A letter from kit to her Neighbor By James Taufman

James Taufman

Dear Neighbor Edith,

I have finally made it to America.  Sorry it has been such a long time since I wrote you I have had a hard time fitting it in. I wish you could be here.  I miss you.  Anyway,  I want to tell you about my journey to America. I sailed from Barbados to Connecticut on the ship named the Dolphin. The captains name was Eaton.  It took me six long weeks to get there and once we arrived it took me nine days to get to my final destination in Saybrook. I was so tired after the ride.  The ride was dreadful to America.  The wind was cold and salty and dried my face.   The ship stunk and some of the passengers were rude. I think John Holbrook helped me make the trip because “he’s the only person on this ship who doesn't begrudge my existance” (17).   When we arrived in Connecticut, at our first stop, a poor little girl dropped her doll in the water. Her mean mother Goodwife Cruff tells her that she can't get the doll and then she hits the little girl and acts like the poor girl did it on purpose. Being the nice person that I am I swam out to save the doll and when I jumped out of the boat “the shock of the cold water almost knocked me senseless”(8).  Anyway when I got the doll I noticed that the captain's son was swimming behind me.  When I got back on the boat people called me a witch and said “you must be daft to jump in the river and ruin those clothes” (9).  I think Goodwife Cruff hated me more than before after I tried to do her a favor.  Can you believe what she called me a Witch?  Just because I can swim does not mean that I am a witch.  Remember we used to swim in the water all the time in Barbados and we were not called witches. Can you believe the nerve of that woman to call me a witch to try and help her. On the way to Saybrook it took a long time to get down the river because there was no wind. On the boat people said it was bewitched by me and that’s why the boat was going so slow. I think this was pretty ridiculous. When we finally arrived in the final location I had to be escorted to the woods house because I did not know where it was and I did not tell them I was coming.

I have so much to tell you about my new family.  My aunt  Rachel Wood  is sweet and welcoming. When I first got there  she started a fire to warm me and gave me corn bread. On the other hand my uncle Matthew Wood seems to not like me so much. He did not appreciate that I showed up without sending them a letter and the fact that  I am staying. He also got mad at me for showing and letting everyone try on my dresses.  He said “What is the meaning of this” (43) and made Judith take of the nice skirt that I gave to her. My cousin Mercy is so nice she is very kind and patient yet she is crippled and manages to do all of the chores that everyone else does. Aside from all the chores Mercy does she also is a teacher. My cousin Judy is very pretty but she can be mean. Also I just found out why my uncle can be mean sometimes because he had two sons in total and they both died. That makes his life harder becauses he has no sons to do his work for him. Judith said “A five year old could do better work than me”(49). This was the most insulting thing I had ever heard and it made me cry and I was really trying my best.

Edith you know the Puritans are the people we referred to as round heads.  I am living in a Puritan Society. Puritans say that you can't show your beauty. You also can't attract attention to yourself. The puritans always work and do chores. One of the things I hate the most is you can't read books besides the bible. The most ridiculous rules is you have to work and not play.

Recently I met this really handsome man his name is William Ashby. He is very nice and I think he is one of the only people who like me. He does not seem to care that I am different. He comes over to our home every Saturday I can tell he stares at me almost the whole time which is flattering. I am not that sure if I like him though. William recently asked Matthew Wood if he could call on me but he said no. William has a lot of money and lumber to make a nice house.  What do you think I should do Edith?

I also got hired as a dame school teacher.   Then I got fired.  For the first few weeks I was making money and being a benefit to the family and I actually felt like I was worth something. I was a great teacher.  I used to make rhymes and tell stories. Then I decided to have a play where we would act out a story from the bible. Then Mr. Eleazer came in the room and said “What is the meaning of this disturbance” (88). Then he dismissed class and fired me and threatened to fire Mercy even though she did nothing.

I wish you were here Edith.  I have no one that I really feel comfortable with. I miss Barbados. Please do write me back.

Sincerely,

Kathrine Tylar