One August afternoon in 1666, Betty Stapleton was sitting alone at the window of her aunt’s house. She was sewing. The house was in a narrow street not far from the Tower of London.
Betty looked out and saw a man standing in front of the house. He was looking at the sign above the door: “Nicholas Stapleton, Saddler.”
When he saw Betty, he asked, “Is Mr. Stapleton in, little miss?”
The girl shook her head. “No, sir,” she said.
“My father died of the plague last year.”
“But his name is still on the door.”
“Yes, my aunt does not want to change it,” Betty explained.
“Shall I call my aunt?”
“Oh no!” said the stranger. “Thank you, little miss. Goodbye.” He hurried down the street, and Betty noticed he was lame.
Aunt Matilda had managed the house and business since Betty’s mother died nine years ago. Betty’s father died of the plague. Matilda was helped by three workmen, including Mr. Rudyard, a saddler who worked with Mr. Stapleton for many years. The other two were apprentices. Apprentices were boys learning the trade. They worked without pay for seven years before becoming tradesmen.
On the same day, people went to Moorfields to celebrate a victory. Moorfields was a large green field where people danced and played games. England was at war with Holland, and news of a victory came to London.
Betty’s friends, Meg and Peter Tappler, took her to see the celebrations. A big crowd was already there.
Time passed quickly. Suddenly a fight started between two groups of apprentices — the butchers and the weavers. Meg and Betty wanted to run, but Peter stayed to watch. In the panic, Betty fell. A young man picked her up and carried her out of the crowd.
“Are you hurt, little miss?” he asked. At that moment, someone shouted, “The King’s sailors! Be careful, Sim!”
The young man looked around but it was too late. A group of armed sailors surrounded him. The officer said, “The King wants you. You must come with us!” The young man was led away. Betty saw the man who shouted, it was the lame man from the window.
That evening Betty went home, dirty and scared. She was scolded by her aunt and cried a little. She was sorry for the young man and thought about her own family: her mother had died when she was two, her brother ran away five years ago, and her father died of the plague.
A few days later, Betty saw the lame man again. He smiled and asked if she was well.
Betty asked about the young man who helped her. “He was taken to the king’s ship. Soon they will fight the Dutch.” Just then Aunt Matilda’s voice was heard, and the lame man left.
Later, Betty went to Meg Tappler's birthday party. They spent the afternoon on the river. On the way home, she saw the young man again, running to the Stapleton house. Then a group of armed sailors appeared. Betty hid while the young man and the lame man helped her and her aunt escape.
August 1666 was very hot and dry. On 2nd September, a strong east wind blew. Betty woke and saw a red sky and smoke in the street. People ran and shouted about a fire. Aunt Matilda did not believe them at first.
Mr. Tappler took Betty to the river to see the fire. They saw many carts and people leaving their homes. Houses on London Bridge were burning, and the fire spread quickly. Hundreds of houses were destroyed, and many people were homeless.
The next day, Mr. Tappler warned Aunt Matilda to leave the city. Betty helped pack boxes. Through the smoke, the young sailor and the lame man helped them escape. Betty and her aunt were carried safely to a cart and left the burning city.
They joined other people in a camp far from London. Betty asked the young sailor to help find her brother who had run away. She explained that he was innocent of a mistake about a stolen silver box. Aunt Matilda thanked the young man. Betty recognized her brother Simon, now grown and strong, who had helped hide them. Betty was happy: she had found her brother, and her aunt was kinder to her now.
