The Planter

By Daniel Goodenough

As the youthful David Hall matures from his early childhood in the early part of the 18th century within the illusionary changing shadow of a grand Victorian walled kitchen garden, to the age when he hopes to seek out an ambitious adventure all on his own that is destined to take him to a place that his beloved but troubled family could only dream of. He will learn first-hand and will remember that the simple five letter word ‘youth’ would mean more than one thing in particular to him forever.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
• Release date: Aug 31, 2021
• ISBN: 9781398405967

Book preview

Chapter 1

Youth

Youth. When one speaks about one’s youth, one may describe it as the golden years of one’s life. It is a time when one is faced with a remarkable set of decisions and challenges. Some of the decisions will have a catastrophic effect in later years of your life. Whilst other decisions may bring you great pleasure and immense joy throughout your life. Yet, in later years, one may start to question earlier decisions made, whether they be the right ones or the wrong ones. In my youth as an individual, I recall that time. As a period, I have witnessed horrific and tragic events which have remained with me throughout my entire life. It was upon the third day of July of the year 1843, that the Lord God Almighty decided that it was time for my parents to brace themselves for my presence. I was not the only child to be given life that year – our very recently coronated and married queen and her beloved Prince Albert had already been blessed with the birth of their first and second children. Their first born child was a young princess who was named after her mother, Victoria. The second born child was a little prince called Edward, who, in later years, would become King Edward VII. I, as an individual, was born into a mixture of beliefs and attitudes towards life, but it was discipline that mattered most in the Hall family home. My family had lots of passions and enthusiasm and a very good knowledge of cultivation for that of fruit, vegetables and various varieties and types of flowers. I suppose the earliest recollection was when I was a very small child. I can remember being placed in the far corner of a room; I was sitting in my handcrafted oak cot. The craftsmen who had created the cot had placed five evenly shaped petals with a fairly small circle in the centre. Along with this carving, they had placed on either side of the cot a set of five wooden vertical bars. I believe the bars were placed there so one could remain sitting while having a good glance at the activities going on in the room. I was mistaken – the real reason for the vertical bars was to restrain one from falling out of the cot if one turned over in one’s sleep. Whilst I was sitting there looking through the bars, I can recall seeing the figure of a woman, wearing a long brown dress with a piece of white lace hanging down the rear part of her head. The figure placed in the area between the large wooden table and what I mistakenly thought was nothing more than a large black hole in the wall, I later found out from my mother. That this space in the wall which I spoken of was actually where one’s mother would prepare a meal. The space was large, recessed into the wall and was big enough to take a small fire with a long metal spit over the top of it. Now that figure of the woman I had mistaken for my mother was actually the figure of my older sibling, Mary. I was the Dylan or Runt of the litter, but that was not the only name I was given. People would address me as young master David Hall. David was born into a middle-class family whose father worked as head gardener to the lord of the manner, in the beautiful open countryside before the heavy work of the industrial revolution took hold over the whole country. David, being the youngest of the family, was a boy of small proportions throughout the upper and lower parts of his anatomy. Along with being quite small, David had quite a good set of thick brown hair, very even, proportionate set of bright, blue eyes and as a last individual marking, David had two distinctive, rounded, black spots placed on the back side of his right hand. One of these black dots was placed under the first finger whilst the other one would be found on the opposite side of the hand. The dots were just like two dots placed on a map and the only purpose they had was to help David remember which of his two hands he wrote with. From quite a young age, David’s clothing only consisted of three to four colours. David’s clothing would start off with a pair of trousers, a pair of boots and a long coat, which was all covered in black material, continuing with dark grey coloured waistcoat. The only form of bright colouring was that of the whiteness of a shirt which lay underneath the waistcoat. Concluding the outfit, David had been given a matching grey hat. David’s hat was just a flat cap. It was not only being small that used to annoy David so much. The continuing event that used to frustrate David was when his clothing would accidentally fall into the centre of his meal. When I was able enough to leave my cot and take a seat at the table with my family to eat a well-prepared meal, I was not completely aware one does not only have to watch his table manners, but one also has to watch the sleeves of his jacket from going into one’s food. My mother had placed me along the left-hand side of my sister, Mary. My father had taken pride of place at the head of the table. My mother had placed in front of me a plate of some form of meat with a lot of runny liquid surrounding it. Mother spoke first, saying, Bow your heads, boys. We are going to say our prayers. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. When David’s mother finished speaking, David had picked up his knife and fork and he started to get stuck into his meal. Within taking two mouthfuls, David had his fork prepared for another mouthful but when he tried to lift it, it turned out that David had overloaded it and the sheer weight of the food had overpowered him. Clunk went the fork as it flopped back into the plate along with the sleeve of his jacket. His mother and father gave him a thoroughly good talking to about the type of behaviour. The behaviour was not of David’s own doings. The only reason why his clothing had fallen into his meal was because of a simple explanation: the clothes were far too big for him; David’s clothing was all second-hand. Most of his clothing was from his other siblings. In mathematical calculations, it would take more than a single child to create a well-furnished and established family. David was blessed with three other older siblings. The oldest of the siblings was a brother who was named Frederick, Frederick Hall. Frederick was about half a decade older than David which meant that he was naturally taller with well-stocked shoulders and upper arms. Frederick’s well stocked body did not start and end with the upper part of his anatomy. Frederick’s hair was a thick, rich, dark blacken colour, such colour that one could find in the dark night’s sky. Despite being very well built throughout his body contents, Frederick was a very caring person towards all of his other siblings but there was one distinctive characteristic that had separated him from the rest of his siblings. Frederick was a person who was not going to stand by and listen to people insult him or any member of his family. He was always keen about standing his ground and he would often fight to make sure he proved his point or so he could prove to people not to insult him. Nobody would dare mess with Frederick Hall. Frederick’s clothing contents was almost exactly the same as David’s. The only difference was that all the clothes fitted Frederick correctly. David’s other two siblings were a set of twin sisters. Both twins were only about three years older than David. The firstborn was named Mary Hall. Mary was the one who knew her place within the family contents. She was a person who was always very busy helping her mother with the cooking, the laundry and helping with the task of looking after her other siblings. She was the individual who looked after David. She was a firm believer in keeping the routine within the family running just like an operating piece of machinery. Mary was not quite as well built as Frederick. Obviously, being a girl was a distinctive characteristic between siblings, but the most distinctive one was that Mary, Emma and their mother were allowed to have much brighter coloured clothes. Their dresses were a light brown colour like a fully grown oak tree in the glistening June sunlight. Along with the dresses, the female members of David’s family have also had a vast number of white beautiful lace to wear on their head. The brightest colour the female members had was that of a bright red set of handmade mittens. The last notable bright colour from Mary was her hair. Mary’s hair colour was the same as a very young fox cub. It was very bright orange, and it was extremely well cared for. The last of David’s siblings was the second sister; she was called Emma Hall. Emma was incredibly different from all of the children. She was a very strong-willed and independent girl. Emma was about the same height as her older siblings and Emma also shared Fredrick’s particular hair characteristics in every single formation but Emma was mainly fascinated by how the human body works. She was always asking questions about different parts of the human body. Emma was only interested in the particular gruesome tasks. She was always keen to get stuck in when her mother had to prepare a pig’s head for the family meal or some other times, she was always watching the local farmer butchering a young bull calf ready to be sent to market. Emma was so interested in that particular area that her mother often struggled to keep her involved with other important day to day routine of cleaning the home and doing the laundry. Even sometimes when her mother did get her involved, Emma would just leave the task half completed. Emma was the sibling that David had never got involved with too much. David was not particularly close to her because of her particular interests; Emma had taken very little interest in her youngest sibling. I think the very first recollection I have of my other sister Emma was when I was reading a verse from the holy book to Mary. I was reading the last line of the verse when suddenly my mother had marched very stormily past me and had walked onto the path in front of the house. I believe she had just saw Emma wandering off down the path. I put down the book and looked through the window. I saw the figure of my mother standing in front of Emma, giving her a very thorough talking to. The only distinctive words I could recall hearing were, You will not make someone a good wife if you continue to behave in this strong-willed and lazy way. The Almighty God well come down and disown you if you do not change your ways. My mother was always the one giving very stern warnings, but I don’t believe that Emma had taken a slight interest in what she said. Right at the heart of any person’s life is the two people who made it possible for one to be born − their parents. William was the name given to the head of the Hall family. William was a man of significant importance with his working position and of that of his family. The head of the family was naturally the tallest and the biggest. Along with being the tallest and the biggest in the family, William also had a large, black-coloured moustache under his nose. William’s moustache stretched in a horizontal line across the content of his face where underneath that was a set of blackened coloured teeth with a few small chips taken out of them. William had a very clear head when it came to the discipline within his family. The consequences of which were that it was a very harsh environment. William would discipline his children by giving them a very firm hammering with the contents of his hand or that of a wooden stick from the corner of the room. Despite his very clear head on discipline there were bad activities that William had. The first one was that he loved to smoke tobacco down along a black, wooden pipe. The other activity was that he had a very keen interest in the Devil’s brew, the alcoholic beverage of cider and beer. William’s clothes were the very same as his sons but he didn’t wear a hat of any kind. William liked to let his hair blow freely in the clear air. The last member of David’s family was that of his mother, Ruth Hall. Ruth was very slightly shorter in statue than her husband. David’s mother in comparison to that of his father was a very different individual. Ruth was a very firm believer in the Almighty God. She believed that everyone should follow in the context that He had created for the human race. Along with this firm belief in the Almighty God, Ruth had all the other important qualification for that of a well-established mother. She could prepare an excellent meal for all the family; she could manage the running of the household and she made it crystal clear that she could keep every single one of her children in line. Ruth Hall was also the founder behind the fox-coloured hair of her offspring, Mary. The Hall family lived in a thatched cottage just a short walk away from the walled kitchen garden. The cottage belonged to the Langland family as part of their large country estate. One may find the cottage through the gate on the east facing wall belonging to the garden. One would then follow a pathway marked with many shaped borders filled with flowers and well growing bushes. Continuing on the journey one would continue down the path listening to the crunching of gravel under one’s shoes. The crunching would continue until one would see an opening to the right. Closer and closer you walked until you came across another path leading in another direction. One would only have look down this new path and notice that. There placed in between a well-established shrubbery and a freshly cut lawn, one would find an evenly proportioned thatched cottage. On the scale of the cottage, the walls were thoroughly bricked up under bedding of the thatching. The poor people that lived in the cottage at the time were only aloud to have a maximum of three rectangle shaped windows, due to the still enforced tax on glass. One would find one window on the lower base of the house. Opposite the dark blackened door on the right. The second one window would be found on the second floor of the house, it was almost at a complete diagonal place that of the one located on the lower base. The final one window was located at the rear side of the cottage. The only purpose of that window was so if the young masters of the house were playing activities out of door. Then their mother could keep her vigilant watch over them. As one would be drawn to walk further towards the cottage, one’s attention may be drawn to the clearly marked borders. Towards the rear of the cottage, there were four, equally sized rectangle borders. Some of them were planted up with fresh eatable vegetables whilst others had the joy of being filled up with the sweet peas or maybe a luxurious smelling shrub rose. When one had the pleasure of drawing closer to the cottage, one may be misled. In the thought that with obvious only two windows placed at the front of the cottage. One may have thought that there were only two bedrooms placed behind the upper floors of the house. The Hall family did not just have two bedrooms in which to share between them. There were actually five rooms located within the walls of the cottage. The first two rooms were located on the ground floor. One would be that of a pantry placed towards the rear of the cottage. That room in front was what one could describe as ‘the main room’. The main room in the cottage was where all day-to-day activities took place. The preparation for mealtime, a place where conversation can be created, and finally the main room would be the place for a weary family sit down and where you could relax happily together. The last three rooms were located on the second layer of the house. All of them were the bedrooms. The first would be given to the head of the household, the father and mother. William and Ruth Hall’s room was one of the biggest rooms located in the house. As one would walk into the room, you would find a bright light stretching across the room to greet you. The light was there to help make the room clear to see. Placed in the centre of the room was a double-sized brass bed. In the far corner of the right of the window there was a china porcelain bowl so one could wash one’s face in the morning. Besides the basin itself there was another large piece of wooden feature. This one was that of a dressing table. In the opposite corner of the room was a blackened fireplace with a bucket full of fuel placed beside it. Within leaving the master room and closing the door behind you. One would look to the left and find another door but where would this one transport you? Well as you slowly walk along the worn-out boards of the landing with the odd creak coming from underneath your feet, you may hear the sound of giggling and laughing maybe from some young men enjoying a friendly joke or perhaps maybe the laughing of a young baby from within its cot but in this room, there was no such thing. Being projected out of this room would be the main giggling of two young girls. Mary and Emma shared that room across the landing from their parents. In this room there would be two single brass beds placed one near the wall as one walks straight in and the other bed would be located behind the door when it is fully extended open. Also, furniture in the room, Emma and Mary were blessed with a chest of drawers. The chest of drawers was not very big. It, in fact, was only big enough to hold three set of drawers within it. The drawers itself was not of great age with dark circular marks pinpointed all over it. Mary and Emma’s room was not blessed with the gift of sunlight, so they had to use candle to give them light all in their room. All year round, even in the height of summer. The final room on the second layer was occupied by the young mister of the house. Frederick and David. Frederick and David’s room was exactly the same as Emma and Mary. There were two single beds, another large chest of drawers and finally there was no visual light within the room for the early years of David’s life. The walled kitchen garden was not only neighbours that the Hall had next to their cottage. The next one of two neighbours to the Hall family was that of a grand fine mansion house called ‘Witches Lair’. Witches Lair was located a long stroll away or a full mile away in old English. Witches Lair was home to Lord Peter Langland and to his good Lady. Lady Mildred Langland. Lord and Lady Langland were people of high established manners, a very firm stronger hand for discipline and Lord and Lady Langland were highly well educated in the manner of which they were accustomed to. Lord Peter was a man of very high proportions. The height of Lord Peter would make one’s neck extremely sore from attempting to look him straight in the eye. Along with this height qualification of Lord Peter, he also had the same similar nose attachment to William Hall but there was one different characteristic between both men. It was that Lord Peter wasn’t only a man of high standards. He was a man that was proud to have served for his king and country in many wars of bloodshed and tears throughout his live. One may become fully aware of Lord Peter’s military experiences when one would first speak with him. When the first words would leave Lord Peter lips. They would be spoken with the voice of a high-ranking man. Along with his military experiences coming over in his voice, Lord Peter’s clothing standards were that of military cleanliness. Lord Peter would not be seen walking about his homestead or the premises of his garden without placed upon his person a set of thoroughly washed, ironed and well-fitting suit and polished black shoes upon his person. The suits that one might find within Lord Langland wardrobe mainly consisted of three main colours. The first colour was a light, spring green whilst the other two were a dark black and light, warm sunshine brown. Whilst Lord Peter’s colourful patterned waistcoats, solid gold pocket watch and chain helped to add a little hint of colour into his wardrobe. The final attachment to all of Lord Peter suits was his well-made strong brown walking stick that was forever accompanying him on his walks despite all these strong characteristics of a hard man. Lord Peter Langland was a man of kindness for the offspring of his servants. As a way of saying ‘thank you’ to his servants for the many years of dedication they gave to his family, Lord Langland had taken it upon himself to pay for the cost of the servants’ offspring to attend the local school until the offspring had achieved the age of seven years old. The reason behind Lord Peter’s manner of repaying his servants was because Lord Peter took a particular interest in schooling children. He believed that if children remained at school until they had reached a particular age then the said children would achieve a much higher position then they would if they left school at a much younger age. Lady Mildred Langland did not share her husband’s interest in that area, she would not look upon her husband’s way of giving back to his servants very well. She deeply believed that school education should only been allowed for people that can pay for it. Rich people, mostly. Lady Mildred took a more particular interest in the art of cultivation. Lady Mildred was particularly fascinated by the different varieties of fruit, vegetables, flowers, shrubs and herbaceous plant that were being cultivated within the established walls of the walled garden. She was also continuously keeping abreast of the latest developments for new efficient pieces of garden equipment which one may find some of the walled garden staff using after she managed to get her husband to purchase it for her. Lady Mildred’s particular requirements did not only expand to the new equipment, she made sure that she was the first individual amongst her friends to master the art of cultivating of the newest species of plants. On numerous occasions one may be carrying out his morning activities. When one may come to an abrupt halt with the sight of the figure of Lady Mildred dressed in a garment of emerald blue colour with a considerate amount of beautiful and dedicate lace placed upon both of her cuffs. Along with the emerald blue colour of the garment, it also had the pattern of several small flowers placed all over it. In order to complete this outfit, Lady Mildred Langland would have placed upon her feet quite a few pairs of small high heeled shoes, some of them were black, brown, white and ruby red. Finally, throughout Lady Mildred Langland’s wardrobe was many garments of similar formation. Lady Mildred garments were carefully littered with bright colours and carefully well-made patterns of flowers or one might find an unusual pattern of many coloured dots on it, but it was not uncommon to find her ladyship strolling around the gardens with a freshly plaited straw hat on her head. Upon this particular morning, Lady Mildred was not the only person walking the garden. Mr William Hall was accompanying Lady Mildred on her deliberate quest in order to discover what particular plants had the pleasure of remaining within the borders of her fine house. She was undertaking a stock take with William. William had placed upon his person a freshly washed black suit. William Hall strolled a few feet in front of her Ladyship in order for him to show her the plants that was established within the borders. Placed upon the palms of Mr Hall hands was a small black leather covered square free of word’s book and thoroughly placed within the firm grip of his fourth finger and thumb of his right hand was a writing pencil instrument so that Mr Hall may be able to take down all the new important information. That he would require in order to replicate the borders to Lady Mildred’s requirements. William fully extended his right arm and with the writing instrument still placed within his fingers. He would point to a plant and he would explain to her Ladyship that plants particular name, what particular family that plants was a member of and what requirement that plant needed to reach its full potential. Whilst Lady Mildred would remain firmly fixed on her position which was not too far from the edge of the border. As William explained all the necessary information. Lady Mildred would nod her head and may ask a question about what she had observed.

How long has that plant been placed here?

Would it be concerned if we moved it?

With this new knowledge gracefully received by the Lady Mildred, she was then able to suggest a new all eternity type of plant to William. Lady Mildred remained in a fixed position whilst she began to disperse the new knowledge to William about the new different varieties of shrubs and flowers that she wanted him to cultivate. As Lady Mildred began to place the information within the fine-tuned mind of William. Lady Mildred and William continue their quest throughout all of the borders surrounding Lady Mildred’s house and also the quest had expanded to the premises of the walled garden. Within a matter of no time, William’s word free book wasn’t wordless anymore. The book that William carried with him was soon to become fully stocked with all the new important information he needed. Within completing their quest throughout the borders of the garden, Lady Mildred had returned to her quarters within the walls of Witches Lair in order for her to spend her day doing her everyday tasks. With his new information to hand, William had returned to his office in the outer sheds of the walled garden was to be found. In order for him to begin conducting up all the important plans, list of plants, the amount of money it shall cost and how long exactly this transformation task was going to take them to do. Now as one would approach the Langland home, Witches Lair, for the first time, one would have to scroll through a wide space of the entrance at the front of the house where black metal painted gates lay idle on their hinges. As one would stroll