After dinner we drove into Painesville up to the cottage door to my new
home. The lady came to the door and knew at once I was the little girl
she expected and said, "Come in." We stepped inside, Mr. Crane saying,
"I have brought you this child as you directed me in your letter. Her
father has put her in my care and I am responsible for her. If you do
not like to keep her this winter I shall take her home with me. If you
do take her and at any time don't want her, let me know. I shall come
once every week to see her until I go back to the island, and of course
you know she is to go back to her home with me unless she wants to stay
and you want to keep her." The lady said, "Yes you have said just as my
letter to her father reads." She looked at me, then turning to Mr. Crane
she said, "She is so small she won't be able to help me much." Mr. Crane
said, "Why you said in your letter you wanted her for company and to do
little errands and chores for you and be with your children." "Yes," the
lady said, "But I shall expect her to help me some." Mr. Crane told her,
"You promised to send the child to school and I have money from her
father to buy her books." The lady said, "Oh I know we shall like her."
Then Mr. Crane handed her the money for my books, saying, "She has
clothes enough. If there is anything more needed let me know." He gave
her his address and went out to bring my trunk. He said, "Now my dear
child, I hope you will be happy in your new home. I will come every
week to see you." Turning to Mrs. Shepard, he said, "If this child gets
sick let me know." He bent down and kissed me, the tears falling fast
from his eyes, he bowed to Mrs. Shepard and hurried away.
The last link that reminded me of my island home was gone. Oh it was
terrible! I tried to run after him to call him back. I wanted to say
come back, come back and take me to your home. I could not speak, I
could not move, never while life lasts can I forget how I felt when I
saw Mr. Crane driving away in the carriage. I was among entire strangers
in a strange land. A child of seven and a half years of age. The lady
said, "Come to the fire you must be cold." She then took my cloak and
hood. I sat down in a little chair. She went about the house at her
work, never speaking to me. All was silent and quiet. In a little while
the two little children, one a boy of three, the other a year old, just
walking, came to me. The oldest brought me some toys and put in my
hands, never speaking. Then the youngest came and put his little face up
to mine. I kissed him, which seemed to please him, and soon I took him
on my lap, where he soon fell asleep, while the other child was sitting
quietly beside me on the floor playing with his toys. The lady took the
child and laid him on the bed saying. "Do you like children?" I
answered. "Yes Ma'm." It was the first word I had spoken since I entered
the house. She took her sewing and never spoke. Oh how long the time
seemed! I cannot tell how I felt. No tears would come to give me
relief. At last she put her sewing away and began the supper. Then the
lights were lit; the baby had wakened and I again took him in my arms.
The other child stood close beside me.