“Where are you off to in such a hurry?” Robert remarked as Nathaniel hurriedly put the work area in order at the cooperage.
“Yes, Nathaniel, tell us. Are you meeting someone special tonight?” The question came from Aaron Harrington, another of the coopers.
Nathaniel smiled and thought, Yes, Aaron someone very special. But he said, “The school master has need of repairs to some of the barrels at the school. After that, I have been invited to dinner at the beginning of Sabbath.”
“You need to be finding yourself a lifemate, my friend,” added Thomas Mayer, another workman. “There is nothing as good as to return to the bosom of a good wife after a hard day’s work. And if she can cook…that is all the better.”
Several of the men laughed at the innuendo.
“I am sure your friend, the schoolmast
