Mr. Shepard had gone to the postoffice. A carriage drove up and stopped
before our door. A lady came quickly in. I looked and saw it was Aunt
Margaret, Mr. Crane's sister. I threw my arms about her, saying, "I am
so glad to see you. Will you take me home?" She said, "Do you want to
go?" "Yes, I want to go." She turned to Mrs. Shepard saying, "I see you
are moving. I am Mr. Crane's sister. He was not able to see this child
this winter. He sent me as the time is drawing near when my brother
returns to the Island. He promised this child's father to bring her back
if she wants to go." Mrs. Shepard told her she would have no
interference and would keep me. "No," said Aunt Margaret, "Your letter
reads the child could go home and come again if all was agreeable. And
she says she wants to go and I shall take her. Elizabeth get your things
on." I just flew I got my trunk, the lady putting it into the carriage.
I was following her when Mrs. Shepard said, "Child aren't you going to
kiss me and the children?" I put my arms about her neck, kissing her and
caught the children in my arms with a hug and a kiss, then ran to the
carriage.
Aunt Margaret lifted me to the seat, took the lines, and our horse just
flew down the plank road till we arrived at Mrs. Matthews, where Mr.
Crane was waiting for us. He came, saying, "Dear child how I have
worried about you. When I saw I could never get to see you I sent sister
Margaret and now you can go home on the steamboat Michigan." Oh what a
happy child I was! All the sad, gloomy, lonesome days were forgotten. I
was going home. Home to my father and mother. Going to my island home.
We soon started for the Headlands once again. The horses' hoofs
clattered over the road to Fairport. We crossed the river, and in a
short time were at Mr. Crane's house, where all the family met me with
greetings of love. I entered school; Miss Marion Brooks was my teacher.
I was at the Headlands three weeks when a letter came from the Captain
of the steamboat Michigan to be ready at a certain date to meet the boat
at Fairport. Mr. Crane made preparations, and on the date mentioned in
the letter we were all in Fairport to take the steamboat. My brother had
come from Cleveland.