Under the Hawthorn Tree Read Online Free Page A

very divil. He’ll do his best for us all, that I can promise you. You miss him, we all miss him – say a prayer for him when you go to sleep tonight.’
    With that Mother got up and went outside. Eily followed her. The sky was black and hundreds of stars twinkled up above.
    ‘Sometimes I wonder does God even know what is happening down here – his world is so vast and big,’ whispered Eily.
    Mother reached out and put part of her shawl around Eily.
    ‘I know, pet, I wonder too. God acts in such strange ways and there is no sense to why life is so hard. We just have to make the best of what we have and each other and keep going,’ she said. She wrapped the shawl tightly around Eily, protecting her from the damp air. Eily had never felt so close to Mother.

CHAPTER 4

On Their Own

    THE NEXT FEW DAYS were busy. Michael went fishing in the river with Pat and his big brother Donal. They were away all day. Michael came home soaked to the skin, his teeth chattering. But, much to everyone’s surprise, from under his shirt he produced a large trout. They feasted on it for two days.
    After a tip from Dan Collins, Eily and Mother rose very early on two mornings and walked up to the old cow pasture, to discover about a hundred wild mushrooms! With the addition of a spring onion added to the old yellow meal, they made a tasty enough dish. The rest of the mushrooms were despatched to Mary Kate’s for drying, as she often used them for her various potions. In exchange she gave them a full can of goat’s milk from Nanny, her only remaining goat.
    Mother seemed restless and every day stood at the bottom of the lane, watching and waiting for an hour or so. The children pretended not to notice when she turned and walked slowly back to the cottage with tears in her eyes. After five days she told the children she was going to find Father.
    ‘I have to go to the works and find out what has happened. He may be sick or not be able to come for us. We have nothing left to trade or sell – how will we survive without help? It will be like the last time, but it may take a day or two.’
    Eily was shocked by the enormity of her Mother leaving them, but accepted her decision.
    ‘Dan and Kitty will keep an eye on ye, but ye can’t go down to stay there as Teresa is coughing and I don’t want to take any chances. There’s enough to eat.’ An hour or two later, Mother took her heavy shawl and some food in her pockets and set off. They walked down to the end of the boreen with her. She hugged them each in turn.
    ‘Michael, my little man,’ said Mother, ruffling his hair, ‘and Eily, the little Mother, and Peggy, my baby – God keep ye safe.’
    Eily could see Michael was upset. He kept biting his lip until it nearly bled. Peggy was like a wildcat. She clung to Mother and screamed and fought when Mother tried to leave her. Michael and Eilyhad to hold her by the waist. The screaming quietened to huge sobs and she lay limp on the ground. They half-carried and half-dragged her back to the cottage. Her eyes and face were swollen with crying. Eily knew exactly how she felt and wished that she was still a small child and could scream and shout and let all her feelings out. But she was twelve and as the eldest had to take Mother’s place. For the rest of the day Peggy clung to her like a shadow. They all went to bed early, cuddling up together under the blankets.
    ‘I miss Mother, I want her. I want her now,’ cried Peggy.
    ‘Shush, Peggy. Shush, you must rest,’ said Eily reassuringly.
    ‘Tell me a story, Eily.’
    ‘I’m not so good on stories, Peggy.’
    ‘One of Mother’s stories about when she was young, and the aunts,’ pleaded Peggy.
    Eily racked her brains. She smiled. ‘Did you ever hear tell about the two aunts and why they never married and ended up spinsters?’ began Eily.
    Peggy relaxed against her.
    ‘Well, the two aunts were still living on the farm – this was before the shop – and they both got to know a fine