January Excerpt of Violets Are Blue

I hope y'all enjoy this month's excerpt!

The next time I awoke, it was evening. Dr. Baylor was leaning over me, listening to my heart. 

“Hmm…” he said. “Hmm, indeed… hmm…”

I wish he would say more then just “hmm.” It was beginning to bother me.

“Hmm…” he said once more. “Yes, Mrs. Bradshaw, you have done well. Rest is all she needs. By tomorrow morn, she shall be fit as a fiddle.”

“Thank you, sir,” Mum said gratefully.

“What exactly made you faint, miss?” The doctor’s gray eyes peered over his wiry spectacles and seemed to bore into me.

“I… I don’t know…” I said, struggling to remember. The images in my head were growing stronger, but they were still very faint. “I… I think I was overly-tired… from the factory.”

“Ah, yes.” He nodded his balding head. “Those factories are no good for people, especially the young ones.” He shook is head sadly, then looked sternly at Mum. “I would advise you to keep your daughter out of the factories, ma’am. Out for good. That heat can do mighty bad things to children. Fainting’s not the worst that could happen.”

Mum protested that she had no other choice; her children would starve.

“I know what you mean, ma’am,” Dr. Baylor said sympathetically. “Believe me, I do. But hear me out: that factory will do nothing but harm to your daughter. It’ll do harm to you, too.”