You wondered what life on a ship would be like. I can now tell
you, I would trade my bed for yours in a heartbeat! I sleep on
a hard bunk stacked above two others. Mother and Father sleep
below me. We are all packed like so much cargo below deck. Most
of the other passengers are strangers, and there is no privacy.
Few of us have ever been aboard a ship, and there is much seasickness
below. The stench is horrible! I welcome my chances to go on deck
to empty our chamber pot and breathe fresh air.
When the weather is fair, we try to keep our routine. Breakfast (usually
oatmeal) and prayers in the morning. Supper (meat, beans or rice,
cheese) and prayers before bed. In between, my friend Mary and
I play games or read to each other. There are few other girls
on the ship. Most of the families left their daughters behind
until our settlement is built. I am grateful for another girl
my age. The crew will sometimes allow us on deck, but they are
a hard lot and frighten me somewhat. Mister Goodman brought his
two dogs — a mastiff and a spaniel — and we will chase
them as they chase the cats that are on board to catch the rats.
Did I mention the rats? They are almost as big as the cats!
God help us, though, when the weather is not fair. Father told
me that sailors usually seek safe harbor in autumn, and now I
know why. The storms are fearsome. They roll and toss our poor
ship, which creaks worse than an iron bed spring. My arms and
back are covered in bruises from being thrown against the sides
of the ship.
Just a fortnight ago was the worst storm yet. Aunt Constance, I truly thought you would never hear from me again. A young man was thrown into the sea. By a miracle he grabbed hold of a sail line and was saved. I did not think the rest of us would be so blessed. The ship’s upper works were leaking, and there was a horrifying snap of timber — Mister Bradford told us one of the ship’s main beams had cracked. Half the crew wanted to turn us back. Master Jones refused, and the carpenter and crew managed to repair the beam and caulk the leaks.
