The SPOILER Thread can be found here.


Voyager - Diana Gabaldon
Part Two/Chapter 5 - To Us a Child is Given
Please no spoilers for material after this point in the story.


Jamie is in his cave with no word about Jenny or Ian and decides to make a trip back to the house after gathering some kills. Jenny is alone due to the housekeeper’s death and everyone going to the wake at Broch Morda. Jamie notices her readiness to give birth and insists that she send for him when it’s time. Jenny tells him that she has enough to worry about with everything going on without being concerned about his welfare during her time of birth. Fergus does come to get him 3 days later but also warns him about English Dragoons in the area and Jenny’s request to stay put. Jamie figures out that Jenny is also in labor but has sworn Fergus to secrecy. Jamie walks into the house w/Mrs. Kirby reading the Bible to the kids a particularly frightening passage about childbirth. Jamie takes control of the situation and ends the reading and sends everyone scurrying to help out the new housekeeper, Mary MacNab. Jamie starts to read the front page of the abandoned bible where his mother has built their family tree and notices his father’s bold script next to their wedding date 2 months before Willie’s death “Marrit for love”. He then went outside to help with the farm animals.

Outside, there’s a funny exchange with Fergus questioning the reputation of the mid-wife. “Madam should not be entrusted to the care of a peasant, surely!” Rabbie gets insulted with Fergus’ reference to peasants and the two of them start brawling. After Jamie separates them, he starts to question what Fergus knows about mid-wifery. Apparently, quite a bit due to his life in the brothel and many women being “brought to childbed” while there. He talks about them cutting the woman, putting an egg at the woman’s feet, making a tea of the afterbirth, etc. After being sufficiently grossed out, Jamie is interrupted by a cry from Young Jamie who points out ravens who portend war and slaughter. Without thinking, Jamie fires at the ravens to remove their ominous presence.

Jamie goes to see Jenny and the new baby, Ian. As they talk, Jenny is running through the list of women present and her matchmaking plans for them when she asks Jamie if he would like one for himself. They have a spirited discussion where Jenny asks him why he hasn’t lain with anyone including widows (which apparently are open season). She tells him he wouldn’t bed a woman unless he marries her and he tells her that he has no intention of marrying again. She mentions several candidates and he tells her to mind her own business (it’s about time someone does). He finally tells her that Claire was with child when he “lost her” and she understands that’s why he came during her childbirth.

At this point the English arrive (hello, shotgun!?) and Jamie jumps into the closet without realizing he’s still holding the baby. The house is in turmoil, the Capt is questioning Jenny as the mid-wife tells him she just had a baby that is nowhere to be seen and Jenny has to come up with an answer on the spot that the baby is dead. Now, Young Jamie hears this and starts berating the Capt. The baby is starting to get agitated and Jamie tries to sooth him with his thumb until the Capt. Leaves. When Jamie comes out of the closet, they all realize the ramifications of what could have just happened and Jamie agrees that he will not come back for a while and Jenny agrees.

The scene with Fergus and Young Jamie was a great view of how the two boys are getting along, and their very different views of the world around them. Not sure how many kids their age, these days, would be talking about the topic of midwives/birth - but then again, maybe! Hadn't realized it before, but Fergus' offering of an opinion showed just how much he was starting to care for her.

Jamie's decision to try to remove the bad omen, by shooting the ravens, was also interesting. Something bad did happen, but it was not as bad as what could have happened...how scary for Young Jamie to hear Jenny's explanation for why the baby was nowhere to be seen, but he was so brave to speak up to the Capt., anyway.

I think Fergus' efforts to keep an egg for a while when food was so scarce showed just how much he cared about Jenny and the family. He considered it an important part of the birth process, from what he had learned at the brothel, an made sure one was available even when eggs were in short supply and everyone was hungry. He certainly learned some interesting things during his early years.

I thought Jenny did quite impressive quick thinking considering she had just given birth and things were so hectic. And, Young Jamie played his part extremely effectively, even though I am sorry that he had to go through that upsetting experience of thinking his brother had died.

The first time I read the book, I hadn't thought about this scene as being the beginning of a special closeness between Jamie and his nephew Ian, but I recognize that now and we'll see in later chapters how that continues as Ian grows up.

Oh, and I also hadn't thought too much about Fergus and Rabbie being old enough to be harassed as adult men. I think of them both as still boys. Glad they were smart enough to disappear when the soldiers showed up.

Pauline, excellent chapter summary, thank you!

The question of why is Jenny pregnant again under the families present circumstances was brought up in the last chapter discussion and for some reason I completely forgot she was carrying Wee Ian. I'm so glad she dared another pregancy! His birth circumstances are an excellent portend for the rest of his eventful and amazing life. Some kids are just that way. Jamie's presence at his birth is great foreshadowing of their relationship as well.

Two of the character traits I admire most about Jenny are her ability to adapt and her mother hen instincts. Fergus' loyalty is a sure sign she makes him feel a member of the family. Mary McKnabb's presence a sign of Jennie's charity. The cool-under- pressure handling of the english dragoons show hee ability to maintain order and control under extreme circumstances. We do not see much of Jenny Murray, but what we do leaves a lasting impression.

The impression that I had of reading this chapter in regard to Jenny was that she was scared out of her mind. If Jamie had been caught in that closet, it wouldn't have been only his punishment but that entire family's existence or freedom. They could have all been eliminated and when she agrees with Jamie that he had better leave, I couldn't help but almost feel her anger at him for putting all of them in this position and I'm not saying that she didn't love him. But her entire family could have been eliminated if he was found.

She may have calmed down later but I really felt that she was furious and scared witless when the soldiers left.

As Pauline has re-kilted, Jamie starts this chapter quite well by ending the scaring of the children who are subjected to "hellfire and brimstone" Bible readings. Then he sets them to productive work. He also brings the boys back in line when they break out in fisticuffs. Events fall apart from there. I am left to wonder: What was Jamie thinking?

Does anyone else notice that in this chapter he makes two mistakes that are not consistent with his usual savvy behavior under pressure? He shoots the crow off the roof tree - with a pistol (would the bow and arrow, that he usually used for hunting, have been more reliably accurate anyway?). After the pistol shot, they should have immediately become very cautious. But, Jenny is delivering. Then, he forgets circumstances while admiring young Ian and takes him along in his rush to hide at the surprise arrival of the English. (Someone should have been at watch!) They were very fortunate to not be discovered on either count, the pistol shot or Jamie holding the newborn. The women surely save the day this time!

Separately, Fergus seems to have a good opinion of his knowledge of midwifing - from the civilized world of Paris no less. Too bad he did not stick to food ideas. They could have used some of the French delicacies to add to their diets! (I have had escargot and frog legs. I much preferred the frog legs.)

What was Jamie thinking? I assume in the emotions surrounding the impending birth and the length of time of captivity combined to make all the participants less careful. It was a bad combination with disastrous results.



*lol* I much prefer the escargot.

RE: "Does anyone else notice that in this chapter he makes two mistakes that are not consistent with his usual savvy behavior under pressure? He shoots the crow off the roof tree - with a pistol (would the bow and arrow, that he usually used for hunting, have been more reliably accurate anyway?). After the pistol shot, they should have immediately become very cautious. But, Jenny is delivering. Then, he forgets circumstances while admiring young Ian and takes him along in his rush to hide at the surprise arrival of the English. (Someone should have been at watch!) They were very fortunate to not be discovered on either count, the pistol shot or Jamie holding the newborn. The women surely save the day this time!"


Interesting. Made me think of Claire when she left the forest to try to go back to the stones and the whole mess that ensued. As Jamie told her, innocent actions can have a bad effect in times like these. Ironic that he didn't follow his own advice!