Even though Papa sent most of his pay from the army home to them, it wasn’t enough, especially when sometimes he didn’t get paid for six months or more.
Mama had refused to let George pawn the ruby brooch Papa had given him to remember his first mama.
“You may need it in the future, George.”
So he held onto it and the locket that contained the miniature portraits, but the jewels in Mama’s trinket box grew fewer and fewer.
Mrs. Hall came to the cottage to cook and clean for only a few hours around midday—they couldn’t afford more. Fortunately, Bart was making enough that she no longer had to work long hours for anyone other than her own family.
George had learned how to make his own lunch. He didn’t want to spend money they needed on a meal in a saloon—the meal might be free, but the d
