Chapter 1 - Little Rosie

Rosalie Snow was born on an early sweet and warm spring morning. The kind of spring where the air was crisp and smelled of honey and the pink cherry blossoms swayed with the melody of the pretty birds. The kind of spring morning where the magical soft golden light dawned upon the sleeping villages and little shops and the world was calm.

In a elegant little cottage, in the English countryside by a crystal lake, a young women named Meredith, or known as Marie, gave birth to a baby girl. The baby cried loud and brightly as the the maid handed her to her mother. The baby's crying calmed down after seeing her mother, feeling again, safe and sound.

The name, Rosalie Snow, was given to the baby. Marie named her after own beloved grandmother, Rosalie, who raised and nurtured Marie after her parents had passed.

Rosalie was called Rosie, a nickname her mother's maid thought of. The maid, who was named Ann Lewis, had been with Rosie's mother ever since she was 11.

Grandmother Rosalie had found Ann at the marketplace, being sold off by her father to an old drunk who could barely speak properly. Grandmother Rosalie was a kind and sensible old lady, she just couldn't stand there and watch as a poor girl be sold off like that. So she bargained and bidded to take Ann instead, paying nearly triple. Grandmother Rosalie fed Ann like her own daughter and told her she would pay her as long as she waited on Marie and befriended her. Ann was grateful and thanked grandmother Rosalie and dedicated her life to helping her and Marie.

Marie was spoiled in not a snobbish way, but spoiled in education, skills and curiosity. Grandmother Rosalie taught Marie how to read, she bought her hundreds of books and taught her how to sow, bake, swim, sing, garden, dance and ride a bike. Grandmother Rosalie intended to raise Marie to be a kind and bright child, so that she could shine even in the darkest of times, and learn never give up.

When Marie was 13, One especially cold winter, the icy wind swirled in all directions and the frigid cold left many poor families cold and hungry. Icicles hung from rooftops and trees and the snow turned the world white and grey and somber. Families huddled close together desperately hoping to preserve some warmth. others with children searched the icy streets in hopes to feed their younger siblings. Marie and grandmother Rosalie was neither poor nor rich. They had enough money to feed themselves wonderfully and be able to afford the luxuries such as books and beautiful trinkets and things to play with. Each day they sat down to warm meals that consisted of delicious things such as biscuits, clotted cream, jam, bacon, meet pie and meet stew and veggies of all sorts. Marie never once starved in her life.

Ann, Marie and grandmother Rosalie sat down to dinner by a warm fire on a Friday night. Marie helped Ann cook a delicious meal; roasted honey ham with gravy, butter potato, pea soup and freshly made raisin buns with marmalade and clotted cream. Marie glanced out the window as she took a bite of her ham. the bustling cold storm outside turned Marie's appetite inside out. She imagined young children and babies having nothing to eat but dirty scraps found on streets, or nothing at all. She imagined how cold the babies were and how their desperate cries would sound. How could she sit here eating all this when they had nothing? Marie thought. How could she just not do anything and sit there as children were dying in the cold? She swallowed the lump in her throat and put down her fork.

"what is it Marie?" grandmother Rosalie asked her, looking concerned.

"grandmother, are there babies and little girls and boys out there in the cold?"she asked

grandmother Rosalie was a smart women, she immediately understood the guilt Marie felt and was glad Marie grew to be such a kind girl.

"yes, dear"

"are they. Are they, hungry?"

"yes dear" grandmother replied

Marie stared at her plate, full of ham and potato and buns. She decided that she would help the children in the cold. She would share her food.

"grandmother, can i give some of my food to the girls and boys in the cold?" she asked. Marie's eyes were full of compassion and hope, it melted grandmothers heart and she was delighted to how much of a good girl Marie was. Ann smiled, she liked miss Marie very much and admired her a great deal.

grandmother folded her napkin and stood up, "lets go darling, lets go bring some food and blankets to the children out in the cold". Marie smiled and squealed with joy. She brought all the extra blankets in the attic out and Ann carefully packed some of their dinner and extra bread. They bundled up in layers and layers of jackets and cloaks and scarfs and mittens and hats and ear muffs. At last, they set out to town village to share their dinner with the poor children.

Growing up, Marie would always find ways to help other people. She knit scarfs and mittens for the poor children each winter, she delivered fresh bread and fresh milk from her cow Nellie to the poor each Sunday morning, and she looked after dozens of stray animals and injured birds. She was the darling angel of Honey-acre village and the daughter of all the grateful mothers and granddaughters to the wise of the village.

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When Marie was 19, grandmother Rosalie passed away. Marie wept for days and Ann did so as well. She told herself she had to be strong for Marie and during the dark and sorrow times, Ann looked after Marie and cheered her up.

For the next 2 years the two good friends lived a peaceful life. They read and baked and played and spent time with friends. In the winter they would sow and knit clothes and soft toys and in the summer they would go to town and sell them for some extra money. Children adored Marie and she adored them. Even though she always meant to sell the toys to the rich, she always gave away the toys to every little boy and girl who wanted it.

Ann was satisfied with such a simple life in serving Marie. After all, without her and grandmother Rosalie, god knows where she would be or what awful creature she would belong to.

When Marie turned 21, she met a young man, who could not be older than 25, passing through town who charmed her and stole Marie's naïve and delicate heart. They went on bike rides together, cooked together and did all the romantic things couples did. When autumn arrived, they spent all chilly autumn and winter together. Ann did not approve of the young man. She sensed something quite off about him. But she did not speak of it to Marie as the man made her happy and Ann was happy when Marie was.

One morning, Marie awoke sick and nauseous. She refused breakfast and no food agreed with her stomach. Ann also did not know why she was sick all so sudden, so she consulted an older friend of hers in town. she was a kind old lady who owned the flower shop where Marie and Ann would visit each summer. After hearing all of Marie's symptoms, the old lady concluded that Marie was pregnant. She gave Ann some medicine to calm Marie's stomach and some homemade bone broth. Ann was stunned all the ride home on her bike and when she told Marie. she gasped and then smiled. After all, Marie thought she had found her true love!

That very evening, Marie told the young man and he also gasped. he was surprised and frightened. though he did not show that and pretended to be glad. Marie spent all night dreaming of a wonderful future with the baby in her belly and her true love. The next morning, the young man was no where to be seen. his clothes were gone, his suitcase was gone and so was the money in Marie's purse. After hearing the news of a baby, the young man fled the town and was never to be seen again.

Marie cried and cried all day and all week. She did not eat nor drink and all she did was lock herself up in her room and cry heartbrokenly. Finally, after a week, Ann scolded her and reminded her to be strong and responsible, just like what grandma Ann would have said. Marie finally came to her senses and was grateful to Ann.

Everyday Ann would eat full and hearty meals, take long walks and read all about babies and motherhood. As the months went by, a nursery was constructed and many babies clothes and toys filled the cottage. The young man who ran away had stolen much of Marie's money. They would need more money to support the baby, so Ann would help Marie sow and knit and garden and bake delicious biscuits and pastries to sell at the market. It wasn't much but it helped very much and Marie didn't mind a simple and plain life. After all, grandmother Rosalie raised her to be a kind, generous and pure girl.

As her belly grew and grew friends would come and visit. word got to town of how the young man ran. some people were kind and understanding but few were cruel. Girls who were Marie's age would shame her but really, secretly, they were jealous of Marie and saw an opportunity to talk badly of her.

She received many gifts and with each day Marie grew into a more responsible young women.

Finally, on an April spring morning, Little Rosie was brought into the world.

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