Read Online A Call to Arms by William C. Hammond - Free Book Online Page A

CAME AND WENT , and the New Year delivered a hammer blow that dumped more than two feet of snow on eastern Massachusetts. After the raging nor’easter had howled its way offshore, it backed around off the southern coast of Nova Scotia, much like a mammoth first-rate wearing ship, and returned to blast the coast of New England with yet another broadside of frothing seas, dangerous winds, and layer upon layer of dry, powdery snow. For several frigid weeks travel by land became impossible and crews could not man their ships. When they were finally able to make it back aboard, they were faced with the laborious task of shoveling snow off decks and chipping away at ice layered thick onto standing rigging. The C&E merchant vessel China had departed Boston for the Dutch East Indies the day after Christmas, before the first storm hit. But the Boston-based vessels of Cutler & Sons would not be weighing anchor anytime soon, by order of Caleb Cutler.
    Richard Cutler did not need a formal notice from the Portsmouth Navy Yard to know that work on USS Portsmouth had come to a virtual halt as a result of the storms. He had seen her only once, and that had been seven months ago, prior to his cruise to Barbados. Her keel had been laid down on blocks and her stem and stern posts had been raised into position. But her ribs still had to be set up, and the various knees and beams and angle pieces needed to support her decks were lacking. Planking along her hull and on her decks remained a distant dream.
    â€œAt least she’ll be well seasoned,” he muttered to no one in particular on a day in late January. He was staring glumly out the parlor window at a winter wonderland. Screaming children were romping about. Several of the older ones were pulling toboggan-like sleds toward the hill on Lafayette Street, recently named in honor of the French marquis who had visited Hingham during the war with England. Their cries of delightwhen an impromptu snowball fight broke out only intensified Richard’s foul mood. His gloom lightened somewhat when he saw his daughter and her best friend approaching from the center of town along South Street.
    Katherine glanced up from her book. “What do you mean, Richard?”
    He jumped as if snapped out of a trance. “What?”
    â€œYou said that someone will be well seasoned. To whom were you referring?”
    Richard had to smile. “To Portsmouth, my ship. Even if they do have her frame up by now, as well they should, it will be months before her planking goes on.”
    â€œWhy well seasoned?”
    â€œLeaving a ship’s frame exposed to the elements helps to season her timbers. The harsher those elements, so goes the rule of thumb, the more seaworthy she becomes.”
    â€œWell, we certainly want that, don’t we? But how forgetful of me. I recall you telling me that some time ago. So, when will she be ready for sea?”
    â€œLate this year, I should think. By then this war in the Mediterranean may well be over. Agee and I will have missed the entire affair. Not to mention Jamie.”
    â€œWell, we certainly don’t want that either, do we?”
    He made a face in response.
    Just then, Diana Cutler and Mindy Conner walked in the front door, rosy-cheeked from the cold wind. “Hello, everyone,” Diana said as she closed the door behind them. She propped one hand on her friend’s shoulder and slipped off her snow-caked boots. “Mother, is it all right if Mindy stays for supper? It’s all right with her mother. And is there hot chocolate in the kitchen?”
    â€œYes, to both questions,” Katherine replied. She smiled at Diana’s friend, a shy, coltish girl with blonde curls. “Hello, Melinda,” she said, using the girl’s given name. “How are you?”
    â€œI’m well, Mrs. Cutler. Thank you.” She saw that Jamie was in the room and blushed.
    â€œHow was school today?”
    Mindy giggled and glanced at