I was in Painesville over a month before I saw my brother Charley. He
came one day and staid to dinner. I could scarcely believe it was he, he
had grown so tall and seemed such a little man. After dinner we took the
children on the sled and went to Mr. Shepard's shop where he made the
wagons. Then we went down the bank to the river. At four o'clock he must
start for home. I wanted him to stay all night, but he said he could
not. The time came all too soon for him to go and with many promises to
come again we bade good-by and he was gone. For days afterward I
wondered "had I dreamed he was there or was it a reality." I never saw
him again while I remained.
One morning soon after when Mrs. Shepard was combing my hair she took
the shears and cut it off short. My heart was broken. She said, "I can't
be troubled with your long hair every morning." Mr. Shepard was sorry,
but said, "Never mind, it will grow again," which comforted me because I
feared it would always be short like the Mormon women's hair. Mrs.
Shepard had a niece boarding with her. She liked to tease me, telling
me it would never grow again.
Every Sabbath I went to church and always had my verse learned for my
Sabbath school teacher. One morning on my way to school I met Mr. Peter
McKinley. He lived in a large house near our school. He was very glad to
see me. To me it seemed like seeing some one from home. Mr. Crane came
every week to see me, but I never saw him. Sometimes I was at school,
twice I was in the house upstairs with the children but never knew he
was there until he was gone. Spring was drawing near and I wondered if I
ever would see Mr. Crane and go home.
One day Mr. and Mrs. Shepard left home and went to Willoughby. Her niece
kept house and I helped her take care of the children. They were gone
two days. The front door was always locked and I was told not to go to
the door if anyone came. Once when I was on the street I saw Elizabeth
Crane and her sister driving. They knew me and I knew them, but they
were out of sight so quick I had not time to speak to them. Mr. and Mrs.
Shepard came home. They began to pack their goods. Once I said, "Are you
going away?" She said, "Yes, we are going to move to Willoughby."