Myfather’sancestorsweretheShawsofRothiemurchus，inScotland，andtheruinsoftheircastlemaystillbeseenontheislandofLoch—an—Eilan，inthenorthernHighlands。Itwasneverthepicturesquecastleofsongandstory，thishomeofthefightingShaws，butanausterefortress，probablybuiltinRomantimes；andevento—daythecrumblingwallswhichaloneareleftofitshowtracesoftherelentlessassaultsuponthem。OfthesethelastandthemostsuccessfulweremadeintheseventeenthcenturybytheGrantsandRobRoy；anditwasintothehandsoftheGrantsthattheShawfortressfinallyfell，about1700，afteralmostahundredyearsofceaselesswarfare。
Itgivesmenopleasuretoreadthegrislydetailsoftheirstruggles，butIconfesstoacertainsatisfac—
tionintheknowledgethatmyancestorsmadeagoodshowinginthedefenseofwhatwastheirs。
Beyonddoubttheywerebravefightersandstrongmen。Therewereothersidestotheirnatures，however，whichthehighlightsofhistorythrowuplessappealingly。Asaninstance，wehaveinthefamilychroniclestheblood—stainedpageofAllenShaw，theoldestsonofthelastLadyShawwholivedinthefortress。Itappearsthatwhenthefatherofthisyoungmandied，about1560，hismothermarriedagain，totheintensedisapprovalofherson。Forsometimeafterthemarriagehemadenoopenrevoltagainstthenew—comerinthedomesticcircle；butfinally，onthepretextthathisdoghadbeenattackedbyhisstepfather，heforcedaquarrelwiththeoldermanandthetwofoughtaduelwithswords，afterwhichthevic—
toriousAllenshowedasadlackofchivalry。Henotonlykilledhisstepfather，buthecutoffthatgentleman’sheadandboreittohismotherinherbed—
chamber——anactionwhichwasconsidered，eveninthattolerantage，tobecarryingfilialresentmenttoofar。
ProbablyAllenregrettedit。Certainlyhepaidahighpenaltyforit，andhisclansufferedwithhim。
Hewasoutlawedandfled，onlytobehunteddownformonths，andfinallycapturedandexecutedbyoneoftheGrants，who，infurthervirtuousdisap—
provalofAllen’sact，seizedandheldtheShawstronghold。TheotherShawsoftheclanfoughtlongandablyforitsrecovery，butthoughtheywerehelpedbytheirkinsmen，theMackintoshes，andthoughgoodScotchblooddyedthegraywallsofthefortressformanygenerations，thecastleneveragaincameintothehandsoftheShaws。ItstillentailscertainobligationsfortheGrants，however，andoneoftheseistogivetheKingofEnglandasnowballwheneverhevisitsLoch—an—Eilan！
AstheyearspassedtheShawclanscattered。
ManyShawsarestilltobefoundintheMackintoshcountryandthroughoutsouthernScotland。OtherswenttoEngland，anditwasfromthislatterbranchthatmyfathersprang。HisnamewasThomasShaw，andhewastheyoungersonofagentleman——awordwhichinthosedaysseemedtodefineamanwhodevotedhistimelargelytogamblingandhorse—
racing。Mygrandfather，likehisfatherbeforehim，wastruetothetraditionsofhistimeandclass。
Quitenaturallyandsimplyhesquanderedallhehad，anddiedabruptly，leavinghiswifeandtwosonspenniless。Theywerenot，however，ahelplessband。
They，too，hadtheirtraditions，handeddownbythefightingShaws。Peter，theolderson，becameasoldier，anddiedbravelyintheCrimeanWar。Myfather，throughsomeoutsideinfluence，turnedhisattentiontotrade，learningtostainandembosswall—
paperbyhand，anddevelopingthisworkuntilhebecametherecognizedexpertinhisfield。Indeed，heprogresseduntilhehimselfcheckedhisrisebyinventingamachinethatmadehishandworkun—
necessary。Hisemployeratonceclaimedandutilizedthisinvention，towhich，bythelawsofthosedays，hewasentitled，andthusthecorner—
stoneonwhichmyfatherhadexpectedtobuildafortuneprovedtherockonwhichhiscareerwaswrecked。Butthatwasyearslater，inAmerica，andmanyotherthingshadhappenedfirst。
Forone，hehadtemporarilydroppedhistradeandgoneintotheflour—and—grainbusiness；and，foranother，hehadmarriedmymother。ShewasthedaughterofaScotchcouplewhohadcometoEnglandandsettledinAlnwick，inNorthumberlandCounty。Herfather，JamesStott，wasthedriveroftheroyal—mailstagebetweenAlnwickandNew—
castle，andhisaccidentaldeathwhilehewasstillayoungmanleftmygrandmotherandhereightchildrenalmostdestitute。ShewasimmediatelygivenapositioninthecastleoftheDukeofNor—
thumberland，andhersonswereeducatedintheduke’sschool，whileherdaughterswereenteredintheschooloftheduchess。
Mythoughtsdwelllovinglyonthisgrandmother，NicolasGrantStott，forshewasaremarkablewoman，withadauntlesssoulandprogressiveideasfarinadvanceofhertime。ShewasoneofthefirstUnitariansinEngland，andyearsbeforeanythoughtofwomansuffrageenteredthemindsofhercountry—
womensherefusedtopaytithestothesupportoftheChurchofEngland——anactionwhichprecipitatedalong—drawn—outconflictbetweenherandthelaw。
Inthosedaysitwascustomarytoassesstithesoneverypaneofglassinawindow，andaportionofthemoneythuscollectedwenttothesupportoftheChurch。Yearafteryearmyintrepidgrandmotherrefusedtopaytheseassessments，andyearafteryearshesatpensivelyuponherdoor—step，watchingarticlesofherfurniturebeingsoldformoneytopayhertithes。Itmusthavebeenanimpressivepicture，anditwasonewithwhichthecommunitybecamethoroughlyfamiliar，asthedeterminedoldladyneverwonherfightandneverabandonedit。Shehadatleastthecomfortofpublicsympathy，forshewasbyfarthemostpopularwomaninthecountry—
side。Herneighborsadmiredhercourage；perhapstheyappreciatedstillmorewhatshedidforthem，forshespentallherleisureinthehomesoftheverypoor，mendingtheirclothingandteachingthemtosew。Also，sheleftbehindherapathofcleanlinessasdefiniteasthelineoffoamthatfollowsaship；
foritsoonbecameknownamongherprotegeesthatNicolasStottwasasmuchopposedtodirtasshewastothepaymentoftithes。
Shekeptherchildrenintheschoolsofthedukeandduchessuntiltheyhadcompletedtheentirecourseopentothem。Ahundredtimes，andamongmanynewscenesandstrangepeople，Ihaveheardmymotherdescribeherownexperiencesasapupil。
Allthechildrenofthedependentsofthecastlewereexpectedtoleaveschoolatfourteenyearsofage。
Duringtheircoursetheywerenotallowedtostudygeography，because，inthesageopinionoftheirelders，knowledgeofforeignlandsmightmakethemdis—
contentedandinclinedtowander。Neitherwascom—
positionencouraged——thatmightleadtothewritingoflove—notes！Buttheywerepermittedtoabsorballthereadingandarithmetictheirlittlebrainscouldhold，whiletheartofsewingwasnotonlyencouraged，butproficiencyinitwasstimulatedbytheawardofprizes。Mymother，beingaratherpre—
cociousyoungperson，graduatedatthirteenandcarriedoffthefirstprize。Thegarmentshemadewasalinenchemisefortheduchess，andthelittleneedlewomanhadembroideredonit，withherownhair，theaugustlady’scoatofarms。Theofferingmusthavebeenappreciated，formymother’sstoryalwaysendedwiththesamewords，utteredwiththesameairofgentlepride，``AndtheduchessgavemewithherownhandsmyBibleandmymugofbeer！’’
Sheneversawanythingamusinginthisassociationofgifts，andIalwaysstoodbehindherwhenshetoldtheincident，thatshemightnotseethedisrespectfulmirthitarousedinme。
MyfatherandmothermetinAlnwick，andweremarriedinFebruary，1835。Tenyearsafterhismarriagefatherwasforcedintobankruptcybythepassageofthecornlaw，andtomeettheobliga—
tionsattendinghisfailureheandmymothersoldpracticallyeverythingtheypossessed——theirhome，eventheirfurniture。Theirlittlesons，whowereawayatschool，werebroughthome，andthefamilyexpenseswerecutdowntothebarestmargin；butallthesesacrificespaidonlypartofthedebts。Mymother，findingthatherearlygifthadamarketvalue，tookinsewing。Fatherwenttoworkonasmallsalary，andbothmyparentssavedeverypennytheycouldlayaside，withthedesperatedeterminationtopaytheirremainingdebts。Itwasalongstruggleandapainfulone，buttheyfinallywonit。Beforetheyhaddoneso，however，andduringtheirbleakestdays，theirbabydied，andmymother，likehermotherbeforeher，paidthepenaltyofbeingoutsidethefoldoftheChurchofEngland。She，too，wasaUnitarian，andherbaby，therefore，couldnotbelaidinanyconsecratedburial—groundinherneighborhood。ShehadeithertoburyitinthePotter’sField，withcriminals，suicides，andpaupers，ortotakeitbystage—coachtoAlnwick，twentymilesaway，andleaveitinthelittleUnitarianchurch—
yardwhere，afterherstrenuouslife，NicolasStottnowlayinpeace。Shemadethedrearyjourneyalone，withthedearburdenacrossherlap。
In1846，myparentswenttoLondon。Theretheydidnotlingerlong，forthebig，indifferentcityhadnothingtoofferthem。TheymovedtoNew—
castle—on—Tyne，andhereIwasborn，onthefour—
teenthdayofFebruary，in1847。Threeboysandtwogirlshadprecededmeinthefamilycircle，andwhenIwastwoyearsoldmyyoungersistercame。
WewerelittlebetteroffinNewcastlethaninLondon，andnowmyfatherbegantodreamthegreatdreamofthosedays。HewouldgotoAmerica。
Surely，hefelt，inthatlandofinfinitepromiseallwouldbewellwithhimandhis。Hewaitedforthefinalpaymentofhisdebtsandformyyoungersister’sbirth。Thenhebadeusgood—byandsailedawaytomakeanAmericanhomeforus；andinthespringof1851mymotherfollowedhimwithhersixchildren，startingfromLiverpoolinasailing—
vessel，theJohnJacobWestervelt。
Iwasthenlittlemorethanfouryearsold，andthefirstvividmemoryIhaveisthatofbeingonship—
boardandhavingamightywaverolloverme。Iwaslyingonwhatseemedtobeanenormousredboxunderahatchway，andthewaterpouredfromabove，almostdrowningme。Thiswasthebeginningofastormwhichragedfordays，andIstillhaveofitaconfusedmemory，asortofnightmare，inwhichstrangehorrorsfigure，andwhichtothisdayhauntsmeatintervalswhenIamonthesea。Thethingthatstandsoutmoststronglyduringthatperiodisthewhitefaceofmymother，illinherberth。Wewerewithfivehundredemigrantsonthelowestdeckoftheshipbutone，andasthestormgrewwilderanunreasoningterrorfilledourfellow—pas—
sengers。Tooilltoprotectherhelplessbrood，mymothersawuscarriedawayfromherforhoursatatime，onthecrestsofwavesofpanicthatsometimesapproachedherandsometimesreceded，astheysweptthroughtheblackholeinwhichwefoundour—
selveswhenthehatcheswerenaileddown。Nomad—
house，Iamsure，couldthrowmorehideouspicturesonthescreenoflifethanthosewhichmetourchildisheyesduringtheappallingthreedaysofthestorm。
Ouronecomfortwastheknowledgethatourmotherwasnotafraid。Shewasdesperatelyill，butwhenwewereabletoreachher，toclingclosetoherforablessedinterval，shewasstillthesurerefugeshehadalwaysbeen。
Ontheseconddaythemastswentdown，andonthethirddaythedisabledship，whichnowhadsprungaleakandwasrollinghelplesslyinthetroughofthesea，wasrescuedbyanothershipandtowedbacktoQueenstown，thenearestport。Thepassengers，relievedoftheiranxieties，wentfromtheirextremeoffeartoanequalextremeofdrunkencelebration。Theylaughed，sang，anddanced，butwhenwereachedtheshoremanyofthemreturnedtothehomestheyhadleft，declaringthattheyhadhadenoughoftheocean。We，however，remainedontheshipuntilshewasrepaired，andthensailedonheragain。Weweretoopoortoreturnhome；
indeed，wehadnohometowhichwecouldreturn。
Wewereeventoopoortoliveashore。Butwemadesomepennyexcursionsinthelittleboatsthatpliedbackandforth，andtouschildrenatleasttheweeksofwaitingwerenotwithoutinterest。AmongotherplaceswevisitedSpikeIsland，wheretheconvictswere，andforhourswewatchedthedrearyshuttleoflaborswingbackandforthastheconvictscar—
riedpailsofwaterfromonesideoftheisland，onlytoemptythemintotheseaattheotherside。Itwasmerely``busywork，’’tokeepthemoccupiedathardlabor；buteventhenImusthavefeltsomedimsenseoftheironyofit，forIhaveremembereditvividlyalltheseyears。
OursecondvoyageontheJohnJacobWesterveltwasaverydifferentexperiencefromthefirst。Bydayaglorioussunshoneoverhead；bynightwehadthemoonandstars，aswellastheracingwavesweneverweariedofwatching。Forsomereason，prob—
ablybecauseofmyintenseadmirationforthem，whichIshowedwithunmaidenlyfrankness，Ibe—
camethespecialpetofthesailors。Theytaughtmetosingtheirsongsastheyhauledontheirropes，andIrecall，asifIhadlearnedityesterday，onepleasingditty：
Haulonthebow—line，Kittyismydarling，Haulonthebow—line，Thebow—line——HAUL！
WhenIsang``haul’’allthesailorspulledtheirhardest，andIhadanexhilaratingsenseofsharingintheirlabors。Asareturnformyserviceofsongthemenkeptmylittleapronfullofshipsugar——
veryblackstuffandprobablyverybadforme；butIateanastonishingamountofitduringthatvoy—
age，and，sofarasIremember，feltnoilleffects。
ThenextthingIrecallisbeingseriouslyscalded。
Iwasatthefootofaladderupwhichasailorwascarryingagreatpotofhotcoffee。Heslipped，andtheboilingliquidpoureddownonme。Imusthavehadsomebaddaysafterthat，forIwaster—
riblyburned，buttheyaremercifullyvague。Mynextvividimpressionisofseeingland，whichwesightedatsunset，andIrememberverydistinctlyjusthowitlooked。Ithasneverlookedthesamesince。Thewesternskywasamassofcrimsonandgoldclouds，whichtookontheshapesofstrangeandbeautifulthings。Tomeitseemedthatwewereenteringheaven。Irememberalsothedoctorscom—
ingonboardtoexamineus，andIcanstillseealineofbigIrishmenstandingverystraightandholdingouttheirtonguesforinspection。Toalittlegirlonlyfouryearsoldtheirhuge，openmouthslookedappalling。
Onlandingagrievousdisappointmentawaitedus；myfatherdidnotmeetus。HewasinNewBedford，Massachusetts，nursinghisgriefandpre—
paringtoreturntoEngland，forhehadbeentoldthattheJohnJacobWestervelthadbeenlostatseawitheverysoulonboard。Oneofthemissionarieswhomettheshiptookusunderhiswingandcon—
ductedustoalittlehotel，whereweremaineduntilfatherhadreceivedhisincrediblenewsandrushedtoNewYork。Hecouldhardlybelievethatwewerereallyrestoredtohim；andevennow，throughthemistsofmorethanhalfacentury，Icanstillseetheexpressioninhisweteyesashepickedmeupandtossedmeintotheair。
Icansee，too，thetoyshebroughtme——alittlesawandahatchet，whichbecamethedearesttreas—
uresofmychildishdays。Theywerefatidicalgifts，thatsawandhatchet；intheyearsaheadofmeIwastousetoolsaswellasmybrothersdid，asIprovedwhenIhelpedtobuildourfrontierhome。
WewenttoNewBedfordwithfather，whohadfoundworkthereathisoldtrade；andhereIlaidthefoundationsofmyfirstchildhoodfriendship，notwithanotherchild，butwithmynext—doorneighbor，aship—builder。Morningaftermorningthismanswungmeonhisbigshoulderandtookmetohisshipyard，wheremyhatchetandsawhadvio—
lentexerciseasIimitatedtheworkersaroundme。
Discoveringthatmytinypetticoatswereinmyway，mynewfriendhadalittleboy’ssuitmadeforme；
andthusemancipated，atthistenderage，Iworkedunwearyinglyathissidealldaylonganddayafterday。NodoubtitwasduetohimthatIdidnotcasuallysawoffafewofmytoesandfingers。Cer—
tainlyIsmashedthemoftenenoughwithblowsofmydullbutactivehatchet。Iwasvery，verybusy；
andIhavealwaysmaintainedthatIbegantoearnmyshareofthefamily’slivingattheageoffive——
forinreturnforthedelightsofmysociety，whichseemednevertopalluponhim，mynewfriendal—
lowedmybrotherstocarryhomefromtheship—
yardallthewoodmymothercoulduse。
WeremainedinNewBedfordlessthanayear，forinthespringof1852myfathermadeanotherchange，takinghisfamilytoLawrence，Massa—
chusetts，whereweliveduntil1859。TheyearsinLawrencewereinterestingandformativeones。AtthetenderageofnineandtenIbecameinterestedintheAbolitionmovement。WewereUnitarians，andGeneralOliverandmanyoftheprominentciti—
zensofLawrencebelongedtotheUnitarianChurch。
WeknewRobertShaw，wholedthefirstnegroregi—
ment，andJudgeStorrow，oneoftheleadingNewEnglandjudgesofhistime，aswellastheCabotsandGeorgeA。Walton，whowastheauthorofWalton’sArithmeticandheadoftheLawrenceschools。Outburstsofwartalkthrilledme，andoccasionallyIhadalittleadventureofmyown，aswhenoneday，invisitingourcellar，Iheardanoiseinthecoal—bin。Iinvestigatedanddiscoveredanegrowomanconcealedthere。IhadbeenreadingUncleTom’sCabin，aswellaslisteningtotheconversationofmyelders，soIwasvastlystirredoverthenegroquestion。Iracedup—stairsinaconditionofawe—struckandquiveringexcitement，whichmymotherpromptlysuppressedbysendingmetobed。Nodoubtshequestionedmyyouthfuldiscretion，forshealmostconvincedmethatIhadseennothingatall——almost，butnotquite；andshewiselykeptmeclosetoherforseveraldays，untiltheescapedslavemyfatherwashidingwassafelyoutofthehouseandaway。Discoveryofthisseri—
ousoffensemighthavebornegraveresultsforhim。
ItwasinLawrence，too，thatIreceivedandspentmyfirsttwenty—fivecents。Iusedanentiredayindoingthis，andtheoccasionwasoneofthemostdelightfulandmemorableofmylife。ItwastheFourthofJuly，andIwasdressedinwhiteandrodeinaprocession。MysisterMary，whoalsogracedtheprocession，hadalsobeengiventwenty—fivecents；andduringtheparade，when，forobviousreasons，wewereunabletobreakranksandspendourwealth，theconsciousnessofitlayheavilyuponus。Whenwefinallybeganourshoppingthefirstplacewevisitedwasacandystore，andIrecalldis—
tinctlythatweforcedthewearyproprietortotakedownandshowuseveryjarintheplacebeforewespentonepenny。ThefirstbananaIeveratewaspurchasedthatday，andIhesitatedoveritalongtime。Itscostwasfivecents，andinviewofthatlargeexpenditure，theeatingofthefruit，Iwasafraid，wouldbetoobriefajoy。Iboughtit，how—
ever，andtheexperiencedevelopedintoatragedy，for，notknowingenoughtopeelthebanana，Ibitthroughskinandpulpalike，asifIwereeatinganapple，andthenburstintoearsofdisappointment。
ThebeautifulconductofmysisterMaryshinesdownthroughtheyears。She，wisechild，hadtakennochanceswiththeunknown；butnow，movedbymydespair，sheboughthalfofmybanana，andwedividedthefruit，theloss，andthelesson。
Fate，moreover，hadanotherturnofthescrewforus，for，afterMaryhadtakenabiteofit，wegavewhatwasleftofthebananatoaboywhostoodnearusandwhoknewhowtoeatit；andnoteventhelargeamountofcandyinourstickyhandsenabledustoregardwithcalmnessthesubsequenthappinessofthatlittleboy。
AnotherexperiencewithfruitinLawrenceillus—
tratestheideasofmymotherandthecharacterofthetrainingshegaveherchildren。Ourneighbors，theCabots，wereonedaygivingagreatgardenparty，andmysisterwashelpingtopickstrawberriesfortheoccasion。WhenIwasgoinghomefromschoolIpassedtheberry—patchesandstoppedtospeaktomysister，whoatoncepresentedmewithtwostraw—
berries。ShesaidMrs。Cabothadtoldhertoeatallshewanted，butthatshewouldeattwolessthanshewantedandgivethosetwotome。Tomymind，thesuggestionwasgenerousandproper；inmylifestrawberrieswererare。Iateoneberry，andthen，overcomebyanambitiontobegenerousalso，tooktheotherberryhometomymother，tell—
ingherhowIhadgotit。Tomychagrin，motherwasdeeplyshocked。Shetoldmethatthetrans—
actionwasallwrong，andshemademetakebacktheberryandexplainthemattertoMrs。Cabot。
BythetimeIreachedthatgenerousladytheberrywastheworseforitsjourney，andsowasI。Iwasonlynineyearsoldandverysensitive。ItwascleartomethatIcouldhardlylivethroughthehumilia—
tionoftheconfession，anditwasindeedabitterexperiencetheworst，Ithink，inmyyounglife，thoughMrs。Cabotwasbothsympatheticandunderstanding。Shekissedme，andsentaquartofstrawberriestomymother；butforalongtimeafterwardIcouldnotmeetherkindeyes，forIbe—
lievedthatinherheartshethoughtmeathief。
Mysecondfriendship，andonewhichhadastronginfluenceonmyafter—life，wasformedinLawrence。
IwasnotmorethantenyearsoldwhenImetthisnewfriend，butthememoryofherinafter—years，andtheimpressionshehadmadeonmysusceptibleyoungmind，ledmefirstintotheministry，nextintomedicine，andfinallyintosuffrage—work。Livingnextdoortous，onProspectHill，wasabeautifulandmysteriouswoman。Allwechildrenknewofherwasthatshewasavividandromanticfigure，whoseemedtohavenofriendsandofwhomoureldersspokeinwhispersornotatall。Tomeshewasaprincessinafairy—tale，forsherodeawhitehorseandworeabluevelvetriding—habitwithabluevelvethatandapicturesquelydroopingwhiteplume。Isoonlearnedatwhathoursshewentforthtoride，andIusedtohoveraroundourgateforthejoyofseeinghermountandgallopaway。
Irealizedthattherewassomethingunusualaboutherhouse，andIhadanideathattheprincewaswaitingforhersomewhereinthefardistance，andthatforthetimeatleastshehadescapedtheogreinthecastlesheleftbehind。Iwaswrongabouttheprince，butrightabouttheogre。Itwasonlywhenmyunhappyladylefthercastlethatshewasfree。
Verysoonshenoticedme。Possiblyshesawtheadorationinmychildisheyes。Shebegantonodandsmileatme，andthentospeaktome，butatfirstIwasalmostafraidtoanswerher。Therewerestoriesnowamongthechildrenthatthehousewashaunted，andthatbynightaghostwalkedthereandinthegrounds。Ifeltanextraordinaryinterestintheghost，andIspenthourspeeringthroughourpicketfence，tryingtocatchaglimpseofit；butI
hesitatedtobeontermsofneighborlyintimacywithonewhodweltwithghosts。
Onedaythemysteriousladybentandkissedme。
Then，straighteningup，shelookedatmequeerlyandsaid：``GoandtellyourmotherIdidthat。’’
Therewassomethingverycompellinginhermanner。
IknewatoncethatImusttellmymotherwhatshehaddone，andIranintoourhouseanddidso。
Whilemymotherwasconsideringtheproblemthesituationpresented，forsheknewthecharacterofthehousenextdoor，anotewashandedintoher——
averypatheticlittlenotefrommymysteriouslady，askingmymothertoletmecomeandseeher。Longafterwardmothershowedittome。Itendedwiththewords：``Shewillseenoonebutme。Noharmshallcometoher。Trustme。’’
Thatnightmyparentstalkedthematteroveranddecidedtoletmego。Probablytheyfeltthattheslavenextdoorwasasmuchtobepitiedasthees—
caped—negroslavestheysooftenharboredinourhome。Imademyvisit，whichwasthefirstofmany，andastrangefriendshipbegananddevelopedbe—
tweenthewomanofthetownandthelittlegirlsheloved。SomeofthosevisitsIrememberasvividlyasifIhadmadethemyesterday。TherewasnevertheslightestsuggestionduringanyofthemofthingsIshouldnotseeorhear，forwhileIwaswithhermyhostessbecameachildagain，andweplayedtogetherlikechildren。Shehadwonderfultoysforme，andpicturesandbooks；butthethingIlovedbestofallandplayedwithforhourswasalittlestuffedhenwhichshetoldmehadbeenherdearesttreasurewhenshewasachildathome。Shehadalsoastuffedpuppy，andsheoncementionedthatthosetwothingsalonewereleftofherlifeasalittlegirl。Besidesthetoysandbooksandpic—