The Brickmaker's Bride by Judith Miller Read Free Book Online Page A

orphanage is quite another.You’re a young woman who needs to be looking toward marriage and—”
    “I really must be on my way, Mother. Your worries are completely unfounded.”
    Laura hurried out the door and down the front steps, thankful Zeke was waiting with the buggy. Though her mother meant well, Laura didn’t need to be cautioned every time she departed for the Bartlett Orphanage. With her bag of supplies tucked beside her, she flicked the reins. Rather than the toddlers, she’d be helping with the older children today, and she hoped they would enjoy what she had planned for them.
    Though the bleak wooden structure was a depressing sight, Laura’s spirits soared when she entered the building. The interior wasn’t lovely, but Mrs. Tremble had done her best to enlist help painting the walls, and she’d hung colorful curtains at the windows in an effort to create a homelike setting. But it was the children who created the genuine joy in this place. In spite of all they’d suffered in the past, most of these children remained happy and carefree.
    Eddie Logan barreled toward her the minute she crossed the threshold. “What did you bring for us to do today, Miss Woodfield?” His pug nose and cheeks were layered with freckles that made him the brunt of occasional teasing, but he’d learned to ignore the remarks—most of the time. On occasion young Eddie would raise his fists in warning, but thus far he’d refrained from striking anyone. He pointed to the bag. “Do you have something special in there?”
    She bent close to his ear. “I do. But let’s wait until all of the children have gathered, so I can tell all of you at once. Why don’t you tell the group I’ve arrived?”
    A flash of disappointment crossed his face before he mumbledhis consent and called the other children to the room designated for them.
    While they took their places around the table, Laura withdrew drawing supplies, string, and paperboard from her bag. “Today we’re going to make thaumatropes. Does anyone know what a thaumatrope is?”
    The children shook their heads as they eyed the supplies Laura had placed on the table.
    “I don’t think this sounds like fun. You promised you’d bring something we’d like.” Lucy Wilson folded her arms in a defiant gesture.
    Once more, Laura reached into her bag. This time she withdrew a thaumatrope she’d made to demonstrate to the children. “Look at the picture on each side of the cardboard disc.” Laura showed them the picture of a bird on one side and then turned it over to reveal a birdcage on the other. A piece of string had been drawn through the small holes on each side of the disc. The children looked on as Laura tightly wound the circle disc and then released the circle. Their eyes grew wide as they watched the disc spin.
    “It looks like the bird is inside the cage.” Lucy pointed at the flying disc. “I want to do that. Can I, Miss Woodfield? Can I?”
    “You may each give it a try, but then you’re going to make your own.”
    Jumping up and down, they looked at each other with wide-eyed excitement, clapped their hands, and shrieked their enthusiasm.
    Laura touched her pursed lips with her index finger. “Shh. I’m pleased you’re happy, but we don’t want to disturb the other class.” The children circled around her. “You can decide on your pictures and then draw them on the cardboard discs. When you’ve finished, we’ll poke holes in the cardboard and insert the string.”
    Lucy curled her lip. “I don’t know what to draw. The older kids can draw better than me.”
    Laura pulled her chair to an empty spot beside Lucy. “Then let’s think of something that isn’t so difficult. What about drawing a spider on one side and a web on the other? I think you could do that very well, don’t you?”
    Lucy shrugged her shoulders. “It won’t be as good as your bird.”
    “It will be wonderful. When you spin the disc, it will look like your spider is in its