Wishful Seeing Read Online Free PDF

during their lifetimes. But the families wanted the best for their loved ones, and were willing to pay for it. And pay for it they did, in a motley collection of currency. The Province of Canada was making efforts to standardize its money, but the legislation had yet to be decreed. In the meantime, everyone was anxious to get rid of any currency that might not be accepted after the law passed. An easy way to dispose of it was to throw it into the collection plate. Thaddeus wasn’t particu­larly worried by the number of American coins and Halifax shillings he had been given. There were plenty of Canadian changemaker banknotes, as well, and, in spite of what the government wanted, he fully expected that foreign currency would continue to circulate the way it always had.
    He was in a mood to celebrate, just a little. The collection money went, of course, to the church’s central conference, but any extras — the fees for baptisms and weddings and funerals — was his. Or rather, in the case of the wedding, Martha’s, he supposed. Traditionally, wedding fees had always been handed to the minister’s wife to use as she saw fit. He saw no reason why Martha, as his housekeeper, wouldn’t qualify for the same consideration. He had no need of anything for himself, but there was enough extra money in his pocket that he decided to request a luxury. A chicken dinner. Roast chicken with floury dumplings like Sophie made on special occasions at the hotel. He’d ask Martha about it when she arrived that afternoon.
    When Martha stepped from the steamer to the dock, Thaddeus realized that she had grown at least an inch since he’d last seen her, and that she had put her hair up in an arrangement that made her look far older than fifteen.
    She was a pretty enough girl, who looked remarkably like her mother had at the same age, but it was the way she carried herself, he realized, that turned young men’s heads and drew old men’s smiles as they walked down the pier toward town. She was so assured. He hoped that he wasn’t about to be faced with a stream of would-be beaus to chase off the doorstep, but as they walked through town arm in arm, he realized that Martha gave none of the gawkers any encouragement. This was a relief, since the problem of male admirers hadn’t occurred to him when he’d asked her to come.
    While they waited for her trunk to arrive, he gave her a tour of the house. She immediately made some practical suggestions to streamline her tasks, pointing out, for example, that the kitchen table should be moved over by the window.
    â€œIt’s smack dab in the path between the stove and the pantry,” she said. “You have to walk around it all the time. Besides, the sunlight will pour in through that window in the morning. Breakfast will be more cheerful if we’re sitting there.”
    She wrinkled her nose at the heavy, dusty curtains in the parlour.
    â€œI’m not sure I can do anything about those,” Thaddeus said. “The manse is furnished by the congregation.”
    â€œWell, at the very least I can take them outside and give them a good airing,” she said, and then moved two stuffed chairs to the other side of the room.
    Martha found the manse furnishings old-fashioned and fusty, but she was so delighted to be with her grandfather again that she resolved to make whatever domestic improvements she could and stay mum about any remaining shortcomings. In the meantime, she was determined to earn her keep and look after his every comfort.
    â€œOf course I can make dumplings,” she said when Thaddeus brought it up to her over supper. “Chicken and dumplings it is. And shortcake for dessert, if you like, if I can find something nice to go with it. Is there a good market here?”
    â€œWe’ll find out tomorrow. I need to go to the bank, anyway. Then if you want to stock the larder, I can help carry the packages.” He