Nicole Murawski
A Letter from Kit
Dear Anne Shippenson,
After many weeks if sailing, I finally set foot on America. I already miss seeing you everyday back home. I really wish I could’ve had enough money to bring you on the ship. I hope everything is fine back home, in the beautiful Barbados. Oh how I miss it there. Here in America, it doesn’t have the beautiful, shimmering green and white that fringed the turquoise bay like it was back home. Instead, the bleak line of shore surrounding the harbor was grey. I was very disappointed with the site and the trip overall! It was a very long trip because of the lack of wind. The boat was filthy and the smell was horrific. My friend, Nat tells me the boat isn’t filthy but I told him, “I know you’re forever scrubbing. But that stable smell! I’ll never get it out of my hair as long as I live!” (22). I think thee was a little upset.
When that dreadful trip was over, the ship docked in America. When I saw it, I was disappointed, but nothing was holding me back to get off this boat. It was a little odd there. Everyone wore the same type of clothes and fabrics. They would stare and make weird looks at me aswell. I couldn't believe that people would look at a royalist like that. I think it’s because of the way I stood out from everyone else. Minutes after getting off the boat, I heard a little girl saying to her mother, “Ma! The dolly’s gone! The dolly Grandpa made for me!” (7). I was really out of mind at the moment until I saw a wooden doll floating in the water. Nobody bothered to help. The only thing I thought about at that moment was to jump into the water. So I did. It was freezing cold, and the stares got worse than before. All the sudden there was another person in the water with me. It was Nat. I was confused of why he would jump in because he only have a couple pairs of clothing. Anyways, Nat told me not to swim anymore. I was confused and disappointed. Remember how you would watch me swim in Barbados? Yeah well, that was the last time thee was going into water. Now, I'm pretty sure I'm making no friends, will have the title of being a witch and never fit in with everyone else. I really wish I was back in Barbados with you.
Once the second trip was over to go to Wethersfield, Connecticut I was worried about seeing my family. The captain of the boat came with me holding my trunks of clothing. He knocked on the door and we waiting until I saw the door open, and it was my Aunt Rachel. She didn’t recognize me so I told her, “Don’t look like that! It is Kit! I am Margaret’s daughter!” (30). She finally knew it was me and called down my cousins and uncle. I felt like my Uncle Matthew didn’t want me there. He didn’t have any emotions. He looked at me and walked away. Anyways I met my cousins Mercy and Judith. They were very nice to me! They both looked like they were wearing very uncomfortable clothing. My Uncle Matthew thought I was only here for a visit. It really scared me because I didn’t know if he even wanted me here at all. I corrected him and said, “I have not come here for a visit sir, I have come to stay with you.” (35). I was kinda worried because I didn’t know if he wanted me there or not but everyone kept asking me more and more questions.
I never realised how much I took advantage of being a royalist until now. I guess my life has changed now that I'm here. All my uncle does is work, all my cousins do is work, and all my aunt does is work. There's no way I will be relaxing. I tried to share the work with Judith so she isn't doing it herself. It didn't turn out well at all. I can't do anything right here. But I finally got a job at a dame school! Well, I used to. I thought I could help by getting wages and giving them to Uncle Matthew and Aunt Rachel. But then I ended up ruining everything. I tried using one of my favorite things to help them learn about the bible. I gave the kids roles and they would act it out. It went so wrong. The kids ended up hurting each other! And that's when my opportunity to help the family was over. Mr.Kimberley came in the room as the kids were fighting and told me, “What is the meaning of this disturbance? We come to inspect your school Mistress Wood, and we find bedlam.” (88). I almost fainted. Everything was blamed on Mercy. I told Mr.Kimberley it was all my fault but he just told all the kids to go home and the school would maybe be back open the next day. Anne, believe me when I say he is an intimidating man. So now I lost my job at dame school, and I can barely work around the house. I really wish I could be back home with you. I hope to see you soon!
Sincerely,
Katherine Tyler
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