Dear America: A Journey to the New World by Kathryn Lasky

Author:Kathryn Lasky
Language: eng
Format: azw3, mobi, epub
Tags: United States, Juvenile Fiction, Colonial & Revolutionary Periods, Historical, General
ISBN: 9780545238014
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Published: 2010-09-02T00:00:00+00:00

February 4, 1621

Plimoth Harbor

Dear Imp,

’Tis near dawn and I am spelling Lark in the sick shed. Her own mother is now quite ill and her father as well. They have also brought in Edward Potts. His poor wife Hannah is large with child and she is trying to cradle his head in his feverish deliriums. It be too much for her or anyone. Hummy offered to help but she said no, she would do his nursing.

Anyhow, our house is tight and cozy. The proof was last night when the wind did damage to some of the other roofs of houses but not ours.

Our house is probably the tightest in the settlement as Father is the best man with an adze and a drawknife. And it is all in the shaping of the logs that makes a tight house. He and I worked like beings possessed to get the wattle in the walls. But I do believe this to be my specialty. ’Tis surprising because I am not so good with stitchery, and with wattle one must weave small twigs in between the studs and framing, something like stitchery. Then over that we put the plaster mixed from sand, clay, water, and grass. We have all but one wall plastered now.

What with so many getting sick it hath taken me away from the work.

But Blessing is actually quite good at helping Father with the mixing of the plaster and he has given her some small places to squash it into. And she does not try to eat it! That be the amazing part. Remember how I told you she be so mouthy? She thinks this plastering is playing. She loves doing it. The Lord does work in mysterious and beautiful ways and I think one of them is through Blessing—that she can think that building this house is a game and do it well is wondrous. It keeps her busy and gives Mam a rest.

We have of course no chairs, no beds, just pallets, no tables—but tomorrow Father says he shall put up some pegs so we might hang our clothes. The fireplace is good and draws well and the chimney does not

leak. We have one kettle and some pots we brought with us as well as a lug pole from which to hang the pots and such. Father has not had time to fix them into the fireplace yet. Although we do have a spit in place.

Now if we could only get some meat to roast on it. But game has been scarce. We do have our one window in place in the west wall. Mam will not permit one in the south wall as she believes the vapors be poor coming from the south and that they cause illness.

I am so glad Mam brought the large bolts of linen, for we have soaked them in linseed oil and put them in one square window that Father cut. It brings in a little light on the brighter days. Father plans that there be an outdoor cooking oven, too, for summer and there is space for a garden.

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