#rose tate

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The rest of 1765 passed in a blur.

Like Charley had predicted, the Stamp Act didn't impact the Tates all too much. Yes, he caught word of protests in Boston and York City and up and down the colonies, but no such thing occurred in Henford-on-Bagley. The townsfolk went on with their lives, the only change being that they bought less books and paper.

So the year was one of peace and rest. Nothing very notable happened, and that was perfectly alright. Nothing notable mean nothing wrong.

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Rose continued to sleep in the nursery with her siblings after her birthday, but recently she had hit a growth spurt and soon she was too big for her bed.

So Charley and Isaac decided it was time to add another room in the front. With the children getting older and a new baby on the way, it seemed like a good time.

After a few months of hard work, it was finished.

But just as he was laying the final board, Charley was like, "You know what? Let's make the kitchen its own room."

And Isaac was like, "Alright sounds good."

So they did that. More counters were added and walls were built around them, to give Grace (and now Rose too) more space to cook. What had once been Isaac's "bedroom" was turned into a hallway, so his bed was moved into the former nursery, now known as the Boys' Room, with Rose and Sophia moving to the Girls' Room at the front of the house.

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A snowy day in early 1765

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Excerpt from the diary of Rose Tate, Christmas Day, 1764:

Dear Diary,

To-day was very nice. It snowed too much to go to Church, which was sad, but Father made it up by reading us the Bible, specifically the Birth of Christ.

Eleanor and Sophia and I have been preparing the meal for ages, and this morning we finally got to eat it. It was delicious, if I do say so myself. By the time we finished eating dinner it was nearly Night, and we all went into the Hearth room.

Cal and Xan finished several chess matches while Sophia played her violin (she really is quite good); and when the boys were done Xan came over and sat with me on the floor while Cal and Isaac danced.

I'll admit feelings of Warmth came over me, as it did us all, and I hugged Xan from behind and told him I loved him. He laughed, but I know he loves me too. Similar whispers came from Charley, who was holding Little Lucy.

All in all it was a very good Christmas. I would have enjoyed some Gifts, like Chris says he gets each year, but I understand that Father is poor and cannot afford them.

It was snowing as we all went to sleep - well, most of us went to sleep. I suspect Eleanor and Father were otherwise occupied...

But, Diary, a Merry Christmas to you. All is Peaceful and Calm here on the Tate Farm, as I hope it shall always be.

Yours,

Rosie Tate

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Christmas Day, 1764

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Part 3 of 3

The morning after Isaac had spoken with her, Rose was reading when she heard a voice say, "Uh, hello."

She glanced up to see Sophia standing in the doorway, looking quite nervous.

"I wanted to ask you something," mumbled the younger girl.

Although she was a bit wary, Rose remembered Isaac's words and gestured to the seat across from her.

"Of course. Please, sit."

Sophia did.

There was an awkward moment of silence during which both girls wondered what the other was about to say.

Finally, Sophia started, "I wanted to apologize. For snooping."

Rose raised her eyebrows, not buying it quite yet. "Really?"

"Yes. It wasn't right. I just... I wanted you to like me more. I thought that maybe in your diary I could find something for us to talk about. But that's no excuse."

"No, it's my fault. I shouldn't have been so mean the last few months. I mean, you barely did anything." Rose cracked a small smile. "Isaac said that I should include all my little siblings. I'm sorry I wasn't."

"Friends?" asked Sophia cautiously.

Rose agreed, "Friends." She stood up. "Wanna go swimming?"

"Yeah!"

And with that, the war that had been going on for months disappeared as if it had never been there in the first place, all thanks to Isaac.

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Part 2 of 3

Now that Isaac had ended Rose's side of the war, he needed to stop Sophia's.

At that moment, Sophia was in the kitchen, preparing some dough that Eleanor would later use for making bread.

"Hello, Sophia," said Isaac, hovering in the doorway. "May we speak for a moment?"

"Of course." Sophia wiped her hands on her apron and gestured for her brother to come into the room. "What about?"

"Well, I..." Isaac stood in front of Sophia, wringing his hands as he tried to figure out how to word his thoughts. "Tell me, how did you and Rose come to be fighting?" From years of breaking up fights at the orphanage, Isaac knew to always get both sides of the story.

"She's so mean!" Crossing her arms, Sophia let out a huff. "I didn't do a thing, and all of a sudden she started to tease me endlessly! It isn't fair!"

"Was there nothing at all that could have led Rose to become angry at you?"

"Well... I may have read her diary."

"Sophia-"

"But I had a good reason! I swear!"

Isaac bit back a smile. "Will you tell me?"

"I felt left out, I suppose," mumbled Sophia, not meeting Isaac's eye. "I was jealous of how Rose and Xan and even Cal played together and never asked me. I thought... I thought that maybe if Rose and I had something to talk about, she might let me join them. So I looked in her diary for ideas."

"Well, Sophie, you shouldn't have done that."

Sophia hung her head. "I know. I'm sorry, Isaac."

"But I understand why you did it." With a smile, Isaac knelt down so he was at Sophia's eye level. "May I have a hug?"

Sophia leaned into her brother's embrace. "I don't want to fight anymore."

"Neither does Rose. I just spoke with her. She said that if you apologize, she'll call off the war."

Nodding, Sophia said, "I will, Isaac."

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- Part 1 of 3 -

By mid 1764, Rose and Sophia were still fighting, and looked unlikely to stop anytime soon. Charley and Eleanor had tried on multiple occasions to end the war, but their actions were in vain and led only to more insults. After a while they decided that perhaps it would be best if they just let it fizzle out on its own. After all, they had little Lucy to take care of.

Likewise, Xan took a step back. He didn't want Sophia to hate him, but he didn't want Rose to hate him, either. So he still backed up Rose on her decisions, but refused to fight. Even at age nine, Xan wanted everyone to like him, and thought that was best achieved by diplomacy, not violence.

Eventually, the fight got to the point that as the big brother, Isaac had to step in. One day while the rest of the kids were occupied was out in the fields, Isaac called Rose into his room.

When they were seated on his bed, he said, "Rose, I wanted to talk to you about your fight with Sophia."

Rose frowned and stared straight ahead. "She started it."

"Can you tell me about it?"

"She read my diary. And she shouldn't have. And she's always so mean!"

"You're right, she shouldn't have read your diary," replied Isaac. He had a plan, but it required Rose figuring some things out on her own. But that didn't mean he couldn't give a little push. "But I don't know about her always being mean."

"Well, that's because she isn't mean to you."

"Have you ever thought about the fact that Sophia might feel a bit left out?"

Rose frowned. "I guess we don't really include her. But she never asked to be included, either."

"Some people have trouble asking things like that. As the oldest daughter, Rose, you're a role model for your little siblings. I'm not trying to put any pressure on you, but sometimes you need to do things that your siblings will copy, like asking someone to play. Do you understand?"

"Yes. But she still snooped in my diary."

"Tell me what, if Sophia apologizes to you, will you call off the fight?"

After a few moments of intense thinking, Rose agreed. "But only if she apologizes."

As Rose left, Isaac called, "Love you, Rosie-girl."

"Love you too, Izey!"