Pirate's Promise by Clyde Robert Bulla

1. Big John
    Late in the year 1716 Big John Ludd came home from sea. He left ship in London, but he stayed in the great city not at all. With his sea chest on his shoulder, he began to walk.
    All day he walked through wind and snow. It was night when he came to a village on the bank of a river.
    He stopped at a poor little house. “Open!” he shouted, and he beat on the door with his fist.
    A cry came from inside. “Children, it’s your father! Your father’s come home!”
    A woman opened the door. “Oh, my dear husband!” she cried.
    â€œLet me in, woman. It’s freezing cold outside.” He pushed her out of the doorway and went into the house.
    A few coals burned in the fireplace. There was no other light in the room.
    He sat down by the fire.
    â€œMy dear husband,” the woman said again. “It’s good to see you there in your old place.”
    â€œHow are the children?” he asked.
    â€œAs well as can be, all seven of them,” she said. “They just had their supper.”
    â€œWell, where are they?” he shouted. “Don’t they know their father’s home?”
    In the dark corners of the room, shadows began to move. A snub-nosed boy came out into the firelight. He pushed his long black hair out of his eyes.
    â€œThat’s a good boy, Jacky,” said the woman. “Run and give your father a kiss.”
    The boy’s face turned red. “Oh, Ma!” he said.
    â€œYou’re a fine lad, Jacky—a fine, big lad,” said his father. “Now let’s have a look at the others.”
    One by one, the rest of the seven came out into the light. They were all boys, with black hair and snub noses. The two smallest ones began to cry.
    â€œDon’t be making faces at me!” said Big John. “I’m your father .”
    â€œThey are only babies,” said their mother, “and you’ve been gone a year. You can’t blame them if they don’t know you yet.”
    Jacky went close to his father. “There’s more here that you’ve not seen,” he said.
    â€œHush!” said his mother.
    â€œWhat’s this?” asked Big John. “Who is here that I’ve not seen?”
    â€œDon’t be angry,” said his wife. “Promise me you won’t be angry.”
    â€œI’ll promise nothing. What are you keeping from me?” Big John tried to look into the shadows. “Who is hiding there?”
    A girl came out into the light. She was a pretty girl with a pale, frightened face.
    Behind her came a boy. He was straight and tall, and his hair was red. He said in a clear voice, “We weren’t hiding, sir.”
    Big John’s mouth fell open. “Well!” he said. “And who might you be?”
    â€œTom Pippin, sir,” said the boy, “and this is my sister, Dinah.”
    Big John looked at his wife.
    â€œThese are my brother’s children,” she said. “They came here after my poor brother died. They had no mother or father—”
    â€œThey came here to live? ” said Big John.
    â€œThey had no other place to go,” she said.
    â€œHow long have they been here?” he asked.
    â€œTwo months,” she said.
    Jacky spoke up. “It’s three months.”
    His mother said quickly, “To bed, you children. To bed now, all of you.”
    The children went to bed. They curled up like cats wherever they could find a place. Some slept on an old mat. Some slept on the bare floor.

    Big John and his wife sat alone by the fire.
    She said in a low voice, “Don’t be angry, please. I couldn’t turn my brother’s children away. Tom is only twelve, just the age of our Jacky. The girl is ten and small for her age. They can’t look out for themselves.”
    â€œThree months!” said Big John. “Three months those brats have been here, taking the bread from my children’s