Catch the Wind: My Journey with Caroline

Caroline finishes sewing a nightshirt and drops it into the basket, joining several others already piled inside. Watching the stack grow, I get curious about the hospital that will eventually receive them. I’ve visited the hospital where Dad works plenty of times, so seeing what one looks like back in 1812 appeals to me. I’d rather not show up right after a battle, but today, at least, things should be calm.

Hesitantly, I ask if maybe we can deliver the nightshirts ourselves. Caroline straightens up right away, clearly liking the idea. Mrs. Livingston agrees it’s fine, since there are plenty of finished shirts that won’t help anyone just sitting in a basket. She adds that we should grab shawls before heading out, in case the rain comes.

Scooping up the basket, Caroline promises we’ll be back in plenty of time for supper, flashing me a grin. She leads me back through Sackets Harbor, then stops short near the water’s edge, struck by a sudden thought. She explains that a widow recently opened a small inn nearby. It’s probably swamped now that travelers keep pouring into town. Since I still need to find work somewhere, Caroline wonders aloud whether we should stop in and see if the widow could use an extra pair of hands.