A Letter from Kit By Liz Von Brook

To my dearest friend Isabel,

   

    I have finally arrived at my Aunts house. I apologize that I had to leave you in Barbados. I wanted to let you know I have safely arrived in Connecticut yet the journey was long and exhausting. The journey to get to Connecticut took about five- seven weeks plus another nine  days up stream. The problem about going up stream is you must wait for wind to carry the boat up stream. Being aboard the ship was also interesting and eventful. We were on the ship and a small child accidently dropped her only toy into the water I then jumped in to the icy grey water to get it. It turns out in Connecticut most people do not know how to swim. So I was then accused in being a witch that's when the ship got stuck like I had mentioned so most people aboard the ship thought I was a witch who bewitched the boat. I felt embarrassed people whispered and glared at me only if they knew my Grandfather how they would be ashamed.

     So here in Connecticut they don't have slaves so my cousins and I have chores. My cousin Mercy knits and I try to help. We cook and clean and tend to the gardens. One day we were walking to my uncle's field when I spotted a small house by the lake. My cousin Judith whispered to me "Nobody but Hannah Tupper would live there by Blackbird Pond, right at the edge of the swamp, but she likes it. They can't persuade her to leave." (77) This is because the lake floods once it covered the house yet she survived they don't know where she hid, people accuse her of witchcraft. On Sundays we go to "meeting" but Mercy can't make the walk so she stays home. Mercy and I also get wages to teach children how to read and write.

    I met many people like a man by the name John Holbrook “he’s the only one on this ship who doesn’t begrudge my existence”(17)  There was a lady named Goodwife Cruff she was cruel she had a young daughter and a spineless husband she was awful to be around.  She started the whole thing about me being a witch I was basically a scapegoat. There was a handsome young man at meeting on Sunday who ended up calling on me his  named William   Ashby. My uncle told me this “young  William Ashby asked permission to pay respects to my niece.”(65) everyone was shocked  my aunt responded “you mean call on Kathrine?” (65) “Well I guess we can hardly refuse.” (65) added my Aunt Rachel.  So now my cousins think he's going to propose. My uncle is a strict But I understand why now. My uncle strict due to the fact that he has lost two sons very young one of disease and one from the bitter cold. I was disheartening when I found out the news about him losing two sons I was very upset and I've vowed to understand him. I met others on my journey and here but there but, there was one who shocked me and interested me the most was Hannah Tupper.  

     Hannah Tupper is a sweet yet odd old lady. She lives near the pound  with her cats. I feel sorry for her because she only has her cats and her sailor friend. When the pond floods she disappears. People believe she is a witch but she is a scapegoat. People look for scapegoats when they are frighten or need someone to blame. They are frightened by Hannah because she can do things they can't she's different. We are alike because, we both came here to Connecticut with different beliefs, rules and lifestyles. Yet these puritans see us as outsiders. Being an outsider means we learned things they don't believe or do like swimming or reading things other than the bible. People also see her "brewing" so people are scared because they don't know her they should get to know her better she's not gonna kill you!

     The people in the community are puritans. They wear boring plain outfits because it's considered sin to show beauty and admire yourself. When I let my cousins try on my clothes my uncle was astonished and responded with "can a man not come back for an axe helve without finding his house in shambles?" (43) He was not happy to find delay in work and his family going against religion.

    Well I'm happy I wrote to you I miss you dearly! I hope to earn enough money to visit at one point. I hope you're fine and caring for your kitten Sir fluff. Oh and are you and Henry still together? Tell me how Philp is please. Hope to see you soon.

          Love,

                Kit