Mercy's Journal November 23, 1997 Ch. 1, 2, 3 Dear Diary, Today, my mother's sister's daughter, Katherine, came to our door. She is just as I imagined my aunt would have looked like. She brought seven trunks of clothing of the most elegant kind and has been halfway around the world all by herself! There must be some reason God has sent her, but I cannot imagine what it is. She seems much alone and seemed surprised at Mother, happy at the sight of Judith, sad at the sight of Father's stern face, and odd at my crutches. I wish people would not look at my appearance but into me and how I am. But by now I am used to that look, and if I didn't see that every time I would probably faint with the surprise. She has two friends that she made on the journey, neither girls! One was the captain's son, and the other a young man coming here to study under the reverend. She is used to the easy life that Judith has fantasized to me about for the longest time. She will have to adjust though, if she wants to prove to Father she is not just a bother, but an extra hand making things easier and faster. Ch. 4 Dear Diary, Kit has shown us her trunks; such elegance, I was dumbstruck by the fact that these were her everyday clothes. Judith looked so beautiful in a flowing bright peacock blue paduosoy. Mother, as I suspected, was once as beautiful as Judith, maybe more. I love a blue shawl, which was the only thing Father allowed me, Judith, or Mother to keep. I felt so bad for Kit, who seemed so happy to give us things, and so heartbroken when Father said we would not take the things. She MUST show him she can be useful and he will open to her at least a little bit, and take her in a little less grudgingly. She has been through various tasks that, of course, did not agree with her, and is exhausted. I have found out why she really had to come. Imagine forced to marry a fifty-year-old man. Why he was as good as dead! Judith seems not to understand how hard it is for Kit to adjust to our ways, but in time she will, in time. Ch. 5 Dear Diary, Poor Kit, she must not have ever been to a church on Barbados. She will have to pass this test to fit in and go through both services. She is going to have to go to church in those clothes that she brought. I must make her a dress. At least some of the richer people will be wearing what she is to church and she won't feel so much out of place. Mother has told me that it is the same as when I was little and Father would carry me there. She will just sit there and watch the boys play and wish that she was back on Barbados. The minister will talk until hoarse, and she will feel as if it will never end. The tithing man was my favorite. And how terrible and frustrated she will feel when she learns that there is a second sermon! Mother invited Dr. Bulkely's apprentice, a young man by the name of John Holbrook. Ch. 6 Dear Diary, Reverend Bulkeley has come to dinner. He and Father are not in agreement on many things, so Mother and I must keep the peace. Dr. Bulkeley's pupil, John Holbrook, is so handsome and kind. I am afraid that I will fall for him, though I know that he will fall for Judith, as they always do. John's voice is soothing and rythmical, unlike Father's that is scratchy, but full of love. As always, Dr. Bulkeley expressed his pity for me out loud in prayer. I see no difference, except my crutches, with another person such as Judith or Katherine. William has asked to call on Katherine; and Judith, as I suspected, is now, hearing the news, set on John Holbrook, and will find a way to make him come courting. Ch. 7 Dear Diary, Poor Kit, she and William sat in the company room for so long, without a sound! John Holbrook came for a visit and relieved Kit of the deafening silence in the room. As always they talked of the charter. I wish they would stop for at least a minute and let normal discussion commence. Poor Judith, though. William practically told everybody that he had chosen Kit to marry, and by doing so broke Judith's heart. We were all sure that he would marry her. I noticed that Kit has knitted every time he comes. I think it's because she wants to at least keep her hands busy when he is here in that terrible silence. I think she is going to consider marrying him just so that she will not have to work! And now she is looking forward to Saturday evenings! But the boys got out of hand and Mr. Kimberly came and restored order and discontinued the school! Kit was terribly distressed. She ran out the door and to the meadow, crying. I imagine she meet the "witch." Ch. 8 Dear Diary, This morning Father announced that the onion fields needed weeding. Kit and Judith went off in a good mood. I think Judith will be kinder when she and Kit are the same, since Mother and I made a calico dress for her just like Judith's. I think Kit will find a kind of sanctuary in the meadow, for it is the closest thing around here that is close to what she says Barbados is like. Judith will probably tell her of the "witch." I asked Kit if she would help me with the school and she seemed excited by the thought of not working and doing chores. I told her she must take a test, but I think she will pass. I told her of the two boys and she looked heartbroken, as if she had done something terrible, but how can she blame herself. She did not know. I think now she will try harder to understand Father's bitterness. Ch. 9 Dear Diary, Today the school started. I took the beginners and let Kit have the advanced children, since I had the feeling she would not have the patience for the beginners. Kit started writing poems for them to read, and read them stories as a reward for the day's work. I wondered if it was right to bribe the children, but she somehow made me think it was just. I should have stopped it before it started, but somehow I held myself back. I don't know why. I guess I was glad to see the happy, eager faces. Ch. 10 The Sea-Faring Friend Dear Diary. I cannot believe that Kit has convinced Mr. Kimberley to give the school another chance. Kit told us that she has been to the witch's house and eaten her food! Mother asked her not to go again, but she refused. I think she has found a place where she can get as close to home as possible, where it is beautiful and has no work. Judith has set her heart on John Holbrook and for me all is lost. I must be happy that she is happy, I guess it is God's will. Judith is sweeter now and does not talk bitterly to Kit anymore. Kit has thrown herself into her schoolwork, and there are no more stories. Today Kit went to see the witch. What would Father say! She brought home the son of the captain of the ship that she came here in. He frowned and hurried off after he saw William. Ch. 11 Dear Diary, It was a hot day and Kit's voice sometimes raised with exasperation I know that she, as the children, longs to be outside, but she got the chance. Kit went outside and found the same that she always did, a little bunch of flowers, but this time she went in search of the bearer. I think now she is giving someone lessons in hiding, for she is always rushing off after her chores and even leaving some unfinished. It would be funny if it were Prudence, but it could not be. William is telling us every detail about the house. Kit seems appalled, but Judith is comparing it to the house she dreams of. John's voice is so rhythmical. It flows like water. Ch.12 Dear Diary, Kit, Judith and Mother have been working hard in the fields. They come home exhausted every day. They were making candles and Mother excused them. A look of hopefulness came over eyes, and she ran off towards the meadow. Mother gave Kit a piece of tart for the old woman as a sign that she knew but was not all against it. Kit and a seaman named Nat have been thatching old Hannah Tupper's roof! William and Nat looked at each other as if the other were a intruder. Poor Kit, she seemed so frank and in control, but I could tell she was most upset; and to go along with it Father has forbade her to go back there again. I try to comfort her, but I'm afraid there is nothing we can do to stop her from going there. It is probably the closest place to home for her. Ch.13 The husking bee Dear Diary, The husking bee. Everyone was so excited. Kit has something that she hides, she looks ready to burst. Tonight John has proposed marriage to Judith. I must be happy for her, for she is my sister and her happiness should bring joy to me. Kit looked so frustrated and angry, though, as if she were urging him to say something, but I don't know what. Judith says that at the husking bee she got red and she gave it to William! Every one laughed as Judith tossed it to William, who stood up to take his forfeit. Ch.14 Nat's jealousy Dear Diary, Kit stares at the trees in awe, to think this is her first fall! A trading ship came today, and Judith says that they stayed until every package was unloaded. Finally, as they were turning to leave, the young man that had accompanied her home that day was calling her. He was very rude to Kit, Judith said, and he was talking some nonsense about a bird, and he gave her a package. Bad news for Father, The king is sending a new governor for us, a governer Androse I fear. This is worse than Judith and Mother think. Ch.15 The Charter Dear Diary, Father and some other men were in the company room for a long time, most yelling about their freedom and some calmly sizing the situation like Father. I could tell Kit was just itching to be in there and learn about the problem. Mother tried to comfort Father, but it was no use. I think it is serious this time. Kit and Judith went to see Governor Androse come across the river. What would Father say? Judith says that everyone was silent as he came ashore, thank goodness. A rapping came at the door in the middle of the night and it was William. He declared "The charter is safe." He described to us the whole scene. How the speeches had lasted through the day and when they were finally done it was dark. How they lit candles but it got too smokey and when they opened the window it blew out the candles. And that during the time that the candles went out and the time that the candles were lit, "someone" took the charter. And that the governor didn't even stoop to try to find it. He knew it wouldn't show up and he didn't want to stoop to ask questions about it. I think tonight Kit understood why her uncle Matthew cared so much about his land. A sense of pride in him. Ch.16 The Crime/P-R-U-D-E-N-C-E/John-militia doctor Dear Diary, Father announced that there will be no Thanksgiving this week, and to think I baked all of those pies. It seems that Kit's friend has made Jack-o-lanterns and put them in the windows of William's house. From the way he looked at William that night on the porch, and the way Judith says he was to Kit at the dock included with this, I think he will come courting soon if he can. Her friend and two other seamen are in the stocks. Kit thinks noboby knows but I do that she went out. She probably is visiting her friend. Kit really does not belong with William. I think that she likes him, and he likes her, but William is in the way. I think she also went to visit Hannah Tupper. Oh, but poor Judith. John, her fiance, has gone to be a doctor in the militia! I do hope he is all right. I think John had to prove to himself something we don't know about. Ch.17 The Illness Dear Diary, ` Judith fell ill five days after John's departure. Sixteen children and young people have the mysterious illness. A surgeon was summoned to bleed JudIth. I too feel terrible, but it is nothing. I must help Judith get better. During my sickness Mother asked Father if he could call Dr. Gershum Bulkeley. Father protested at first but he gave in. As he was putting on his coat, Dr. Bulkeley came in and made a remedy. He left to tend to others. All this Kit has told me. People came to the door asking Father to come and get the "witch" with them. They believed that Hannah put a spell on the town, and they must kill her to stop all of them from dying! Poor Kit. Hannah was her friend and she just could not sit idle. She went after her. They were gone a long time, Mother says, and they say that Hannah got away. Ch.18 Witch? Dear Diary, Judith got up and Kit made the midday meal. I was going to get well and everything seemed perfect, Mother tells me. But a knock on the door stopped the peace. The town folk said that Hannah got away, but left Kit to fulfill her work! They found Katherine's hornbook in Hannah's house. They charged Kit of witchcraft! Mother says that when she went to visit Kit, she looked forlorn and about to give up completely. She must have been so scared. The poor thing just sitting there waiting to know whether she would get an ear cut off, branded, or let off the hook and proven not guilty. Ch.19 The Trial Dear Diary, Father says that she walked in quietly and looked about in dismay to see no one there to defend her but him. And the pain she felt for causing him grief showed. I think Father is proud of her taking care of us all while Judith and I were sick. Father says that they told her of her charges and asked her questions about her visits with Hannah. People that hardly knew her name accused her of bewitching them. Good man Cruff drew out a writing book with PRUDENCE written all over it. They asked her whether the book was hers, and she said it was. The crowd made remarks left and right. When they asked her why she had written the child's name over and over, she said she could not say. Prudence appeared in the doorway along with Katherine's sea friend. Kit begged the court to send her away, but they didn't. Prudence told them the whole story, that she had written her name and that she could read and write! Prudence read to all of them, and her father seemed overjoyed. Wife Cruff yelled "She's bewitched, I tell you," but Adam Cruff finally stood up to his place and told her "Hold your tongue woman," and from the back rang out a laugh, and pretty soon the whole place was laughing! Prudence will attend our school next summer! Ch.20 The Proposal Dear Diary, The first snow fall! I begged Mother to let me touch it, and it took forever to get me ready. To think this was Kit's first snow! She seemed disappointed at first, but when the clouds were gone she stood in awe. William came to call again. Kit is cold to him, though Judith keeps the conversation going. They were meant for each other. Kit has told him that he need not come back for her. At Thankful's wedding, two snow-covered men came in and said that some men had been captured by Indians, and one was John! I feel so terrible for Judith. And I am stricken. He is gone, and we will never see him again. Tis the worst winter many have seen. Kit now is telling me more and more about Barbados. There was a knock at the door, and John weakly stumbled in and came to me and put his head in my lap. It was me all along! Ch.21 The WITCH Dear Diary, John and I are to marry! Judith and William are to marry! John is going to think as he pleases and only learn theology and medicine from Dr. Bulkeley. Judith and William talk of the house all the time. John and I, however, will stay here at least for another year. Kit went to meet the ship that was coming in. She and her friend, I am sure of it now, will be together. God-fearing woman, Mercy Wood