首页
The Story of an African Farm
书架
书页 | 目录
加书签

第1章
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Myfather’sancestorsweretheShawsofRothiemurchus,inScotland,andtheruinsoftheircastlemaystillbeseenontheislandofLoch—an—Eilan,inthenorthernHighlands。Itwasneverthepicturesquecastleofsongandstory,thishomeofthefightingShaws,butanausterefortress,probablybuiltinRomantimes;andevento—daythecrumblingwallswhichaloneareleftofitshowtracesoftherelentlessassaultsuponthem。OfthesethelastandthemostsuccessfulweremadeintheseventeenthcenturybytheGrantsandRobRoy;anditwasintothehandsoftheGrantsthattheShawfortressfinallyfell,about1700,afteralmostahundredyearsofceaselesswarfare。

Itgivesmenopleasuretoreadthegrislydetailsoftheirstruggles,butIconfesstoacertainsatisfac—

tionintheknowledgethatmyancestorsmadeagoodshowinginthedefenseofwhatwastheirs。

Beyonddoubttheywerebravefightersandstrongmen。Therewereothersidestotheirnatures,however,whichthehighlightsofhistorythrowuplessappealingly。Asaninstance,wehaveinthefamilychroniclestheblood—stainedpageofAllenShaw,theoldestsonofthelastLadyShawwholivedinthefortress。Itappearsthatwhenthefatherofthisyoungmandied,about1560,hismothermarriedagain,totheintensedisapprovalofherson。Forsometimeafterthemarriagehemadenoopenrevoltagainstthenew—comerinthedomesticcircle;butfinally,onthepretextthathisdoghadbeenattackedbyhisstepfather,heforcedaquarrelwiththeoldermanandthetwofoughtaduelwithswords,afterwhichthevic—

toriousAllenshowedasadlackofchivalry。Henotonlykilledhisstepfather,buthecutoffthatgentleman’sheadandboreittohismotherinherbed—

chamber——anactionwhichwasconsidered,eveninthattolerantage,tobecarryingfilialresentmenttoofar。

ProbablyAllenregrettedit。Certainlyhepaidahighpenaltyforit,andhisclansufferedwithhim。

Hewasoutlawedandfled,onlytobehunteddownformonths,andfinallycapturedandexecutedbyoneoftheGrants,who,infurthervirtuousdisap—

provalofAllen’sact,seizedandheldtheShawstronghold。TheotherShawsoftheclanfoughtlongandablyforitsrecovery,butthoughtheywerehelpedbytheirkinsmen,theMackintoshes,andthoughgoodScotchblooddyedthegraywallsofthefortressformanygenerations,thecastleneveragaincameintothehandsoftheShaws。ItstillentailscertainobligationsfortheGrants,however,andoneoftheseistogivetheKingofEnglandasnowballwheneverhevisitsLoch—an—Eilan!

AstheyearspassedtheShawclanscattered。

ManyShawsarestilltobefoundintheMackintoshcountryandthroughoutsouthernScotland。OtherswenttoEngland,anditwasfromthislatterbranchthatmyfathersprang。HisnamewasThomasShaw,andhewastheyoungersonofagentleman——awordwhichinthosedaysseemedtodefineamanwhodevotedhistimelargelytogamblingandhorse—

racing。Mygrandfather,likehisfatherbeforehim,wastruetothetraditionsofhistimeandclass。

Quitenaturallyandsimplyhesquanderedallhehad,anddiedabruptly,leavinghiswifeandtwosonspenniless。Theywerenot,however,ahelplessband。

They,too,hadtheirtraditions,handeddownbythefightingShaws。Peter,theolderson,becameasoldier,anddiedbravelyintheCrimeanWar。Myfather,throughsomeoutsideinfluence,turnedhisattentiontotrade,learningtostainandembosswall—

paperbyhand,anddevelopingthisworkuntilhebecametherecognizedexpertinhisfield。Indeed,heprogresseduntilhehimselfcheckedhisrisebyinventingamachinethatmadehishandworkun—

necessary。Hisemployeratonceclaimedandutilizedthisinvention,towhich,bythelawsofthosedays,hewasentitled,andthusthecorner—

stoneonwhichmyfatherhadexpectedtobuildafortuneprovedtherockonwhichhiscareerwaswrecked。Butthatwasyearslater,inAmerica,andmanyotherthingshadhappenedfirst。

Forone,hehadtemporarilydroppedhistradeandgoneintotheflour—and—grainbusiness;and,foranother,hehadmarriedmymother。ShewasthedaughterofaScotchcouplewhohadcometoEnglandandsettledinAlnwick,inNorthumberlandCounty。Herfather,JamesStott,wasthedriveroftheroyal—mailstagebetweenAlnwickandNew—

castle,andhisaccidentaldeathwhilehewasstillayoungmanleftmygrandmotherandhereightchildrenalmostdestitute。ShewasimmediatelygivenapositioninthecastleoftheDukeofNor—

thumberland,andhersonswereeducatedintheduke’sschool,whileherdaughterswereenteredintheschooloftheduchess。

Mythoughtsdwelllovinglyonthisgrandmother,NicolasGrantStott,forshewasaremarkablewoman,withadauntlesssoulandprogressiveideasfarinadvanceofhertime。ShewasoneofthefirstUnitariansinEngland,andyearsbeforeanythoughtofwomansuffrageenteredthemindsofhercountry—

womensherefusedtopaytithestothesupportoftheChurchofEngland——anactionwhichprecipitatedalong—drawn—outconflictbetweenherandthelaw。

Inthosedaysitwascustomarytoassesstithesoneverypaneofglassinawindow,andaportionofthemoneythuscollectedwenttothesupportoftheChurch。Yearafteryearmyintrepidgrandmotherrefusedtopaytheseassessments,andyearafteryearshesatpensivelyuponherdoor—step,watchingarticlesofherfurniturebeingsoldformoneytopayhertithes。Itmusthavebeenanimpressivepicture,anditwasonewithwhichthecommunitybecamethoroughlyfamiliar,asthedeterminedoldladyneverwonherfightandneverabandonedit。Shehadatleastthecomfortofpublicsympathy,forshewasbyfarthemostpopularwomaninthecountry—

side。Herneighborsadmiredhercourage;perhapstheyappreciatedstillmorewhatshedidforthem,forshespentallherleisureinthehomesoftheverypoor,mendingtheirclothingandteachingthemtosew。Also,sheleftbehindherapathofcleanlinessasdefiniteasthelineoffoamthatfollowsaship;

foritsoonbecameknownamongherprotegeesthatNicolasStottwasasmuchopposedtodirtasshewastothepaymentoftithes。

Shekeptherchildrenintheschoolsofthedukeandduchessuntiltheyhadcompletedtheentirecourseopentothem。Ahundredtimes,andamongmanynewscenesandstrangepeople,Ihaveheardmymotherdescribeherownexperiencesasapupil。

Allthechildrenofthedependentsofthecastlewereexpectedtoleaveschoolatfourteenyearsofage。

Duringtheircoursetheywerenotallowedtostudygeography,because,inthesageopinionoftheirelders,knowledgeofforeignlandsmightmakethemdis—

contentedandinclinedtowander。Neitherwascom—

positionencouraged——thatmightleadtothewritingoflove—notes!Buttheywerepermittedtoabsorballthereadingandarithmetictheirlittlebrainscouldhold,whiletheartofsewingwasnotonlyencouraged,butproficiencyinitwasstimulatedbytheawardofprizes。Mymother,beingaratherpre—

cociousyoungperson,graduatedatthirteenandcarriedoffthefirstprize。Thegarmentshemadewasalinenchemisefortheduchess,andthelittleneedlewomanhadembroideredonit,withherownhair,theaugustlady’scoatofarms。Theofferingmusthavebeenappreciated,formymother’sstoryalwaysendedwiththesamewords,utteredwiththesameairofgentlepride,``AndtheduchessgavemewithherownhandsmyBibleandmymugofbeer!’’

Sheneversawanythingamusinginthisassociationofgifts,andIalwaysstoodbehindherwhenshetoldtheincident,thatshemightnotseethedisrespectfulmirthitarousedinme。

MyfatherandmothermetinAlnwick,andweremarriedinFebruary,1835。Tenyearsafterhismarriagefatherwasforcedintobankruptcybythepassageofthecornlaw,andtomeettheobliga—

tionsattendinghisfailureheandmymothersoldpracticallyeverythingtheypossessed——theirhome,eventheirfurniture。Theirlittlesons,whowereawayatschool,werebroughthome,andthefamilyexpenseswerecutdowntothebarestmargin;butallthesesacrificespaidonlypartofthedebts。Mymother,findingthatherearlygifthadamarketvalue,tookinsewing。Fatherwenttoworkonasmallsalary,andbothmyparentssavedeverypennytheycouldlayaside,withthedesperatedeterminationtopaytheirremainingdebts。Itwasalongstruggleandapainfulone,buttheyfinallywonit。Beforetheyhaddoneso,however,andduringtheirbleakestdays,theirbabydied,andmymother,likehermotherbeforeher,paidthepenaltyofbeingoutsidethefoldoftheChurchofEngland。She,too,wasaUnitarian,andherbaby,therefore,couldnotbelaidinanyconsecratedburial—groundinherneighborhood。ShehadeithertoburyitinthePotter’sField,withcriminals,suicides,andpaupers,ortotakeitbystage—coachtoAlnwick,twentymilesaway,andleaveitinthelittleUnitarianchurch—

yardwhere,afterherstrenuouslife,NicolasStottnowlayinpeace。Shemadethedrearyjourneyalone,withthedearburdenacrossherlap。

In1846,myparentswenttoLondon。Theretheydidnotlingerlong,forthebig,indifferentcityhadnothingtoofferthem。TheymovedtoNew—

castle—on—Tyne,andhereIwasborn,onthefour—

teenthdayofFebruary,in1847。Threeboysandtwogirlshadprecededmeinthefamilycircle,andwhenIwastwoyearsoldmyyoungersistercame。

WewerelittlebetteroffinNewcastlethaninLondon,andnowmyfatherbegantodreamthegreatdreamofthosedays。HewouldgotoAmerica。

Surely,hefelt,inthatlandofinfinitepromiseallwouldbewellwithhimandhis。Hewaitedforthefinalpaymentofhisdebtsandformyyoungersister’sbirth。Thenhebadeusgood—byandsailedawaytomakeanAmericanhomeforus;andinthespringof1851mymotherfollowedhimwithhersixchildren,startingfromLiverpoolinasailing—

vessel,theJohnJacobWestervelt。

Iwasthenlittlemorethanfouryearsold,andthefirstvividmemoryIhaveisthatofbeingonship—

boardandhavingamightywaverolloverme。Iwaslyingonwhatseemedtobeanenormousredboxunderahatchway,andthewaterpouredfromabove,almostdrowningme。Thiswasthebeginningofastormwhichragedfordays,andIstillhaveofitaconfusedmemory,asortofnightmare,inwhichstrangehorrorsfigure,andwhichtothisdayhauntsmeatintervalswhenIamonthesea。Thethingthatstandsoutmoststronglyduringthatperiodisthewhitefaceofmymother,illinherberth。Wewerewithfivehundredemigrantsonthelowestdeckoftheshipbutone,andasthestormgrewwilderanunreasoningterrorfilledourfellow—pas—

sengers。Tooilltoprotectherhelplessbrood,mymothersawuscarriedawayfromherforhoursatatime,onthecrestsofwavesofpanicthatsometimesapproachedherandsometimesreceded,astheysweptthroughtheblackholeinwhichwefoundour—

selveswhenthehatcheswerenaileddown。Nomad—

house,Iamsure,couldthrowmorehideouspicturesonthescreenoflifethanthosewhichmetourchildisheyesduringtheappallingthreedaysofthestorm。

Ouronecomfortwastheknowledgethatourmotherwasnotafraid。Shewasdesperatelyill,butwhenwewereabletoreachher,toclingclosetoherforablessedinterval,shewasstillthesurerefugeshehadalwaysbeen。

Ontheseconddaythemastswentdown,andonthethirddaythedisabledship,whichnowhadsprungaleakandwasrollinghelplesslyinthetroughofthesea,wasrescuedbyanothershipandtowedbacktoQueenstown,thenearestport。Thepassengers,relievedoftheiranxieties,wentfromtheirextremeoffeartoanequalextremeofdrunkencelebration。Theylaughed,sang,anddanced,butwhenwereachedtheshoremanyofthemreturnedtothehomestheyhadleft,declaringthattheyhadhadenoughoftheocean。We,however,remainedontheshipuntilshewasrepaired,andthensailedonheragain。Weweretoopoortoreturnhome;

indeed,wehadnohometowhichwecouldreturn。

Wewereeventoopoortoliveashore。Butwemadesomepennyexcursionsinthelittleboatsthatpliedbackandforth,andtouschildrenatleasttheweeksofwaitingwerenotwithoutinterest。AmongotherplaceswevisitedSpikeIsland,wheretheconvictswere,andforhourswewatchedthedrearyshuttleoflaborswingbackandforthastheconvictscar—

riedpailsofwaterfromonesideoftheisland,onlytoemptythemintotheseaattheotherside。Itwasmerely``busywork,’’tokeepthemoccupiedathardlabor;buteventhenImusthavefeltsomedimsenseoftheironyofit,forIhaveremembereditvividlyalltheseyears。

OursecondvoyageontheJohnJacobWesterveltwasaverydifferentexperiencefromthefirst。Bydayaglorioussunshoneoverhead;bynightwehadthemoonandstars,aswellastheracingwavesweneverweariedofwatching。Forsomereason,prob—

ablybecauseofmyintenseadmirationforthem,whichIshowedwithunmaidenlyfrankness,Ibe—

camethespecialpetofthesailors。Theytaughtmetosingtheirsongsastheyhauledontheirropes,andIrecall,asifIhadlearnedityesterday,onepleasingditty:

Haulonthebow—line,Kittyismydarling,Haulonthebow—line,Thebow—line——HAUL!

WhenIsang``haul’’allthesailorspulledtheirhardest,andIhadanexhilaratingsenseofsharingintheirlabors。Asareturnformyserviceofsongthemenkeptmylittleapronfullofshipsugar——

veryblackstuffandprobablyverybadforme;butIateanastonishingamountofitduringthatvoy—

age,and,sofarasIremember,feltnoilleffects。

ThenextthingIrecallisbeingseriouslyscalded。

Iwasatthefootofaladderupwhichasailorwascarryingagreatpotofhotcoffee。Heslipped,andtheboilingliquidpoureddownonme。Imusthavehadsomebaddaysafterthat,forIwaster—

riblyburned,buttheyaremercifullyvague。Mynextvividimpressionisofseeingland,whichwesightedatsunset,andIrememberverydistinctlyjusthowitlooked。Ithasneverlookedthesamesince。Thewesternskywasamassofcrimsonandgoldclouds,whichtookontheshapesofstrangeandbeautifulthings。Tomeitseemedthatwewereenteringheaven。Irememberalsothedoctorscom—

ingonboardtoexamineus,andIcanstillseealineofbigIrishmenstandingverystraightandholdingouttheirtonguesforinspection。Toalittlegirlonlyfouryearsoldtheirhuge,openmouthslookedappalling。

Onlandingagrievousdisappointmentawaitedus;myfatherdidnotmeetus。HewasinNewBedford,Massachusetts,nursinghisgriefandpre—

paringtoreturntoEngland,forhehadbeentoldthattheJohnJacobWestervelthadbeenlostatseawitheverysoulonboard。Oneofthemissionarieswhomettheshiptookusunderhiswingandcon—

ductedustoalittlehotel,whereweremaineduntilfatherhadreceivedhisincrediblenewsandrushedtoNewYork。Hecouldhardlybelievethatwewerereallyrestoredtohim;andevennow,throughthemistsofmorethanhalfacentury,Icanstillseetheexpressioninhisweteyesashepickedmeupandtossedmeintotheair。

Icansee,too,thetoyshebroughtme——alittlesawandahatchet,whichbecamethedearesttreas—

uresofmychildishdays。Theywerefatidicalgifts,thatsawandhatchet;intheyearsaheadofmeIwastousetoolsaswellasmybrothersdid,asIprovedwhenIhelpedtobuildourfrontierhome。

WewenttoNewBedfordwithfather,whohadfoundworkthereathisoldtrade;andhereIlaidthefoundationsofmyfirstchildhoodfriendship,notwithanotherchild,butwithmynext—doorneighbor,aship—builder。Morningaftermorningthismanswungmeonhisbigshoulderandtookmetohisshipyard,wheremyhatchetandsawhadvio—

lentexerciseasIimitatedtheworkersaroundme。

Discoveringthatmytinypetticoatswereinmyway,mynewfriendhadalittleboy’ssuitmadeforme;

andthusemancipated,atthistenderage,Iworkedunwearyinglyathissidealldaylonganddayafterday。NodoubtitwasduetohimthatIdidnotcasuallysawoffafewofmytoesandfingers。Cer—

tainlyIsmashedthemoftenenoughwithblowsofmydullbutactivehatchet。Iwasvery,verybusy;

andIhavealwaysmaintainedthatIbegantoearnmyshareofthefamily’slivingattheageoffive——

forinreturnforthedelightsofmysociety,whichseemednevertopalluponhim,mynewfriendal—

lowedmybrotherstocarryhomefromtheship—

yardallthewoodmymothercoulduse。

WeremainedinNewBedfordlessthanayear,forinthespringof1852myfathermadeanotherchange,takinghisfamilytoLawrence,Massa—

chusetts,whereweliveduntil1859。TheyearsinLawrencewereinterestingandformativeones。AtthetenderageofnineandtenIbecameinterestedintheAbolitionmovement。WewereUnitarians,andGeneralOliverandmanyoftheprominentciti—

zensofLawrencebelongedtotheUnitarianChurch。

WeknewRobertShaw,wholedthefirstnegroregi—

ment,andJudgeStorrow,oneoftheleadingNewEnglandjudgesofhistime,aswellastheCabotsandGeorgeA。Walton,whowastheauthorofWalton’sArithmeticandheadoftheLawrenceschools。Outburstsofwartalkthrilledme,andoccasionallyIhadalittleadventureofmyown,aswhenoneday,invisitingourcellar,Iheardanoiseinthecoal—bin。Iinvestigatedanddiscoveredanegrowomanconcealedthere。IhadbeenreadingUncleTom’sCabin,aswellaslisteningtotheconversationofmyelders,soIwasvastlystirredoverthenegroquestion。Iracedup—stairsinaconditionofawe—struckandquiveringexcitement,whichmymotherpromptlysuppressedbysendingmetobed。Nodoubtshequestionedmyyouthfuldiscretion,forshealmostconvincedmethatIhadseennothingatall——almost,butnotquite;andshewiselykeptmeclosetoherforseveraldays,untiltheescapedslavemyfatherwashidingwassafelyoutofthehouseandaway。Discoveryofthisseri—

ousoffensemighthavebornegraveresultsforhim。

ItwasinLawrence,too,thatIreceivedandspentmyfirsttwenty—fivecents。Iusedanentiredayindoingthis,andtheoccasionwasoneofthemostdelightfulandmemorableofmylife。ItwastheFourthofJuly,andIwasdressedinwhiteandrodeinaprocession。MysisterMary,whoalsogracedtheprocession,hadalsobeengiventwenty—fivecents;andduringtheparade,when,forobviousreasons,wewereunabletobreakranksandspendourwealth,theconsciousnessofitlayheavilyuponus。Whenwefinallybeganourshoppingthefirstplacewevisitedwasacandystore,andIrecalldis—

tinctlythatweforcedthewearyproprietortotakedownandshowuseveryjarintheplacebeforewespentonepenny。ThefirstbananaIeveratewaspurchasedthatday,andIhesitatedoveritalongtime。Itscostwasfivecents,andinviewofthatlargeexpenditure,theeatingofthefruit,Iwasafraid,wouldbetoobriefajoy。Iboughtit,how—

ever,andtheexperiencedevelopedintoatragedy,for,notknowingenoughtopeelthebanana,Ibitthroughskinandpulpalike,asifIwereeatinganapple,andthenburstintoearsofdisappointment。

ThebeautifulconductofmysisterMaryshinesdownthroughtheyears。She,wisechild,hadtakennochanceswiththeunknown;butnow,movedbymydespair,sheboughthalfofmybanana,andwedividedthefruit,theloss,andthelesson。

Fate,moreover,hadanotherturnofthescrewforus,for,afterMaryhadtakenabiteofit,wegavewhatwasleftofthebananatoaboywhostoodnearusandwhoknewhowtoeatit;andnoteventhelargeamountofcandyinourstickyhandsenabledustoregardwithcalmnessthesubsequenthappinessofthatlittleboy。

AnotherexperiencewithfruitinLawrenceillus—

tratestheideasofmymotherandthecharacterofthetrainingshegaveherchildren。Ourneighbors,theCabots,wereonedaygivingagreatgardenparty,andmysisterwashelpingtopickstrawberriesfortheoccasion。WhenIwasgoinghomefromschoolIpassedtheberry—patchesandstoppedtospeaktomysister,whoatoncepresentedmewithtwostraw—

berries。ShesaidMrs。Cabothadtoldhertoeatallshewanted,butthatshewouldeattwolessthanshewantedandgivethosetwotome。Tomymind,thesuggestionwasgenerousandproper;inmylifestrawberrieswererare。Iateoneberry,andthen,overcomebyanambitiontobegenerousalso,tooktheotherberryhometomymother,tell—

ingherhowIhadgotit。Tomychagrin,motherwasdeeplyshocked。Shetoldmethatthetrans—

actionwasallwrong,andshemademetakebacktheberryandexplainthemattertoMrs。Cabot。

BythetimeIreachedthatgenerousladytheberrywastheworseforitsjourney,andsowasI。Iwasonlynineyearsoldandverysensitive。ItwascleartomethatIcouldhardlylivethroughthehumilia—

tionoftheconfession,anditwasindeedabitterexperiencetheworst,Ithink,inmyyounglife,thoughMrs。Cabotwasbothsympatheticandunderstanding。Shekissedme,andsentaquartofstrawberriestomymother;butforalongtimeafterwardIcouldnotmeetherkindeyes,forIbe—

lievedthatinherheartshethoughtmeathief。

Mysecondfriendship,andonewhichhadastronginfluenceonmyafter—life,wasformedinLawrence。

IwasnotmorethantenyearsoldwhenImetthisnewfriend,butthememoryofherinafter—years,andtheimpressionshehadmadeonmysusceptibleyoungmind,ledmefirstintotheministry,nextintomedicine,andfinallyintosuffrage—work。Livingnextdoortous,onProspectHill,wasabeautifulandmysteriouswoman。Allwechildrenknewofherwasthatshewasavividandromanticfigure,whoseemedtohavenofriendsandofwhomoureldersspokeinwhispersornotatall。Tomeshewasaprincessinafairy—tale,forsherodeawhitehorseandworeabluevelvetriding—habitwithabluevelvethatandapicturesquelydroopingwhiteplume。Isoonlearnedatwhathoursshewentforthtoride,andIusedtohoveraroundourgateforthejoyofseeinghermountandgallopaway。

Irealizedthattherewassomethingunusualaboutherhouse,andIhadanideathattheprincewaswaitingforhersomewhereinthefardistance,andthatforthetimeatleastshehadescapedtheogreinthecastlesheleftbehind。Iwaswrongabouttheprince,butrightabouttheogre。Itwasonlywhenmyunhappyladylefthercastlethatshewasfree。

Verysoonshenoticedme。Possiblyshesawtheadorationinmychildisheyes。Shebegantonodandsmileatme,andthentospeaktome,butatfirstIwasalmostafraidtoanswerher。Therewerestoriesnowamongthechildrenthatthehousewashaunted,andthatbynightaghostwalkedthereandinthegrounds。Ifeltanextraordinaryinterestintheghost,andIspenthourspeeringthroughourpicketfence,tryingtocatchaglimpseofit;butI

hesitatedtobeontermsofneighborlyintimacywithonewhodweltwithghosts。

Onedaythemysteriousladybentandkissedme。

Then,straighteningup,shelookedatmequeerlyandsaid:``GoandtellyourmotherIdidthat。’’

Therewassomethingverycompellinginhermanner。

IknewatoncethatImusttellmymotherwhatshehaddone,andIranintoourhouseanddidso。

Whilemymotherwasconsideringtheproblemthesituationpresented,forsheknewthecharacterofthehousenextdoor,anotewashandedintoher——

averypatheticlittlenotefrommymysteriouslady,askingmymothertoletmecomeandseeher。Longafterwardmothershowedittome。Itendedwiththewords:``Shewillseenoonebutme。Noharmshallcometoher。Trustme。’’

Thatnightmyparentstalkedthematteroveranddecidedtoletmego。Probablytheyfeltthattheslavenextdoorwasasmuchtobepitiedasthees—

caped—negroslavestheysooftenharboredinourhome。Imademyvisit,whichwasthefirstofmany,andastrangefriendshipbegananddevelopedbe—

tweenthewomanofthetownandthelittlegirlsheloved。SomeofthosevisitsIrememberasvividlyasifIhadmadethemyesterday。TherewasnevertheslightestsuggestionduringanyofthemofthingsIshouldnotseeorhear,forwhileIwaswithhermyhostessbecameachildagain,andweplayedtogetherlikechildren。Shehadwonderfultoysforme,andpicturesandbooks;butthethingIlovedbestofallandplayedwithforhourswasalittlestuffedhenwhichshetoldmehadbeenherdearesttreasurewhenshewasachildathome。Shehadalsoastuffedpuppy,andsheoncementionedthatthosetwothingsalonewereleftofherlifeasalittlegirl。Besidesthetoysandbooksandpic—

【推荐阅读】幽幽深宫,醒来一梦似千年,重生于下堂妃身躯中的她,将如何手刃仇人? 点击阅读

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