find out. But tomorrow, which is when we sail, I will take you all early to the ship on the pretence of showing you around. We would then go to the hiding place where you would trade places with the woman and she and her children would then come off the ship with me. You would have to trade clothes with them as well. But don’t worry,” he said with an amused smile as Catharine expressed some alarm at the unconventional and unsanitary idea, “I bought them all nice new clothes to make sure that there will be no inconveniences.” He gave her a knowing look.
The children were of course very excited, and Catharine gazed at Harvey in thanks and gratitude.
“I know it must be hard for you to help us in this way,” she whispered to him, “But I know God will greatly bless you for it.”
“It is not hard,” he whispered back, “for I love you so much that I wouldn’t want anything else than to see you happy. I only want what is best for you.”
Their eyes met, and each saw that the others were moist. They had never spoken of what had transpired between them what seemed like years ago on that unforgettable night. But they both knew that it was always on the others’ mind, and would be forever.

* * *

The next morning they got up at dawn and made their way to the waiting ship. Harvey carried their belongings in his bag, as if they had brought luggage it would have caused suspicion from many people.
After showing them around the deck and explaining to them the functions of the instruments, Harvey glanced at Catharine purposefully and said in a loud voice so all the crew would be able to hear, “Down here is where we used to keep our trading cargo, which we now use to store the supplies we are taking to the army.”
With that, they all piled down the ladder and Harvey continued talking until they were out of earshot of the top deck.
Then his voice dropped to a whisper and he said, “Quick, we haven’t much time. Come this way.”
With that he walked a couple more feet, and to everyone’s surprise, dove straight into a pile of straw that looked as if it was supposed to be protecting some boxes.
They followed and found that they straw piled stopped after only about two feet, as opposed to the 5 that it looked like on the outside. There was a door which Harvey knocked rhythmically on. It immediately opened and a woman appeared and ushered them inside.
Introductions were made, though briefly, as Harvey pressed them to hurry. He then left the room to afford them some privacy as the exchanges of clothing were put on.
Five minutes later Harvey reappeared at the deck of the ship with the woman and her four children. No one noticed anything unusual, for in truth, they had not paid much attention when the captain had brought them on board. It was a regular occurrence with him, as he was proud of his ship and gave tours often.
After paying the woman, Harvey turned and hurried to put the ship out to sea, as already they were a little behind schedule.

* * *

The journey passed without event. Harvey, who visited whenever he could get away, expressed his pleasant surprise that they had encountered no sudden storms or other such calamities, as it was common for this time of year.
Catharine only smiled. She knew it was God saving them again. She prayed desperately whenever she could, which was most of the time, considering that they had nothing else to do but sit and wait.
Catharine worried sometimes about what they would do once they reached land, for she had not heard from William in months, and he could have left Rhode Island by this time. But she decided to just be thankful that they were crossing, and to let tomorrow take care of itself.
Weeks passed, and one day Harvey was telling a story to the children when they heard a shout from above.
“Put into harbor!” bellowed the first mate.
Harvey leapt to his feet. “I told that blasted idiot to inform me when land was sighted! Oh damnit! I don’t know if I will have time to get out of here before…”
But his voice faded away as the sound of tromping boots was heard directly above them.
“Where is the captain?” demanded a strong voice.
“I don’t know, Sir,” the first mate said, a crafty sneer across his face. He had not been on very good terms with the captain of late, and now saw an opportunity to cause him some trouble.
“He has not been around much this whole voyage,” the mate continued, “He goes often below deck. I do not know what it is he does down there, but perhaps you should…”
“We have orders to search any ship that comes into the harbor, for rumors of Colonist spies entering England have been heard, and they may try to return as stowaways on a ship bringing supplies. Perhaps the captain may even be suspected.”
With that the officer began to lead his men throughout the ship. Harvey had just left the secret room and was in the pile of straw when the soldiers entered. Crouched down, he dared not breathe, for if they found him, they would no doubt search deeper and find the room.
More than once bayonets were forced through the straw, and Harvey was glad that He was bending down, for if not he would have been impaled. Shuddering at the thought, he waited until the compartment had cleared.
Quietly removing himself, he crept into the nearest dark corner.
My troubles are not over, he thought to himself, for I still have to somehow get from here into a part of the vessel that they have not yet searched.
Just then he heard the noise of people entering the compartment in which he was hiding. Quickly he dove deep into a corner with some bags of flour. He could be seen plainly, however, and the small group of soldiers was getting nearer every second. Any moment now and he would be discovered. They would get suspicious because they had already searched the room. Suspecting a secret door, they would search deeper and most likely find stowaways.
No, no, I must not think that way! I must always have hope. God, if you are there like Catharine always says, please make a way for me and them to escape!
All these thoughts and musings rushed through his head in matter of time too short to measure, and the soldiers were still searching the place, creeping slowly closer toward him.
At that moment the commander’s voice boomed from the adjoining compartment, “You idiots get back over here! We already looked there well enough!”
Soon the place was empty again. Struck with a sense of urgency, Harvey crept to the stairs leading to the main deck, pulled himself up, and glanced around. No one was in sight, all being very busy looking for him below. He made his way to the other end of the ship where stood his captain’s cabin which he always kept locked when not inside. It was locked now as well, which is probably why they had not thought to check it.
Fools! They didn’t even think of knocking on the door to prove for certain that I was not in here. Oh well, it suits my purpose perfectly. Now I can have an excuse as to my whereabouts.
Harvey laid some maps out on his table and then lay down on his bed, pretending to be in a deep sleep. He waited until the noise of tromping feet made its way up to the deck as the soldiers finished their search. Then he got up and banged his door open as loudly as he could. Stretching and yawning as if he had been sleeping for a long time, he called out, “What in the world…! You stupid scoundrels, I told you to tell me the moment that land was sighted so I could be here to greet the commanders who search the ships! What is the meaning of this?!”
The first mate looked up in shock, but the commander just rolled his eyes and grumbled about the waste of time they had just endured.
Then he looked at the captain with a spark of recognition in his eyes and exclaimed, “I know this man! He is a great patriot for his country, and he would never let a spy in here.”
Saluting and shaking his hand respectfully, the officer offered to escort Harvey to the fort. Harvey thanked him but said he had some work to finish up with the unloading and accounting of the shipment, so to meet him in a day or so.

* * *

It wasn’t until the next day that Harvey was able to get back down to see Catharine. They were worried that something had happened and they had been left alone on the ship. Harvey reassured them that he would never leave them while they were under his protection. Having sent the men to get some well-deserved rest and recuperation time and making sure that all was clear, he led them up on deck.
Catharine breathed in the fresh air deeply. They had been so long below deck that she had begun to feel sick for lack of oxygen.
Harvey watched Catharine’s every move with a mixture of great love and sorrow, for he knew that the time which he had dreaded was soon to come to pass.
After feeding them a hearty meal, since they had not eaten in over a day, he gazed into Catharine’s eyes and whispered quietly, “It is time.”
Catharine had mixed emotions as they all followed him down to land. On one hand she was excited to see William, but her heart hurt so much at the thought of never seeing Harvey again that she was afraid it would break in two.
George and Elizabeth, sensing their need for privacy, led the little girls some ways away. Harvey and Catharine faced each other, for a moment unable to speak.
“I…is there anything more I could do?” He stuttered, trying desperately to fight off the tears that were threatening to spill out and engulf them both in his bitter sorrow.
“No, Harvey, do not trouble yourself further. It will only bring more pain to us both. Let’s just make this short, for I will never see you again, and we must both continue our separate lives. But we will always have this time together to think back on,” Catharine looked down and decided that now was the time to break the news.
“Harvey, promise me that you won’t give up on life and get bitter. Promise me that you will keep on living. You must find a way to be a part of someone else’s life as well. Please just promise me this one thing.”
Harvey looked long and hard at her, as if he wanted the memory of her face to be burned deeply in his mind. Then he abruptly turned and began walking away.
“Harvey, promise!” Catharine cried.
Harvey stopped mid-step but did not turn around. She saw the back of his head nod, and her fears were laid to rest.
Neither ever saw the other’s face again.

* * *

Catharine and her family made their way to Rohde Island and found William, who after leaving the army had moved there to continue working until after the war ended and he could look into the whereabouts of his family.
Needless to say, he was very pleasantly surprised to see them at his door. It had taken many inquires and miracles for Catharine to find his place, but now they were here, and everything would be okay.
They settled down and started a prosperous farm in Pennsylvania, and they found that all the things they had gone through together had made them grow very close.
Catharine never forgot Harvey, and whenever she remembered him she would pray for him, earnestly beseeching the Lord to work in his life and help him to find another person to love.