Under the Hawthorn Tree (13 page)

Authors: Marita Conlon-Mckenna

Tags: #Juvenile Fiction, #General

BOOK: Under the Hawthorn Tree

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British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this title is available from The British Library

Typesetting, layout, editing, design: The O’Brien Press Ltd
Internal illustrations: Donald Teskey
Cover illustration: PJ Lynch

The O’Brien Press receives assistance from

THE
CHILDREN OF THE FAMINE
TRILOGY

WILDFLOWER GIRL

When she was only seven, Peggy made a terrifying journey, with her sister Eily and brother Michael, through famine-torn Ireland. Now she sets out on another dangerous and frightening journey – to America. Crossing the Atlantic takes six long, uncomfortable weeks. What will Peggy find when she gets to the New World? And will she ever see her homeland and her beloved sister and brother again?

FIELDS OF HOME

Only a few years ago, Eily, Michael and Peggy survived the Great Famine. Now Peggy is in America, hoping for a new life, and finally she heads for the Wild West. Eily and Michael face new challenges at home. Everywhere there is unrest, with evictions, burnings, secret meetings. What will become of them and of Eily’s little girl, Mary-Brigid?

Read an extract from
Wildflower Girl …

Work is scarce in Castletaggart, and Eily and Michael have decided that thirteen-year-old Peggy can travel to America to look for work. Peggy is excited, but also nervous …

Chapter 3

Farewell

No matter what she did, Peggy couldn’t sleep. She was too excited, too nervous, too sad – too everything. Gently she rolled over on her side and eased herself out of the bed. Eily slept on.

Peggy pulled on some clothes and crept like a kitten from the room and down the stairs to the kitchen. She lifted the latch and let herself out.

There wasn’t a sinner around. Everyone was still in bed. Peggy was tempted to shout: Today’s the day! Wake up! but she held her peace and escaped from the narrow streets and alleyways. She passed the little bridge and this morning it seemed lonelier than ever. But she didn’t have time to sit and dream today. Small-holdings where potatoes would soon be ready, rich meadows of lush green grass and fields of grain – barley and wheat – spread out in the distance.

She climbed over a jagged low wall into her favourite field. The grass was damp with dew, making her feet wet and the hem of her dress cling to her legs. Cowslips and buttercups, bluebells, ragged robin, tall lacy cow parsley – all slept drowsily waiting for the morning sun to wake them up. She picked them one by one, and pulled ribbons of woodbine from the hedgerow. She danced and spun round and round till the blue sky and green grass blurred and became one. Her arms were filled with wild flowers when she
suddenly noticed an old farmer and his cart slow down and stare at her, curious. Soon the town would be awake. She raced back to Market Lane and pushed in the kitchen door.

Nano was sitting at the kitchen table in her nightdress. She looked old and tired, and beautiful.

Peggy ran to her. ‘Aren’t they lovely, Nano?’ She opened her arms and let the flowers tumble onto her great-aunt’s lap. ‘They’re for you.’

‘Peggy, you’re always bringing me flowers …’ Nano held the woodbine to her face. ‘By tonight its scent will fill the house … by tonight …’

Peggy washed and dressed. Eily cooked the biggest breakfast ever. They all sat around and watched her eat, making sure she swallowed every bit. Eily had sorted out food for travelling, saying she hoped it would last all the weeks at sea. There was dried beef, some tea and sugar, a rich porter cake, a round golden cheese, and dry oatcakes. Another hour and it would be time to leave.

Nano was varying between fussing and flustering and sitting down every few minutes with her handkerchief to her eyes. Peggy tried to leave her be and concentrate on getting ready.

Michael fastened a horse-hair bracelet on Peggy’s wrist. ‘From the three best horses in the stable.’ He had plaited and linked the black, the chestnut brown and the golden hair so they came together and formed a stiff circle. ‘It will bring you luck and speed and strength,’ he added.

Peggy looked at it and loved it straight away, knowing what it meant.

Nano produced a small drawstring purse, heavy with
coins. ‘For a rainy day, pet, and to help you get started.’

Eily wrapped her best shawl around Peggy’s shoulders. ‘It’s yours. We can’t send you off to the New World with a worn-out shawl.’ Peggy clutched it close to her. She rubbed her face to the soft wool. It would enfold her just like Eily had always wrapped her and kept her safe.

All too soon they heard the clatter of the cart on the cobbles in the lane. Nell Molloy and her family were sitting on the cart, the little ones perched on tightly wrapped bundles of clothes. Michael went to fetch Peggy’s bundle. Eily was stacking her wrapped food.

Nano had disappeared into the shop. She was walking up and down and running her hand over and back on the counter distractedly. Peggy tiptoed in and hugged her.

‘Stay here, Auntie Nano! Don’t come out in the lane.’

Nano managed to paste a wobbly smile across her face. There’d be time enough for tears later.

Michael lifted Peggy on to the cart. Eily ran almost the whole way down the main street, waving, and following the cart and horses like a little girl. Peggy watched and waved until all that was left of Castletaggart town was the haze of smoke disappearing in the distance.

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