Boston Jacky: Being an Account of the Further Adventures of Jacky Faber, Taking Care of Business Read Free Page B

“Disgusting bug,” and contents herself with nibbles of the potatoes and bread, while the rest of us lay to with great sloppy gusto.
    â€œSo, Ezra,” I manage to say, dabbing my lips with my cloth between bites. “A report on the state of Faber Shipping, if you would?”
    Ezra smiles and says, “After your dinner, dear. You look rather in need of some decent food and I would not want to upset your digestion.”
    True, I have been on lean rations lately—a big fat frog was very nearly on my menu not too long ago, when I was starving on the scrubby, dry plains of Spain, but Big Daddy Bullfrog did manage to ultimately avoid the Faber fangs.However, Ezra’s words do sound rather ominous, so I figure I’ll enjoy this dinner and this company and get the bad news when it comes.
    Finally, I dab the mouth, suppress an insistent burp, and say, “Let’s have it, Ezra. Hold nothing back. There are no secrets from those here at this table.”
    Ezra Pickering puts his own napkin to lips and says, “Very well, Jacky, here is the state of Faber Shipping Worldwide.” And with that, he reaches into his waistcoast, pulls out a paper, and passes it over to me. On it is:
    Â 
    The Condition of Faber Shipping Worldwide, Incorporated
    As of June 6, 1809
    Â 
    HOLDINGS:
    The Brigantine
Lorelei Lee
    The Schooner
Nancy B. Alsop
    Two Small Cutters, the
Morning Star
and
Evening Star
    Faber Shipping Headquarters, State Street, Boston, Mass.
    Much Equipment—Traps, Rope, Tackle, etc.
    Â 
    OFFICERS:
    Jacky Mary Faber, President
    John Higgins, Vice President
    Ezra Pickering, Esq., Treasurer and Clerk of Corporation
    Â 
    EMPLOYEES:
    Onboard the
Lorelei Lee
    Liam Delaney, Captain
    Ian McConnaughey, First Mate
    Padraic Delaney, Second Mate
    David Jones, Third Mate
    Seamen rated Able: 24
    Seamen rated Ordinary: 12
    Ship’s Boys: 3
    Onboard the
Nancy B. Alsop
    James Tanner, Captain
    Crew: Daniel Prescott, Finnbar McGee, John Thomas,
    all seamen, rated Able
    Jemimah Moses, Cook
    Â 
    OTHER STAFF:
    Solomon Freeman, Fisherman in Charge of Harbor Operation
    Clementine Tanner, Headquarters Housekeeper
    Annetje Wemple and Rosie Moses, Chambermaids
    Chloe Cantrell, Secretary to Ezra Pickering, Esq.
    Â 
    CASH ON HAND:
    $2,704.67
    Â 
    ACCOUNTS PAYABLE:
    Payroll this month—$1,304.77
    Â 
    ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE:
    $6,822.12
    Â 
    MISC. EXPENSES:
    Fire Prevention and Insurance—$300.00
    Domingo Marin, Delivery Charge—$50.00
    Â 
    â€œHmmm . . .” I say, scanning the paper. I lift an eyebrow. “Treasurer Pickering, eh?”
    â€œSomeone has to manage the money when you and Mr. Higgins are off saving Britannia from ruin,” he says dryly.

    â€œQuite a payroll, I must say,” I murmur, continuing to read. “I trust we continue to prosper . . .” Ezra does not reply to that, but only gives a discreet cough. “And Jemimah Moses is still listed as Cook? I thought she was well fixed with her share of the
Santa Magdalena
haul.”
    â€œYes, she is, but she still searches the southern East Coast towns for news of her children who were sold off just before you bought her. She has reclaimed some but still searches for others. We make sure the
Nancy B.
puts into Charlestown on each trip so that she can check around. She figures they must be in the area and, actually, she did manage to find and to buy out her eldest daughter, Rosie, and Rosie’s two young children. You see her listed there under Housekeeping Staff, and her two boys are listed as ship’s boys on the
Lee
,” says Ezra. “Plus, I think Jemimah grew bored in Boston and likes the short cruises of the
Nancy B.
Though she enjoys her freedom in Boston, she also likes the southern sun.”
    â€œAs do I,” I say, recalling some particularly harsh winters in New England. “Ummm . . . And what’s this accounts-receivable amount being so much bigger than