WINDS OF CHANGE

AuthorHouse

Chapter One

The shops were still closed. Those that still did business -most had been closed permanently. Those that were empty were used for other things and one of them was a make shift home for Jon.

Jon, a young boy left on the streets to fend for himself after his mother had died. He and his mother had both lived on the streets after his dad had left three years before. Jon was accustomed to doing without. His mother had died three weeks ago from the cold, lack of food and just a hard life. Jon, a boy of ten maybe nine, he wasn't sure. His mother never really talked about very much after his dad left.

Jon had one friend named Henry. Henry helped Jon and his mother and now he would have to take care of Jon alone. Henry was older about twelve or thirteen. Henry had been on the streets of Belfast for three years, he had been turned out after his dad was killed in a holdup. His dad was outside one of the shops when a young man robbed the storekeeper and as the young man ran out he cut Henry's dad with a knife that proved to be fatal. Henry was left alone until he met Jon and his mother. They took him in and now Henry could return the kindness. Henry and Jon were great friends.

Henry and Jon woke early-you had to start early each day before the cans were picked over by others. Then the two would visit the shops as they opened and ask for coins from the customers before being chased off by the constable.

On one such morning on the way to a group of shops they saw a bundle of rags in a doorway. Thinking that this may be something good they stopped to investigate. But to the surprise of both boys it wasn't just rags it had arms and legs. They had found another boy. After waking and talking with him, which Jon and Henry did most of the talking, they figured out the boy was about four or five years old, so they settled on five.

Since he didn't know where he came from they thought why not take him in. So they settled on a name -Jamie-Jamie fit a young boy without anyone until now.

This group of three had their work cut out for them. Each new day brought a new adventure. They could survive with Henry, having been on the streets for so many years, he knew most of the good places to find food and shelter. Jon helped out but spent a lot of time taking care of Jamie.

Jamie had blond hair and blue eyes with a sweet voice hard to understand sometimes but Jon made out OK. Jamie didn't really know where he came from. He said he just walked the streets for a couple of days. Jon thought how alone he had felt when his mother had died. If it hadn't been for Henry he didn't know what he would have done. Jon and Henry thought that the best thing to do was to take care of Jamie until someone claims him. They both hoped that would be never.

Together they would ask questions at the shops. Has anyone ever seen this little boy? It seemed as if the shopkeepers and customers didn't care one way or the other, just another boy on the street.

Each day was the same, find food and at night shelter, and stay hidden from the constable and sometimes the older boys. There were gangs in Belfast, groups of six to ten that would take your food and or your shelter. Most of these were older boys and had the run of the city. Henry, Jon and Jamie tried to stay in one small area where they knew some of the people.

Most of the people and the shopkeepers didn't mind Henry and Jon hanging around the shops. The boys never started trouble and would help the older ladies with their goods maybe for a free meal or a coin or two.

Then one night in early spring something happened that would change the lives of everyone - an officer was killed. No one knew what happened but word was that the officer had caught a group of boys breaking into one of the shops. Even if it was an accident it didn't matter, the group of boys that ran the street would get the blame.

After that incident life on the street changed. Groups of boys would be picked up and put in holding cells to wait for a day in court then be sent to a workhouse to stay until they were twenty one.

Henry and Jon knew time was running out. They tried to stay out of sight but had to survive. Then one day there were rumors that some of the younger boys were given choices of a workhouse in Belfast or be sent to farms to work until they were eighteen. No one knew if this was true or not and no one knew where the farm was or who owned the farm.

Several weeks went by and the shopkeepers complained more and more. Some of the abandoned shops were set on fire at night. Henry and Jon talked to each other and decided to give up, so in March 1838, Henry, Jon and Jamie gave themselves up to the local constable.

"We are brothers and our parents are gone but we promised to stay together." Henry told the constable.

Jon agreed. Jamie was just glad to have brothers that he didn't know he had.

The workhouse was a place where the boys worked twelve to fifteen hours a day. They ate and slept in one big building while constantly being guarded. It was really nothing but a prison - a prison for young boys that had to work for free.

The first night in the cell was different from staying in the shops at night but at least there was something to eat in the morning. There was not much but at least the boys didn't have to go looking for food.

"Jon we need to stay together no matter what happens and always stay close to Jamie." Henry said.

"Jamie we'll take care of you and watch over you." Jon said. But he knew that if things worked out like the others Jamie was too young to go to the workhouse. He was also too young to go to a farm to work. Someone would have to take care of him everyday. Jon and Jamie had become very close and Jon felt that someday they would have to part. It hurt him to think about that day.

Weeks passed and the three friends sat in a cell with about twenty other boys. Then one day two more were put in with them. Shaw, age thirteen, was from England. He told a long story.

"I left home two years ago because of my stepfather and been living on the streets. With as much trouble that is going on now I gave myself up." Shaw said.

Henry and Shaw were friends from the start.

"Shaw this is Jon, we have been together a while and this is Jamie. He's one of us and we take care of him." Henry said. Shaw said "I haven't had a family since I left home. You three are the closest thing to a family that I have."

Shaw needed friends, and later his new friends would find out how much Shaw meant to them. The other young boy was Troy. Troy told another sad story.

"My mother and father sailed off to America and left me and my sister with an aunt in Belfast."

"Where is your aunt? Why are you here?" asked Jon.

Troy continued his story "My aunt was good to us but she couldn't take care of the two of us. She sent my sister to a cousin in England then one night my aunt died. I didn't have anyone so I ended up on the streets like so many more. I met Shaw and we have been together ever since. Shaw has really helped me - almost like a parent."

After the introductions the five sat together in one corner of...