November 13, 1869
Mother was acting most peculiar today she purchased me a new red
dress and insisted that I try it on without delay. When I returned
she was in the company of a most disagreeable person. I soon retired
to my chambers.
November 15,1869
The dreadful man was back today, he seems to have brought mother
a large supply of Laudanum I can hear them frolicking around in
the other room. On a much happier note Howard brought me a present
for my birthing day a copy of Jacobson's Clockwork. He is such
a good friend.
November 20,1869
Mother and that horrid man have contrived to do me harm I must
flee for my life.
November 21, 1869
I have hit upon a scheme to hide from mother. It involves a wrenched
boy named Edward, but in desperate times such as these small hope
is better than none.
November 22, 1869
I raided the clothing bins at Madame Esmeralda's for clothing
Edward will need. I managed to come away with quite a haul 2 pairs
of trousers a dozen shirts a coat and a warm hat. I said good-bye
to Howard today. He informed me that Mother was very cross and
has several of the girls and boys out looking for me.
November 28,1869
We have moved again Edward didn't care for the owners of the last
house. I didn't either, the master was a tyrant. The new place
is cluttered but warm. I might even be able to get a proper bath
oh how I miss being clean.
November 30,1869
The weather outside is dreary we have had a steady rainfall all
day and all the previous night. Edward went out and brought back
some food and a small pile of tools he claimed were given to him.
Given the state of disrepair most of them are in one would be
inclined to believe him.
December 4, 1869
Edward has caught a bit of the sniffles so I am fixing a spot
of tea for us then we going to go sleep next to the chimney and
try to keep warm. The weather is still dreadful
December 6,1869
The worst has happened Edward has been caught! He was working
on one of his projects when G walked into the stable to add more
coal to the boiler. He then took Edward off to meet the master
of the estate, a Sir Cosmo Cowperthwaite. Who graciously said
we may stay tonight. I am fearful about what the morning will
bring.
December 7, 1869
OH, happy day Sir Cosmo has offered Edward a job we can stay.
And I can keep my warm baths.
December 10, 1869
Fortune continues to shine upon us, Sir Cosmo brought in a fresh
load of coal and straw today. Edward made 2 pence helping stow
it away. Then Sir Cosmo sent G out with a pile of bedding, I am
warm and clean the only lack are new books to read.
December 11, 1869
I am such a scatter brain at times. I mention wanting books and
Edward runs off to the London Library bringing me back several
new ones to read. I fear he might not be a subscriber.
December 15, 1869
Edward took a terrible risk today he went back to the old neighborhood.
Mother is still searching for me. But he did return with almost
a full Quid for fixing some broken clockwork.
December 20, 1869
Edward is busily working on Christ's Mass presents for G and Sir
Cosmo . I am mending a tea kettle, just because we are living
in a barn doesn't mean we can't have a proper tea.
December 22, 1869
Edward went out and procured the parts to finish G's present.
I have finished wrapping Sir Cosmo's I hope Edward finishes on
time.
December 24, 1869
I needn't have worried Edward finished well before morning and
I even managed to coax him to sleep before Sir Cosmo and G showed
up. I had a splendid day I helped G in the kitchen with the feast.
After we had all eaten Edward and I gave them the gifts we had
prepared. Sir Cosmo seemed to genuinely like his clockwork harp,
G also seemed to be pleased with his new pocket timepiece.
December 26, 1869
Sir Cosmo has introduced a new chore for Edward. He seems to want
Edward to take care of the clockwork coaches.
December 30, 1869
Edward is excited Sir Cosmo started teaching him to drive one
of the clockwork carriages. I finished preparing a bolt hole in
case Mother should find us.
December 31,1869
The world is out reveling or at least all of London. Edward took
me out and showed me the most beautiful sight, the stained glass
on the Peterbrige Church.
January 1, 1870
Edward, the scamp, he only now mentioned that today is his birthing
day. To celebrate I helped G in the kitchen fix him a pan of scones.
January 2, 1870
I convinced Edward to return the books he liberated from the London
library. As a birthing day present I payed the two Quids needed
for him to become a subscriber at the London Museum.
January 5,1870
Edward managed to hurt himself today, he was walking to the park
when the master of No. 12 came out of his drive and saw him. He
then ordered his man to give him a lash with his whip. G helped
me bandage up Edward's arm.
January 7, 1870
Sir Cosmo is in a rage He found out about the incident on the
fifth. I have never seen him in such a dark mood.
January 10,1870
Edward started driving Sir Cosmo and G around the city today.
Sir Cosmo needed to talk to a lawyer about his holdings, and G
spent the day purchasing household supplies.
January 14, 1870
I must find a new place to put Edwards money, there is a large
pile of pennies, he can't carry all of them around .
January 16, 1870
I started work on a safe based on plans Edward found at the London
patent office.
January 20, 1870
Poor Sir Cosmo he has a board meeting tonight he has sequestered
himself in his study with a rather large pile of books and papers.
I am making sure Edward has extra coats it is snowing and he will
have to stay in the carriage.
January 23, 1870
Sir Cosmo had a run-in with the most peculiar young lady today
a Miss Namaste. She dunked him into the gutter not once but twice,
then fell out of the coach herself. She is very pretty in an exotic
way.
January 25, 1870
Sir Cosmo and G are bustling about. It seems Miss Namaste is moving
into the house. Sir Cosmo has hired her to be his laboratory assistant.
I think she is smitten with him.
January 30, 1870
It has been almost two months since Edward and I have moved in.
I am perpetually amazed at how quickly he adapts to new surroundings.
February 2, 1870
Miss Namaste started work in the laboratory today. Edward seems
happy with this arrangement. He has been over twice to help clean
up small accidents.
February 3,1870
Edward and Miss Namaste spent most of the afternoon in Edwards
workshop repairing a tea service. I must be on my guard lest she
discover me.
February 5, 1870
Edward is a bit smug today, he evidently put his curse upon no.
12. After five weeks of his handiwork the master has dismissed
most of the servants and retired to his country property.
February 6, 1870
Edward has presented me with the tea service he and Miss Namaste
spent the other afternoon mending. Sir Cosmo has seen fit to replace
it.
February 10,1870
Edward arrived home with a large assortment of machinery most
of it smashed, the most interesting piece is a suit of armor.
February 12, 1870
Spent the day helping Edward mend clockwork for one of the pawn
firms down at the docks. The pile of parts has grown much smaller.
Edward says that he knows where he can obtain more.
February 16, 1870
Edward managed to get into a spot of trouble today. He was taking
a short cut through the park in front of the palace when a couple
of guards spotted him. Thankfully for all concerned, a nice gentleman
named Mr Brown spoke up for him.
February 17,1870
Mr Brown sent a message to Edward today they spent most of the
day playing chess in a pub.
February 20, 1870
Spent the day helping Edward repair items that Miss Namaste conveyed
to him. There is fresh snow on the ground Edward wants to go see
Mr Brown tomorrow night.
February 22,1870
Mr Brown was happy to see Edward the other night not so happy
to see him unescorted. He gave Edward five Quids for showing him
the route he took getting there. Several of the palace guards
are not having a kind week.
February 23, 1870
Edward took Miss Namaste out on her appointments today he managed
to prevent her from doing great harm to herself.
February 26, 1870
Found some interesting items in the attic today. I will have to
have Edward ask Sir Cosmo about them.
March 1, 1870
The items are some of Sir Cosmo's old experiments. He let Edward
dismantle a brace of them to show how they worked.
March 5,1870
Sir Cosmo is showing Edward how to find insect larva. He needs
a fresh batch for his experiments. He is offering a pence a jar.
Edward is very excited.
March 12, 1870
Edward went out looking for larva today. He returned with four
jars full. Sir Cosmo was quite pleased.
March 14, 1870
Another letter from Mr Brown.
March 15, 1870
Edward faired worse last night he did manage to make it to the
castle walls but was caught climbing up to Mr Browns apartment.
He still collected half a pound .
March 18, 1870
Edward went out to collect larva again tonight.
March 20, 1870
Finished working on Edwards safe, or rather his un-safe as G called
it when he saw it.
March 22,1870
G, Miss Namaste, and Sir Cosmo had Edward drive them about town
today. G needed household supplies. Miss Namaste had to go collect
a bundle of periodicals, she pursues them quite vigorously. Sir
Cosmo went to see his lawyer once again.
March 25,1870
Sir Cosmo is quite excited, he had a long talk to Edward about
some guests who will be arriving soon. I am making accommodations
should I need to take care of myself for a prolonged period of
time.
March 27, 1870
Miss Namaste spent all evening in Edwards work shop. G sent her
out so that he and Sir Cosmo could have a sit down. Miss Namaste
does not realize this. She and Edward spent the afternoon mending
broken bits of crockery.
March 30, 1870
Edward went in search of more insect larva today. He is having
to range further afield to find them in the quantities that Sir
Cosmo requires.
April 1, 1870
Helped Edward finish up a modification to the large carriage today.
April 4, 1870
Edward got into trouble today. He came home so excited he could
scarcely talk. A blond haired man in the company of one Mr McGroaty,
who I have had the ill fortune of meeting before, shot at him.
Edward managed to escape their clutches, but is now worked up
over a ball gun.
April 5, 1870
Edward had a busy day. First Sir Cosmo, Miss Namaste and Miss
Victoria Whitnell, the guest Sir Cosmo mentioned previously, went
off to a munitions factory. There they meet up with a engaging
man who goes by the unlikely moniker Kid Rocket. No sooner had
they all returned home than Sir Cosmo had everyone back into the
carriage and off the sped to a donny-brook. Edwards looks like
he was hit in the face with a shovel.
Continue to '2. McGroaty Gets His Just Desserts'
Return to Miss Brody's Diary Index
Contents of this page copyright 2001 by Michael
Yust. All Rights Reserved.
Sivan's Talking Watch, the mechanism and phonograph disc published
in De Natur page 32, 1895.