A Child of the Sea; and Life Among the MormonsWilliams, Elizabeth Whitney
History
A Child of the Sea; and Life Among the Mormons
Williams, Elizabeth Whitney
Beaver Island (Mich.); Latter Day Saints -- Michigan; Strang, James Jesse, 1813-1856
After one week one bright morning Mr. Crane took me in the carriage to
Painesville to my new home. We crossed the Grand river at Fairport, then
took the old plank road to Painesville. How the horses' hoofs did
clatter as we drove on a fast trot! We stopped at the turn of the road,
where Mr. Crane had two sisters living. Their house was on a pretty
knoll on the right as we drove into Painesville. We had dinner with Mrs.
Matthews. The other sister was a maiden lady called by the children
"Aunt Margaret." They were all very kind to me.
IN MY NEW HOME.
After dinner we drove into Painesville up to the cottage door to my new
home. The lady came to the door and knew at once I was the little girl
she expected and said, "Come in." We stepped inside, Mr. Crane saying,
"I have brought you this child as you directed me in your letter. Her
father has put her in my care and I am responsible for her. If you do
not like to keep her this winter I shall take her home with me. If you
do take her and at any time don't want her, let me know. I shall come
once every week to see her until I go back to the island, and of course
you know she is to go back to her home with me unless she wants to stay
and you want to keep her." The lady said, "Yes you have said just as my
letter to her father reads." She looked at me, then turning to Mr. Crane
she said, "She is so small she won't be able to help me much." Mr. Crane
said, "Why you said in your letter you wanted her for company and to do
little errands and chores for you and be with your children." "Yes," the
lady said, "But I shall expect her to help me some." Mr. Crane told her,
"You promised to send the child to school and I have money from her
father to buy her books." The lady said, "Oh I know we shall like her."
Then Mr. Crane handed her the money for my books, saying, "She has
clothes enough. If there is anything more needed let me know." He gave
her his address and went out to bring my trunk. He said, "Now my dear
child, I hope you will be happy in your new home. I will come every
week to see you." Turning to Mrs. Shepard, he said, "If this child gets
sick let me know." He bent down and kissed me, the tears falling fast
from his eyes, he bowed to Mrs. Shepard and hurried away.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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